PAST PAPERS: BIOPSYCHOLOGY: AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY RESOURCES
PSYCHOLOGY AQA A LEVEL UNIT 2: 7182/2
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THE SYLLABUS
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM & ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
- The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons. The process of synaptic transmission, including reference to neurotransmitters, excitation and inhibition
- The divisions of the nervous system: central and peripheral (somatic and autonomic)
- The function of the endocrine system: glands and hormones
- The fight or flight response including the role of adrenaline
LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION IN THE BRAIN AND HEMISPHERIC LATERALISATION
- Motor, somatosensory, visual, auditory and language centres including Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas
- Split brain research
- Plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma
WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
- Scanning techniques, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); electroencephalogram (EEGs) and event-related potentials (ERPs); post-mortem examinations
BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
- Circadian, infradian and ultradian and the difference between these rhythms
- The effect of endogenous pacemakers and exogenous zeitgebers on the sleep/wake cycle
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SPECIMEN PAPER 1 (A-level Psychology revision)
Read the item and then answer the questions that follow.
The image below shows the left hemisphere of the human brain. Six areas of cortical specialisation are labelled A, B, C, D, E and F.
Left hemisphere of the human brain
Using your knowledge of localisation of function in the brain, identify the area of cortical specialisation. Shade one box only for each area.
(Total 5 marks)
The electroencephalogram (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs) both involve recording the electrical activity of the brain.
Outline one difference between the EEG and ERPs.
(Total 2 marks)
Read the item and then answer the question that follows.
Sam is a police officer. She has just started working the night shift and after a week, she finds that she has difficulty sleeping during the day and is becoming tense and irritable. Sam is also worried that she is less alert during the night shift itself.
Using your knowledge of endogenous pacemakers and exogenous zeitgebers, explain Sam’s experiences.
(Total 4 marks)
The human female menstrual cycle is an example of one type of biological rhythm; it is called a:
|
A |
circadian rhythm |
O |
|
B |
infradian rhythm |
O |
|
C |
ultradian rhythm |
O |
(Total 1 mark)
Outline the structures and processes involved in synaptic transmission.
(Total 6 marks)
Split brain patients show unusual behaviour when tested in experiments. Briefly explain how unusual behaviour in split brain patients could be tested in an experiment.
[2 marks]
Briefly evaluate research using split brain patients to investigate hemispheric lateralisation of function.
[4 marks]
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SPECIMEN PAPER 2 (AQA A-level Psychology revision)
Outline the role of adrenaline in the fight or flight response.
[4 marks]
Robert suffered a stroke at the age of 55. After the stroke he was paralysed down his right side, though he could move his left arm and leg easily. Robert could clearly understand what was said to him, but was unable to produce any speech.
Discuss how knowledge of hemispheric lateralisation and language centres in the brain has helped our understanding of cases such as Robert’s. Refer to Robert’s case in your answer.
[16 marks]
A psychologist wanted to test the effects of biological rhythms on the ability to solve maths problems. She used random sampling to form two groups each of 20 students.
She tested one group on one set of maths problems at 3 am in the morning. The other group were tested on another set of maths problems at 3 pm in the afternoon. She found that performance of the group tested at 3 pm was significantly better than the group tested at 3 am.
When submitted for peer review the paper was rejected because of serious design problems.
Explain one problem with the design of this study and suggest ways of dealing with this problem.
[4 marks]
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SPECIMEN PAPER 3 (AQA A-level Psychology revision guide)
Identify the two components of the peripheral nervous system, and explain two differences in their organisation and/or functions.
[4 marks]
Josie is twelve. Last year she was involved in a serious road accident and suffered head injuries that caused problems with speech and understanding language. Now, a year later, Josie has recovered most of her language abilities.
Using your knowledge of plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma, explain Josie’s recovery.
(4 marks)
Which of the following, A, B, C, or D is a feature of functional magnetic resonance imaging? Shade one box only.
- Directly measuring the electrical activity of neurons using electrodes implanted in the brain.
- Directly measuring the electrical activity of neurons using electrodes on the scalp.
- Indirectly measuring the electrical activity of neurons by recording changes in brain blood flow.
- Indirectly measuring the electrical activity of neurons by recording changes in neurotransmitter release.
(1 mark)
Identify two glands that form part of the endocrinal system and outline their functions.
(4 marks)
Discuss what research has shown about localisation of function in the brain.
[8 marks]
Raoul has recently been prescribed a drug for a mental illness. He looks on the internet to find out more about the drug but he does not understand the phrase ‘synaptic transmission’.
Write a brief explanation of synaptic transmission in the brain to help Raoul understand how his drug might work.
(Total 3 marks)
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2017 (A-level Psychology resources)
Explain the process of synaptic transmission.
[4 marks]
Lotta’s grandmother suffered a stroke to the left hemisphere, damaging Broca’s area and the motor cortex.
Using your knowledge of the functions of Broca’s area and the motor cortex, describe the problems that Lotta’s grandmother is likely to experience.
(4 marks)
Lotta worried that because of her grandmother’s age will not be able to make any recovery.
Using your knowledge of brain plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma, explain why Lotta might be wrong.
(4 marks)
A researcher wants to investigate the effectiveness of physiotherapy in the recovery of stroke patients with brain damage. Carers of stroke patients will be sent questionnaires to produce quantitative data.
Explain one disadvantage of obtaining quantitative data in this study.
[2 marks]
Write one question that could be used in the researcher’s questionnaire to produce quantitative data and one question that could be used in the researcher’s questionnaire to produce qualitative data.
[2 marks]
Outline and evaluate one or more ways of studying the brain.
[8 marks]
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2018 (AQA A-level Psychology resources)
Give one difference between the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system.
[1 mark]
Name the types of neurons labelled A, B and C on Figure 1 below. Write your answers in the boxes provided.
[3 marks]
Information can only travel in one direction at a synapse.
Explain why neurons can only transmit information in one direction at a synapse.
[3 marks]
The fight or flight response enabled our ancestors to survive but can be less helpful in response to more modern stressors.
Explain how the body responds during fight or flight and why this could be unhelpful in a driving test situation.
[4 marks]
Julia complains that her baby is sleeping all day and keeping her awake all night. Using your knowledge of research into exogenous zeitgebers, discuss what Julia could do to encourage her baby to sleep more at night.
[8 marks]
Julia decided to record how many hours her baby slept for in the day and in the night for one week.
Table 1 The number of hours slept in the day and the number of hours slept in the night over one week
Calculate the mean number of hours slept in the night. Show your workings.
Give your answer to two significant figures.
[3 marks]
Explain one reason why the mean is the most appropriate measure of central tendency for this set of data.
[2 marks]
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2019 (A-level Psychology notes)
Which method of studying the brain would most accurately identify specific brain areas activated during a cognitive task?
Shade one circle only.
[1 mark]
A Electroencephalogram (EEGs)
B Event-related potentials (ERPs)
C Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
D Post-mortem examinations
Figure 1 shows three different types of neuron. Use the letters from Figure 1 to answer the following questions.
Figure 1 Types of neuron
Which neuron is only found in the brain/visual system/spinal cord? [1 mark]
A
B
C
Which neuron carries nerve impulses from the brain/spinal cord to muscles/glands? [1 mark]
A
B
C
Which neuron carries nerve impulses between neurons? [1 mark]
A
B
C
The adrenal gland is part of the endocrine system that produces adrenaline to help the body prepare for the fight or flight response.
Using an example of a gland and hormone, outline the function of the endocrine system. Do not use the adrenal gland/adrenaline as your example.
[4 marks]
Kieran completes a quiz in his magazine and announces that he is ‘left brained’.
“That’s just silly”, Sam says. “You cannot just be ‘left brained’, the whole brain works together to carry out functions.”
“It’s not silly!” Kieran replies. “It says here that the left brain is responsible for speech and language.”
Discuss research into localisation of function in the brain and/or hemispheric lateralisation. Refer to Kieran and Sam’s discussion in your answer.
[16 marks]
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2020 (AQA A-level Psychology notes)
Figure 1 shows the left hemisphere of the human brain. Five areas of the brain are labelled A, B, C, D and E.
Using the letters given in Figure 1, correctly identify the areas of the brain to complete the table below.
[4 marks]
Explain the difference between infradian rhythms and ultradian rhythms.
[2 marks]
A survey of hospital patients has found that a new drug, Zapurpain, is as effective as other pain medication.
Explain one limitation of asking hospital patients to self-report the effectiveness of Zapurpain.
[2 marks]
Zapurpain acts like an inhibitory neurotransmitter at the synapse.
Explain how Zapurpain might affect the process of synaptic transmission through inhibition.
[4 marks]
Explain one difference and one similarity between Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) as ways of studying the brain.
[4 marks]
Outline and evaluate split-brain research.
[8 marks]
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2021 (A-level Psychology revision notes)
i
Describe the structure and function of a neuron.
[6 marks]
Studies have identified Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area as responsible for language.
Outline the difference in function between Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area.
[2 marks]
Discuss ways of studying the brain.
[16 marks]
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2022 (AQA A-level Psychology revision notes)
Which of the following neurons carries electrical impulses towards the brain?
Shade one box only.
[1 mark]
A Interneuron
B Motor neuron
C Relay neuron
D Sensory neuron
Which one of the following is not a way of studying the brain?
Shade one box only.
[1 mark]
A Electrocardiogram (ECG)
B Electroencephalogram (EEG)
C Event-related potentials (ERPs)
D Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
Describe the divisions of the nervous system.
[6 marks]
Discuss localisation of function in the brain.
[16 marks]