Download CfE Higher Human Biology Unit 3 Neurobiology and Communication

CfE Higher Human Biology
Unit 3 Neurobiology and Communication
1. Divisions of the nervous system
I can Identify the structures and functions of the nervous system
I can state that the peripheral nervous system includes the autonomic and somatic
nervous system
I can describe the antagonistic action of the sympathetic and parasympathetic
systems
I can explain how the sympathetic nervous system increases heart rate
I can explain how the sympathetic nervous system increases breathing rate
I can explain how the sympathetic nervous system slows down digestive processes
I can state that the sympathetic nervous system is involved in fight or flight
I can explain how the parasympathetic nervous system decreases heart rate
I can explain how the parasympathetic nervous system decreases breathing rate
I can explain how the parasympathetic nervous system speeds up digestive
processes
I can state that the parasympathetic nervous system is involved in rest and digest
I can state the function of the medulla, including breathing, heart rate, arousal and
sleep
I can state the function of the cerebellum, including controlling balance, posture and
movement
I can describe the role of the limbic system in processing information for memories
and influencing emotional and motivational states
I can state that the cerebral cortex receives sensory information from your
surroundings
I can state that the cerebral cortex is the centre for conscious thought
I can state that the cerebral cortex recalls memories and alters behaviour in the
light of experience
I can state that the cerebral cortex co-ordinates voluntary movement
I can describe what is meant by the term localisation of function
I can explain localisation of function in terms of sensory, motor and association
areas
I can explain that some association areas deal with thought processes including
language, personality, imagination and intelligence
I can state that information is passed from one side of the brain to the other
through a bundle of nerve fibres called the corpus callosum
I can state that the left cerebral hemisphere deals with information from the right
visual field and controls the right side of the body and vice versa
2. Perception and Memory
I can state that perception is the process by which the brain analyses and makes
sense out of incoming sensory information
I can state that the three areas of perception involve segregation of objects,
perception of distance and recognition
[Type text]
CfE Higher Human Biology
Unit 3 Neurobiology and Communication
I can describe segregation of objects using figure and ground perceptional
organisation using examples such as ‘vase and face’
I can describe segregation of objects using perceptual organisation of stimuli into
coherent patterns
I can describe segregation of objects using visual cues such as relative size,
superimposition and relative height in field
I can state that the image received from each eye is different and this called
binocular disparity
I can explain perception of distance using binocular disparity in judging distance
I can explain the term perceptual constancy as objects become closer or further
away or the viewing angle changes
I can describe why shape is more important rather than its detail when recognising
an object
I can explain the importance of previous memories in recognition of unfamiliar
objects
I can explain the concept of perceptual set as past experience, context or
expectation and how it influences the way a stimulus is perceived
I can define memory as storage, retention and retrieval of information
I can state that memories include past experiences, knowledge and thoughts
I can describe the path of information entering the brain as from sensory memory
to short term memory and transferral to LTM
I can state that information not transferred to long term memory is discarded
I can define that sensory memory lasts a few seconds and retains all of the visual or
auditory input
I can state that short term memory lasts approximately 30 seconds and can hold 7
+/- 2 pieces of information = memory span
I can explain how the capacity of short term memory can be improved using chunking
I can explain how rehearsal of information improves retention within the short term
memory
I can explain serial position effect
- most recent items recalled as still in STM
- items in middle of sequence displaced/discarded
- first items recalled as transferred to long term memory by process of
rehearsal
I can state that information can be transferred from STM to LTM due to rehearsal,
organisation and elaboration
I can define rehearsal as the repetition of items
I can define organisation of memories as the grouping together of similar
information
I can define elaboration as adding meaning to information
I can state that retrieval of memories is aided by the use of contextual cues
I can describe contextual cues as pieces of information stored at the same time or
link memories together
I can state that different types of memories are stored in different areas of the
[Type text]
CfE Higher Human Biology
Unit 3 Neurobiology and Communication
brain
I can describe episodic memory as memories of events and experiences
I can describe semantic memory as those involving facts and concepts
I can describe procedural memories as those used to perform skills
I can state that episodic and semantic memories are stored in the cortex
I can state that procedural memories are linked to the motor cortex and cerebellum
I can state that emotional memories involve links between the cerebral cortex and
the limbic system
I can state that spatial memory is located in the limbic system
3. The cells of the nervous system and neurotransmitters at synapses
I can identify the structures of a neurone including dendrites, cell body and axon
I can identify sensory, motor and inter (relay) neurons
I can state that sensory neurons take impulses from sensory receptors to the
central nervous system
I can state that motor neurons take impulses from central nervous system to an
effector (e.g. muscle)
I can state that inter neurons transmit impulses between sensory and motor neurons
within the central nervous system
I can state that myelin sheath is composed of fatty material and surrounds the axon
I can explain why myelination increases the speed of impulse transmission
I can state that myelination increases from birth to adolescence
I can state that glial cells support the function of neurons and produce myelin
sheath
I can state that glial cells also maintain a homeostatic environment around the
neurons and remove debris by phagocytosis
I can describe a synapse as an area of communication between axon of one neuron
and dendrite of another
I can explain that a neurotransmitter is a chemical that relays the message from
the pre synaptic neuron to the post-synaptic neuron
I can describe the chemical transmission at a synapse from vesicles containing
neurotransmitter crossing the synaptic cleft to receptors
I can state why it is important to remove neurotransmitters from the synapse
I can state that the type of receptor determines whether a signal is inhibitory or
excitatory
I can state that insufficient neurotransmitter at the synapse results in failure of
transmission of the impulse
I can state that a summation of a series of weak stimuli can trigger enough
neurotransmitter to fire an impulse.
I can define a converging neural pathway as several neurons sending an impulse to
one receiving neuron in order to increase the intensity of the impulse e.g. used to
see in the dark
I can define a diverging neural pathway as a motor neurone sending an impulse to
[Type text]
CfE Higher Human Biology
Unit 3 Neurobiology and Communication
multiple neurons in order to provide fine motor control and hypothalamus coordinated control of body temperature
I can define reverberating neural pathways as those which can repeat the original
impulse
I can describe plasticity of response as the ability to suppress reflex actions and
the ability of the brain to bypass areas of brain damage and relearn skills
I can state that endorphins are neurotransmitters that stimulate neurons involved in
reducing the intensity of pain
I can state that endorphins are also connected to feelings of euphoria, appetite
control and release of sex hormones
I can state that endorphin production increases in response to severe injury,
prolonged exercise, stress and certain foods e.g. chocolate
I can describe dopamine as a neurotransmitter that induces feelings of pleasure and
reinforces particular behaviours in the reward pathway
I can state that some disorders are caused by changes to neurotransmitter release
e.g. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and some anxiety disorders
I can state that some drugs used to treat neurotransmitters are similar to
neurotransmitters e.g. agonists and antagonists
I can state that an agonist binds to and stimulates receptors mimicking the
neurotransmitter
I can state that antagonists bind to specific receptors blocking the action of the
neurotransmitter
I can state that other drugs inhibit the enzymes which breakdown
neurotransmitters or inhibit re-uptake at the synapse
I can state that recreational drugs can also mimic neurotransmitters
I can explain that as a consequence of taking recreational drugs changes in
neurochemistry alter mood, cognition, perception and behaviour
I can state that many recreational drugs affect neurotransmission in the reward
circuit of the brain
I can state that recreational drugs can be either antagonistic or agonistic
I can explain that antagonists lead to an increase in sensitivity and number of
receptors and as a consequence results in addiction = sensitisation
I can explain that agonists lead to a decrease in sensitivity and number of receptors
and as a consequence results in drug tolerance = desensitisation
4. Communication and social behaviour
I can explain the importance of early infant attachment in laying the foundation for
stable relationships in the future.
I can explain that infants may develop secure attachment or insecure attachment
I can state that infants forming secure attachment are more likely to investigate
their immediate environment helping the development of cognitive abilities
I can state that infants forming insecure attachment are less likely to investigate
their environment
[Type text]
CfE Higher Human Biology
Unit 3 Neurobiology and Communication
I can define consequences of insecure attachment as responses of detachment,
anger and inconsistent responses towards mother/other adults
I can state that humans have a long period of dependency providing time for
socialisation and learning to occur
I can explain authoritative control as setting limits, rules and high standards but
explains reasons for having them
I can explain permissive control as not setting limits or boundaries and allows the
child to regulate their own behaviour
I can state that authoritative control generally results in greater social competence
than permissive control
I can state that non-verbal communication is important in the formation of
relationships between individuals
I can describe the importance of body language in signalling attitudes and emotions
and as an aid to verbal communication
I can state that verbal communication is used in the transmission of knowledge,
development of culture and social evolution
I can define learning as a change in behaviour as a result of experience
I can state that repetition of a motor skill results in a motor pathway being
established
I can state that human behaviour can be learned by observation and imitation
I can define reinforcement as the process that makes an organism tend to repeat a
certain piece of behaviour
I can define shaping as the reinforcement of approximations of a desired response
in order to achieve a particular behaviour
I can describe extinction as the loss of a behaviour as a consequence of no
reinforcement
I can define social facilitation as an increase in performance in competitive/audience
situations
I can define de-individuation as the loss of personal identity in a group leading to
diminished restraints on behaviour
I can define internalisation as a change of beliefs as a result of persuasion
I can define identification as a change of beliefs to be like an admired influencing
source e.g. hero
[Type text]