Edexcel International A Level Psychology
Edexcel International A Level Psychology Biological Psychology Exam Questions
Free Edexcel International A Level Psychology exam questions for Biological Psychology, with a mark scheme for every pack. Covers synaptic transmission, brain regions, hormones and genes in aggression, body rhythms, brain scanning, twin studies and Raine (1997).
Biological Psychology exam questions
1 question pack of real past exam questions, each with its mark scheme. Do not stop after a few: answer as many as you can without notes, then mark every answer with the mark scheme. The more questions you do, the more quickly you will spot how examiners ask about each idea.
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About Edexcel International A Level Psychology Biological Psychology
Biological psychology in Edexcel International A Level Psychology is studied in Unit 2, Biological Psychology, Learning Theories and Development. It explains behaviour in terms of the nervous system, neurotransmitters, brain structure, hormones, genes and evolution, with a focus on aggression, and it also covers body rhythms such as the sleep-wake cycle. Methods content includes correlational research and analysis, brain scanning techniques and twin studies. The classic study is Raine, Buchsbaum and LaCasse (1997) on brain abnormalities in murderers, and you also study a contemporary study such as Brendgen et al. (2005) on aggression in twins. Examiners ask you to apply biological explanations to novel scenarios and to evaluate scanning methods.
What you need to know
- Nervous system and synapses The central nervous system is the brain and spinal cord. Neurotransmitters released from the presynaptic neuron cross the synapse, bind to receptors and are then removed by reuptake or enzymes.
- Brain regions and aggression The prefrontal cortex is linked to impulse control and the amygdala and limbic system to emotional responses; damage or reduced activity in these areas is linked to aggression.
- Hormones, genes and evolution Testosterone is associated with aggression. Genetic influences include the MAOA gene, and evolutionary explanations see aggression as adaptive for gaining resources and mates.
- Body rhythms Circadian rhythms last about 24 hours, such as the sleep-wake cycle, controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (an endogenous pacemaker) and reset by exogenous zeitgebers such as light. Disruption occurs with jet lag and shift work.
- Classic study: Raine et al. (1997) PET scans compared 41 murderers pleading not guilty by reason of insanity with 41 matched controls. Murderers showed reduced glucose metabolism in the prefrontal cortex and abnormal asymmetries in the amygdala, hippocampus and thalamus.
- Methods Correlational research and Spearman's rho, scanning techniques such as PET, CAT and fMRI, and twin studies comparing concordance in MZ and DZ twins.
Common mistakes in Biological Psychology
- Saying Raine et al. proved that brain abnormalities cause murder; the study is correlational in nature and the authors warned against this conclusion.
- Confusing endogenous pacemakers with exogenous zeitgebers; pacemakers are internal clocks, zeitgebers are external cues such as light.
- Describing PET as showing only brain structure; it shows activity by measuring metabolism of a radioactive tracer.
- Assuming a high MZ concordance proves behaviour is entirely genetic; twins also share environments.
- Writing that a correlation shows one variable causes another.
Try three Biological Psychology exam-style questions
1. Explain the role of the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the sleep-wake cycle. (3 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
The SCN in the hypothalamus is the main endogenous pacemaker; it receives information about light levels from the eyes via the optic chiasm; it signals the pineal gland to release melatonin when it is dark, making us sleepy, which keeps the cycle at about 24 hours.
2. Describe how twin studies are used to investigate the role of genes in aggression. (4 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Researchers compare concordance rates for aggression in monozygotic (identical) and dizygotic (non-identical) twins; MZ twins share 100% of their genes and DZ twins about 50%; if MZ concordance is higher than DZ concordance, this suggests a genetic influence; because both types of twin are assumed to share similar environments.
3. Give one strength and one weakness of Raine et al. (1997). (4 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Strength: the murderers were matched with controls on age, sex and in some cases schizophrenia; so differences in brain activity are more likely to be linked to violence; Weakness: the murderers were all pleading not guilty by reason of insanity; so the findings may not generalise to other violent offenders.
Biological Psychology FAQs
What does Edexcel International A Level Psychology Biological psychology cover?
It covers the CNS and synaptic transmission, brain regions linked to aggression, hormones, genes and evolution, body rhythms, correlations, scanning techniques, twin studies, Raine et al. (1997) and contemporary studies.
Which unit is Biological psychology examined in?
Biological psychology is examined in Unit 2, Biological Psychology, Learning Theories and Development.
Which studies should I learn for Biological psychology?
Learn Raine et al. (1997) as the classic study, Brendgen et al. (2005) on genetic and environmental influences on aggression in twins, and the further contemporary study your teacher chooses.
