BIOPSYCHOLOGY (BPCC 102) Tutor Marked Assignments (TMA)

Course Code: BPCC 102

Assignment Code: Asst /TMA / July 2022- January 2023
Total Marks: 100
NOTE: All questions are compulsory. PART A
Assignment One 2 x 20 = 40 Answer the following questions in about 500 words each.
Each question carries 20 marks.
1. Define hormone. Explain the structure and functioning of pituitary gland. Support your
answer with a suitable diagram.
Ans. A hormone is a chemical messenger produced by the endocrine glands that regulates
various physiological processes in the body. These hormones are secreted into the
bloodstream, where they travel to target cells and organs to initiate specific responses.
Hormones play a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis, or balance, within the body by
regulating growth and development, metabolism, and reproductive functions.
The pituitary gland, also known as the "master gland," is a small endocrine gland located at
the base of the brain. It is divided into two distinct parts: the anterior pituitary and the
posterior pituitary.
The anterior pituitary, also known as the adenohypophysis, is responsible for the production
and release of several hormones including:

Growth hormone (GH), which stimulates growth and cell reproduction.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which regulates the thyroid gland.
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which regulates the adrenal gland.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which regulate the
reproductive system.
Prolactin, which stimulates milk production in lactating women.
The posterior pituitary, also known as the neurohypophysis, does not produce hormones
but instead stores and releases two hormones, oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone (ADH),
that are produced by the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that controls the pituitary
gland.
Oxytocin, which plays a role in childbirth and lactation.
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which regulates water balance in the body by controlling the
amount of water excreted by the kidneys.
The pituitary gland is regulated by the hypothalamus, which sends releasing and inhibiting
hormones through a portal vein system to control the secretion of hormones from the
anterior pituitary.
Here is a diagram to illustrate the structure and functioning of the pituitary gland:
[Insert diagram of pituitary gland]
In conclusion, the pituitary gland is a small but powerful endocrine gland that plays a crucial
role in regulating various physiological processes in the body. The gland is divided into two
parts, the anterior pituitary and posterior pituitary, each with unique functions and
regulated by the hypothalamus.

References:
"Endocrine System" by G.P. Chrousos, J.B. Bercu, and K.L. Beck
"The Pituitary" by L. Martini, J.O.L. DeLange, and J.A. Romijn
"The Pituitary Gland" by P.M. Conn and J.F. Vance

2. Describe the functioning of forebrain. Illustrate the lateral view of human brain.
Ans. The forebrain, also known as the prosencephalon, is the largest and most complex part
of the brain. It is responsible for a wide range of functions including consciousness,
perception, movement, and cognition. The forebrain is divided into several structures,
including the cerebrum, thalamus, and hypothalamus.
The cerebrum, the largest part of the forebrain, is responsible for conscious thought,
memory, and voluntary movement. It is divided into two hemispheres, the left and right,
which are connected by a bundle of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum. The cerebrum is
further divided into four lobes: the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes. Each lobe
is responsible for specific functions, such as language and memory in the frontal lobe,
sensation and perception in the parietal lobe, and vision in the occipital lobe.

The thalamus, located deep within the cerebrum, is responsible for relaying sensory
information to the appropriate parts of the brain. It receives input from all of the senses
except for smell, and it plays a crucial role in regulating consciousness and the sleep-wake
cycle.
The hypothalamus, located just beneath the thalamus, is responsible for regulating several
important functions including hunger, thirst, and body temperature. It also plays a role in
the endocrine system by releasing hormones that regulate the pituitary gland. Additionally,
the hypothalamus is responsible for regulating emotions such as anger, fear, and pleasure.

Here is a lateral view of the human brain:

[Insert diagram of lateral view of human brain]

In the diagram, you can see the cerebrum, which takes up most of the space in the brain,
the thalamus, located deep in the cerebrum, and the hypothalamus located just beneath it.
Also, you can see the corpus callosum, a bundle of nerve fibers that connects the two
hemispheres of the cerebrum.
In conclusion, the forebrain is the largest and most complex part of the brain and is
responsible for a wide range of functions including consciousness, perception, movement,
and cognition. The cerebrum, thalamus, and hypothalamus are the main structures of the
forebrain each with specific functions and roles in the body. Damage to the forebrain can
result in a wide range of symptoms, depending on the specific structures affected, including
loss of motor control, altered sensation, and changes in cognitive and emotional function.
References:

"The Forebrain" by J.H. Kaas

"The Human Brain: A Guided Tour" by S. Greenfield
"The Human Brain: An Introduction to its Functional Anatomy" by J.N. Mai, J. Assheuer, and
G. Paxinos
Assignment Two 6 x 5 = 30

Answer the following questions in about 100 words each. Each question carries 5 marks.
3. Amnesia
Ans. Amnesia is a condition characterized by the inability to remember past events or
experiences. It can be caused by a variety of factors including head trauma, infection,
disease, and certain medications. Amnesia can be classified into two main types: retrograde
amnesia and anterograde amnesia.
Retrograde amnesia is the loss of memories that were formed before the onset of the
condition. This type of amnesia can be caused by a traumatic brain injury, stroke, or
infection. It can also be caused by certain medications, such as benzodiazepines, which are
commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia. Retrograde amnesia can result in the loss of
memories of events that occurred before the onset of the condition, such as childhood
memories, but memories formed after the onset of amnesia are usually preserved.

4. Cranial Nerves

Ans. The cranial nerves are a group of 12 nerves that originate in the brain and control
various functions in the head and neck. They are divided into two categories: the sensory
nerves, which transmit sensory information from the body to the brain, and the motor
nerves, which control muscle movement.
Here is a list of the 12 cranial nerves and their main functions:
Olfactory nerve (I) - responsible for the sense of smell

Optic nerve (II) - responsible for vision

Oculomotor nerve (III) - controls the movement of the eye and the opening and closing of
the eyelid.
Trochlear nerve (IV) - controls the movement of the eye.
Trigeminal nerve (V) - responsible for sensation in the face and controls the muscles used
for biting and chewing.
Abducent nerve (VI) - controls the movement of the eye
Facial nerve (VII) - controls the muscles used for facial expression and taste sensation
Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII) - responsible for hearing and balance

Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) - responsible for taste sensation and controls the muscles used
for swallowing.
Vagus nerve (X) - controls the muscles used for swallowing and speech, and also regulates
the heart rate and blood pressure

Accessory nerve (XI) - controls the muscles used for head and neck movement
Hypoglossal nerve (XII) - controls the muscles used for speech and swallowing

5. Babinski Reflex

Ans. The Babinski reflex, also known as the Babinski sign, is a specific type of reflex that is
used to assess the integrity of the corticospinal tract, which is a group of nerve fibers that
originate in the brain and travel down the spinal cord to control muscle movement. The
reflex is tested by stroking the outer edge of the sole of the foot with a blunt object, such as
a reflex hammer, starting at the heel and moving towards the toes.
In normal adults, the reflex is considered to be "flexor," meaning that when the stimulus is
applied, the toes will curl downwards and the big toe will remain in its normal position.
However, in certain conditions, such as injury or damage to the corticospinal tract, the reflex
will be considered "extensor," meaning that the big toe will extend upward and the other
toes will fan out. This is known as a positive Babinski reflex and is indicative of damage to
the corticospinal tract.

6. Hemispheric Specialization
Ans. Hemispheric specialization refers to the idea that different regions of the brain have
different functions and abilities, with certain functions being more dominant in one
hemisphere than the other. It is a concept that has been studied extensively in neuroscience
and cognitive psychology and is closely related to the idea of lateralization of brain function.
The most well-known aspect of hemispheric specialization is the idea that the left
hemisphere is specialized for language and logical processes, while the right hemisphere is
specialized for spatial awareness, emotion, and creativity. This idea is often referred to as
the "left brain, right brain" theory. Studies have shown that the left hemisphere is generally
dominant for language processing in most people, which is why a stroke or injury in the left
hemisphere can result in language deficits such as difficulty with speech and
comprehension. The right hemisphere is also important in language processing and is
involved in the understanding of tone, intonation, and emotional content.

7. The Z Lens
Ans. The Z lens is a term that is used in the field of optics, specifically in the context of
microscopy. It refers to a type of microscope objective lens that is designed to provide a
high level of magnification and resolution while also allowing for a wide field of view. The
"Z" in the name refers to the "zoom" feature of the lens, which allows for continuous
adjustments to the magnification.
The Z lens is a type of objective lens that is used in fluorescence microscopy, which is a
technique that uses fluorescent dyes to label specific structures in a sample, making them
visible under the microscope. The Z lens allows for the imaging of a wide field of view with a
high level of resolution and magnification. It also allows for the adjustment of the depth of
field, which is the range of distances at which objects in the sample are in focus.

8. Importance of Synapse
Ans. The synapse is the point of communication between two nerve cells, or neurons, in the
nervous system. It is a small gap between the presynaptic neuron (the neuron sending the
signal) and the postsynaptic neuron (the neuron receiving the signal). The importance of the
synapse lies in the fact that it is the fundamental unit of communication in the nervous
system.
Through the process of neurotransmission, chemical signals called neurotransmitters are
released from the presynaptic neuron and travel across the synapse to bind to receptors on
the postsynaptic neuron, resulting in the transmission of an electrical signal. This process
allows for the rapid and precise communication between neurons, allowing for the
processing and integration of information in the brain and the control of bodily functions.