Hemispheres
What is the corpus callosum?
A bundle of nerve fibres that connect the left and right hemisphere, allowing them to communicate.
Which lobe of the brain is responsible for processing visual information?
Occipital lobe
What is the main cause of CTE?
Repeated head injuries or concussions
What is neuroplasticity?
The brain’s ability to change and adapt by forming new neural connections.
Identify the independent and dependent variables in a study testing music’s effect on memory.
IV: Presence or absence of music during study.
DV: Number of words recalled (memory performance).
Define the term 'hemispheric specialisation'.
Hemispheric specialisation refers to the concept that the two halves (hemispheres) of the brain are responsible for different functions or types of cognitive processes. While both hemispheres work together and communicate via the corpus callosum, each hemisphere tends to be more dominant in certain tasks.
Which lobe helps you understand auditory information?
Temporal lobe
Name one symptom of CTE.
Memory loss, mood swings, depression, or confusion
What is meant by ‘rerouting’ in neuroplasticity?
When healthy nearby neurons create alternative neural pathways when existing connections are lost through injury.
What does the ethical principle of non-maleficence mean in psychological research?
Non-maleficence means researchers must avoid causing harm to participants and take steps to protect their physical and psychological wellbeing during the study.
What is a specialised function of the right hemisphere?
Creativity and imagination
Visual-spatial skills (e.g. map reading, depth perception)
Recognising faces and patterns
Interpreting emotions and non-verbal cues
Artistic and musical abilities
Intuition and insight
Control of the left side of the body
Which lobe controls movement and decision-making?
Frontal lobe
What is the difference between a concussion and CTE?
A concussion is a short-term brain injury from a single head trauma, while CTE is a long-term, progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated head trauma.
What is meant by 'sprouting' in neuroplasticity?
When existing neurons form new axon terminals and dendrites to allow new connections to be made.
What is one strength and one limitation of using a case study in psychological research?
Strength: Provides detailed, in-depth data on a specific individual or situation.
Limitation: Results may not be generalisable to the wider population.
What is a specialised function of the left hemisphere?
Verbal language (including speaking, reading, writing, and understanding language)
Analytical thinking and logical reasoning
Mathematical and numerical skills
Sequential processing
Detail-oriented tasks
Grammar and vocabulary
Control of the right side of the body
Which lobe processes touch, temperature, and pain?
Parietal lobe
Why is CTE difficult to diagnose?
CTE is difficult to diagnose because it can only be confirmed after death, and its symptoms like memory loss, mood changes, and confusion overlap with other brain disorders, making it hard to identify while a person is still alive.
How does neuroplasticity differ between children and adults?
Children’s brains are more flexible and can adapt faster, while adult brains have less plasticity but can still change.
What is one key difference between a within-subjects design and a between-subjects design?
In a within-subjects design, the same participants are used in all conditions, while in a between-subjects design, different participants are used in each condition.
What is contralateral organisation? Give an example.
Contralateral control means that each side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body. For example, the left side of the brain controls the movement of the right side of the body.
Damage to which specific area in the left frontal lobe can result in difficulties with speech production?
Broca’s area is responsible for speech production and forming clear sentences.
What happens inside the brain cells that causes damage and leads to symptoms in CTE?
Abnormal amounts of tau protein form inside neurons, disrupting their function and causing brain damage.
Explain how neural plasticity allows the brain to recover or adapt after damage to one hemisphere.
After damage to one hemisphere, neural plasticity allows other parts of the brain, including the opposite hemisphere, to reorganise and take over functions that were lost or impaired.
What is the difference between a sample and a population in psychological research?
A population is the entire group a researcher wants to learn about. E.g. all high school students in Australia.
A sample is a smaller group taken from that population to participate in the study. E.g. 100 Year 12 students from one school.