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Biological Psychology 2025- 2026 Review GRADED A+ QUESTIONS WIT H
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
What are the two components of the central nervous system? (AO1)
Brain and spinal cord
What does the central nervous system do? (AO1)
Consists of the brain and spinal cord, it is the central processing and central point for
all human behaviour. The brain processes all incoming information from the senses
and is then responsible for controlling behaviour that may result from this
information.
Show the structure of a neurone? (AO1)
Describe the role of a neurone? (AO1)
The neurones role is to pass messages between neurones using neurotransmitters
to enable behaviour, thinking and emotions to be transmitted and enable the working
of the brain. The electrical impulses travel down the Axon, trigger the release of
neurotransmitters from the terminal at the end of the Axon and pass messages
between neurones.
Describe the cell body and what it contains? (AO1)
The cell body of the neurone contains the cell nucleus, which houses the genetic
material for that neurone. The cell body also contains other materials that allow the
cell to function, such as the mitochondria, which provides the neurone with energy.
Describe the dendrites and what they do? (AO1)
Attached to the cell body are the dendrites that receive messages from other
neuron's in order to trigger an action potential (an electrical impulse) within the cell.
Describe the axon? (AO1)
Attached to the cell body is the axon, it passes the electrical impulse towards the
axon terminals.
Around the outside of the axon are layers of fattu deposits called myelin sheath that
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provides an insulating layer to the axon to help speed up the rate of message
transmission. There are breaks between the cells along the myelin sheath, which are
known as nodes of ranvier
Describe the axon terminal and what it does? (AO1)
Axon terminal are found at the end of the axon and on the ends of these are terminal
buttons
Axon terminals pass nerve impulses from the cell body to the parts of the body that
they control or activate. This could be another neurone or a muscle/gland.
- These bulb shaped structures contain tiny sacs called vesicles that store
neurotransmitters ready for the next stage of neural transmission.
Describe the role of a neurotransmitter??
Chemicals that pass messages between neurones.
The role of neurotransmitters is to carry messages from one neuron to another.
Some neurotransmitters facilitate the transmission of messages and some stop the
transmission of messages.
Neurotransmitters are critical to the functioning of the brain which makes decision
about how we behave and everything that we do.
It is thought that we have around 100 different neurotransmitters which each having
a different function.
What is an action potential?
The AP refers to the actual method by which the nerve impulse passes down the
axon of the neurone to stimulate the release of neurotransmitters.
This is a tiny electrical impulse that is triggered by a change in the electrical potential
of the neuron itself.
Describe how an action potential occurs in 4 steps?
1. When a neurone is in a resting state, the inside is negatively charged.
2. When a neuron is sufficiently activated by a stimulus, the inside becomes
positively charged for a split second. This is called depolarisation
3.Depolarisation creates an electrical impulse (action potential) that travels down the
axon towards the terminal button.
4. Most myelinated neurons are capable of conducting up to 500 action potentials
per second.
Describe excitatory post synaptic potential?
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The temporary depolarisation of a neuron as a result of positively charged ions
flowing into the cell that make it more likely to fire an action potential
Describe inhibitory post synaptic potential?
Changes in the polarisation for a neurone that makes it less likely to fire an action
potential
Synaptic transmission
1. Describe the electrical impulse/how it travels down the axon (AO1)
The electrical impulse (action potential) is carried down the axon towards the axon
terminal
The myelin sheath (fatty deposits around the axon) provide an insulating layer to the
axon and help speed up the electrical impulse down the axon.
Synaptic transmission
2. Describe the electrical message changing to chemical message including
vesicles
The electrical impulse reaches the axon terminal where the nerve impulse becomes
a chemical message
These chemical messages are in the form of neurotransmitters which are contained
in vesicles
The vesicles kind to the terminal button and releases its neurotransmitters into the
synaptic cleft
Synaptic transmission
3. What happens to neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft
The neurotransmitters bind to the receptor sites on the post synaptic membrane
If enough neurotransmitter (excitatory) is received another action potential is
generated and the process starts again. The neurotransmitters can then be recycled
by reuptake back into the pre-synaptic neurone or broken down by enzymes or
diffuse away.
Neurotransmitters
Dopamine- What does it do? (AO1)
Dopamine is most associated with pleasure feelings.
Everything that makes an individual feel good is down to dopamine and the effect it
has on the brain.
Every addictive substance known, affects dopamine release in the brains 'reward
pathway'. Dopamine is also thought to have an impact on cognition and emotion.
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Neurotransmitters
Dopamine- What happens if there is too much or too little?
Schizophrenia has been linked to over activity of dopamine in the hypothalamus.
Parkinson's disease is thought to be caused by decay of neurones that release
dopamine.
Neurotransmitters
Serotonin- What does it do?
A hormone and neurotransmitter, serotonin plays an important role in regulating and
modulating mood (often referred to as the happy chemical), it also impacts on sleep,
anxiety, sex, appetite, digestion
Neurotransmitters
Serotonin- What happens If there is too much or too little serotonin?
A lack of serotonin in the brain is associated with depression, anxiety, digestive
problems.
Too much serotonin can cause high blood pressure, diarrhoea, seizures and
serotonin syndrome which can be fatal. (normally only caused by drugs which
increases serotonin)
Neurotransmitters
Glutamate- What does it do?
The most plentiful neurotransmitters found in the nervous system, glutamate plays a
role in the cognitive functions such as memory and learning.
Neurotransmitters
Glutamate- What happens if there is too much or too little?
Excessive amounts of glutamate can cause excitotoxicity, resulting in cellular death.
This excitotoxicity is caused by glutamate build up which is associated with some
diseases and brain injuries, including Alzheimers disease, stroke, and epileptic
seizures.
Too little glutamate has been linked to schizophrenia.
Neurotransmitters
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)- What does it do?
Contributes to vision, movement, anxiety and sleep
Neurotransmitters
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)- What happens if there is too much or too
little?
Biological Psychology 2025- 2026 Review GRADED A+ QUESTIONS WIT H
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
What are the two components of the central nervous system? (AO1)
Brain and spinal cord
What does the central nervous system do? (AO1)
Consists of the brain and spinal cord, it is the central processing and central point for
all human behaviour. The brain processes all incoming information from the senses
and is then responsible for controlling behaviour that may result from this
information.
Show the structure of a neurone? (AO1)
Describe the role of a neurone? (AO1)
The neurones role is to pass messages between neurones using neurotransmitters
to enable behaviour, thinking and emotions to be transmitted and enable the working
of the brain. The electrical impulses travel down the Axon, trigger the release of
neurotransmitters from the terminal at the end of the Axon and pass messages
between neurones.
Describe the cell body and what it contains? (AO1)
The cell body of the neurone contains the cell nucleus, which houses the genetic
material for that neurone. The cell body also contains other materials that allow the
cell to function, such as the mitochondria, which provides the neurone with energy.
Describe the dendrites and what they do? (AO1)
Attached to the cell body are the dendrites that receive messages from other
neuron's in order to trigger an action potential (an electrical impulse) within the cell.
Describe the axon? (AO1)
Attached to the cell body is the axon, it passes the electrical impulse towards the
axon terminals.
Around the outside of the axon are layers of fattu deposits called myelin sheath that
, Page 2 of 32
provides an insulating layer to the axon to help speed up the rate of message
transmission. There are breaks between the cells along the myelin sheath, which are
known as nodes of ranvier
Describe the axon terminal and what it does? (AO1)
Axon terminal are found at the end of the axon and on the ends of these are terminal
buttons
Axon terminals pass nerve impulses from the cell body to the parts of the body that
they control or activate. This could be another neurone or a muscle/gland.
- These bulb shaped structures contain tiny sacs called vesicles that store
neurotransmitters ready for the next stage of neural transmission.
Describe the role of a neurotransmitter??
Chemicals that pass messages between neurones.
The role of neurotransmitters is to carry messages from one neuron to another.
Some neurotransmitters facilitate the transmission of messages and some stop the
transmission of messages.
Neurotransmitters are critical to the functioning of the brain which makes decision
about how we behave and everything that we do.
It is thought that we have around 100 different neurotransmitters which each having
a different function.
What is an action potential?
The AP refers to the actual method by which the nerve impulse passes down the
axon of the neurone to stimulate the release of neurotransmitters.
This is a tiny electrical impulse that is triggered by a change in the electrical potential
of the neuron itself.
Describe how an action potential occurs in 4 steps?
1. When a neurone is in a resting state, the inside is negatively charged.
2. When a neuron is sufficiently activated by a stimulus, the inside becomes
positively charged for a split second. This is called depolarisation
3.Depolarisation creates an electrical impulse (action potential) that travels down the
axon towards the terminal button.
4. Most myelinated neurons are capable of conducting up to 500 action potentials
per second.
Describe excitatory post synaptic potential?
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The temporary depolarisation of a neuron as a result of positively charged ions
flowing into the cell that make it more likely to fire an action potential
Describe inhibitory post synaptic potential?
Changes in the polarisation for a neurone that makes it less likely to fire an action
potential
Synaptic transmission
1. Describe the electrical impulse/how it travels down the axon (AO1)
The electrical impulse (action potential) is carried down the axon towards the axon
terminal
The myelin sheath (fatty deposits around the axon) provide an insulating layer to the
axon and help speed up the electrical impulse down the axon.
Synaptic transmission
2. Describe the electrical message changing to chemical message including
vesicles
The electrical impulse reaches the axon terminal where the nerve impulse becomes
a chemical message
These chemical messages are in the form of neurotransmitters which are contained
in vesicles
The vesicles kind to the terminal button and releases its neurotransmitters into the
synaptic cleft
Synaptic transmission
3. What happens to neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft
The neurotransmitters bind to the receptor sites on the post synaptic membrane
If enough neurotransmitter (excitatory) is received another action potential is
generated and the process starts again. The neurotransmitters can then be recycled
by reuptake back into the pre-synaptic neurone or broken down by enzymes or
diffuse away.
Neurotransmitters
Dopamine- What does it do? (AO1)
Dopamine is most associated with pleasure feelings.
Everything that makes an individual feel good is down to dopamine and the effect it
has on the brain.
Every addictive substance known, affects dopamine release in the brains 'reward
pathway'. Dopamine is also thought to have an impact on cognition and emotion.
, Page 4 of 32
Neurotransmitters
Dopamine- What happens if there is too much or too little?
Schizophrenia has been linked to over activity of dopamine in the hypothalamus.
Parkinson's disease is thought to be caused by decay of neurones that release
dopamine.
Neurotransmitters
Serotonin- What does it do?
A hormone and neurotransmitter, serotonin plays an important role in regulating and
modulating mood (often referred to as the happy chemical), it also impacts on sleep,
anxiety, sex, appetite, digestion
Neurotransmitters
Serotonin- What happens If there is too much or too little serotonin?
A lack of serotonin in the brain is associated with depression, anxiety, digestive
problems.
Too much serotonin can cause high blood pressure, diarrhoea, seizures and
serotonin syndrome which can be fatal. (normally only caused by drugs which
increases serotonin)
Neurotransmitters
Glutamate- What does it do?
The most plentiful neurotransmitters found in the nervous system, glutamate plays a
role in the cognitive functions such as memory and learning.
Neurotransmitters
Glutamate- What happens if there is too much or too little?
Excessive amounts of glutamate can cause excitotoxicity, resulting in cellular death.
This excitotoxicity is caused by glutamate build up which is associated with some
diseases and brain injuries, including Alzheimers disease, stroke, and epileptic
seizures.
Too little glutamate has been linked to schizophrenia.
Neurotransmitters
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)- What does it do?
Contributes to vision, movement, anxiety and sleep
Neurotransmitters
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)- What happens if there is too much or too
little?
