AP® Psychology | Graded Assignment | Chapter 4 Exam Part 2

Name: Jessie Huang Date: 1/16/2021

Graded Assignment
Chapter 4 Exam Part 2

Total Score: 40 points

Questions
(Score for Question 1: _____ of 20 points)

1. Describe the effects of brain damage on each of the following regions of the brain.

(a) Frontal lobe

a. The frontal lobe controls attention, organization, speaking, motor planning, emotions, problem
solving and judgment. If there was damage to the frontal lobe, that may affect the individual’s
ability to control emotions, impulses and behavior as well as may result in difficulty
remembering events, increased irritability and even speaking. An example is Phineas Gage-
his friends describe him as a completely different man after the accident.

(b) Temporal lobe

a. The temporal lobe controls memory, understanding language as well as hearing and
organization. If there was damage to the temporal lobe, that may affect communication and
memory as well as difficulty in understanding words.

(c) Occipital lobe

a. The occipital lobe controls vision. If there was damage to the occipital lobe, it may result in
difficulty seeing and poor processing of visual information

(d) Parietal lobe

a. The parietal lobe controls the sense of touch, spatial perception, as well as visual perception.
If there was damage to the parietal lobe, there could be left right confusion as well as
language disorders and object perception difficulties. The results are called “Gerstmann’s
Syndrome” which is the loss of a host of neurological functions.

 (Score for Question 2: _____ of 20 points)

2. Neurotransmitters play a vital role in behavior. Discuss the functions of three neurotransmitters and the
resulting effects of an excess and a deficiency.

1. Dopamine: Dopamine is a modulatory neurotransmitter and its cell bodies are only found in

small collections of nuclei within the midbrain. Dopamine is synthesized by the chemical L-

Dopa and enzyme L-amino acid decarboxylase. One of the major functions of dopamine is

reward learning and prediction- when you adjust your behavior based on prediction of perceived

rewards in the future. An excess of dopamine can lead to excessively competitive and aggressive

behaviors linked to binge eating, addiction, gambling, etc. A deficiency can be linked to

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 AP® Psychology | Graded Assignment | Chapter 4 Exam Part 2
depression, schizophrenia as well as psychosis. A good way to make sure your dopamine levels

are normal is to maintain a healthy lifestyle- for example enjoying frequent outdoor pursuits!

2. Serotonin: Serotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter and can be mainly found in the raphe

nucleus as well as the caudal linear nucleus. Serotonin is synthesized if there is the amino acid L-

tryptophan. One of the major functions of Serotonin is as a mood stabilizer as well as feelings of

well-being and happiness. An excess of serotonin (serotonin syndrome) can lead to an altered

mental status (irritability, anxiety), neuromuscular hyperactivity (tremors, shivering, muscle

spasms) and autonomic hyperactivity (rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, fever). A deficiency

can be linked to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. A good way to maintain

healthy serotonin levels is being out in natural sunlight, enough vitamin D, as well as eating

tryptophan-rich foods (animal protein).

3. Acetylcholine: Acetylcholine a neurotransmitter and is made in the brain by the enzyme choline

acetyltransferase. It’s synthesized by two chemical compounds, choline and acetyl-CoA (hence

the name). One of the major functions of acetylcholine is in cognitive processes such as learning,

memory and attention. An excess of acetylcholine can lead to cholinergic crisis which can be

seen in increased salivation, cramps, muscular weakness and paralysis. A deficiency can be

linked to memory problems, learning difficulties and a dry mouth (lack of salivation). A good

way to maintain healthy acetylcholine levels is taking dietary supplements rich in choline (which

is then converted into acetylcholine.

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