The role of endogenous pacemakers is to set the free-running internal rhythm. It is an internal biological ‘clock’ that allows organisms to control their internal rhythms and helps animals to anticipate cyclical events (e.g., the coming of night). These are innate. The SCN is the endogenous pacemaker that controls the circadian sleep/wake cycle. The SCN sends signals to the pineal gland, directing it to increase melatonin production at night. Melatonin induces sleep by inhibiting brain mechanisms that keep us awake. The SCN therefore maintains the link between light and melatonin production.
Ways of Studying the Brain: Scanning Techniques, including Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI); Electroencephalogram (EEGs) and Event-Related Potentials (ERPs); Post-Mortem Examinations.
The brain is the main focus of neuroscience. Studying the brain gives us important insights into the underlying foundations of our behaviour and mental processes. A variety of methods are used by scientists in order to study the different areas and functions of the brain. Some involve scanning the living brain, looking for patterns of electrical activity associated with performance of particular tasks. Other methods involve studying sections of a deceased brain to investigate anatomical reasons for behaviour observed when the patient was alive.
Localisation of Function in the brain and Hemispheric Lateralisation: motor, somatosensory, visual, auditory and language centres; Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas, split brain research. Plasticity and Functional Recovery of the brain after trauma.
Localisation of functions refers to the principle that specific functions (language, memory, hearing etc…) have specific locations within the brain.
The fight or flight response including the role of adrenaline
Usually, the fight or flight response is something that individuals experience when they are stressed. Definition of Stress: “When an imbalance or discrepancy exists between perceived demands and perceived coping resources, then a state of stress exists.†Cox and Mackay (1978).
The function of the endocrine system: glands and hormones
The Endocrine System has a series of glands which release chemicals (hormones) throughout the body and other bodily fluids. This communicates, much like the neurons do, messages to organs in the body. There are specialist glands in the body which form part of this system
The Process of Synaptic Transmission
• Initially, the electrical nerve impulse travels down the neuron and prompts the release of neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain) at the presynaptic terminal.
• These chemicals are then released into the synaptic fluid of the synapse.
• The adjacent neuron must then quickly take up the neurotransmitter from the fluid and convert this into an electrical impulse to travel down the terminal to the next pre-synaptic terminal (allowing the impulse to be transmitted on).
• This process occurs at high speed.
The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons.
The nervous system is composed of specialised cells called neurons. The neurons form pathways in the brain and throughout the body by being connected to one another by synapses.
There are about 100 billion neurons or nerve cells in the average nervous system. Neurons vary in size and shape. The neurons are specialised for communication whether this is between other neurons or with other organs in the body such as the heart or stomach.
There are three main neurons, all of which have different roles to play – Sensory, Relay and Motor Neuron.
The Divisions of the Nervous System: central and peripheral (somatic and autonomic)
Humans have extremely complex and highly developed nervous systems. The nervous system is designed to collect, process and respond to information. It also coordinates the workings of the different organs and cells in the body.
Comparison of Approaches to Human Behaviour
he table below illustrates the Approaches to Human Behaviour that are covered throughout the Approaches unit. As part of the specification (AQA) it is a requirement that students are able to offer a comparison of the approaches to human behaviour. This table outlines a comparison in relation to; determinism and free will, reductionism and holism, nature vs. nurture, extrapolation and whether the approach is idiographic or nomothetic.
Humanist Approach (to human behaviour)
The Humanistic Approach is quite different to the other approaches we’ve already studied, in that it claims that human beings are essentially self-determining and have free will. The approach still maintains that people are affected by internal (biological) and external (societal) influences but they are active agents who have the ability to determine their own development within the constraints imposed by the other forces. The humanistic approach rejects scientific models that attempt to establish general laws of behaviour and instead concerns itself with the study of subjective experience. Often referred to as a person-centred approach
