AP Psychology
Chapter 3 Biospsychology – Practice FRQ Rubric
Randy has been experiencing several disturbing symptoms over the last
year, including muscle weakness, slowed reaction time, visual perception
issues, weight gain, a general sense of pain and visual/auditory
hallucinations. Explain why his doctors might be concerned with each of
these in making their diagnosis. Discuss the role/importance of each and
tell which one would be responsible for each of the above problems.
a. Hypothalamus – weight gain
 Serves as blood-testing laboratory
 Regulates appetite, thirst, body temp, motivation
 Detects changes in body tem, fluid levels, and nutrients
 Links nervous system with endocrine system
 Part of the limbic system/forebrain
b. Myelin sheath – slowed reaction time, muscle weakness
 Fatty insulation around axons
 Speeds up communication along the axon
 Damage to myelin sheath can cause motor issues and slowed
reaction time.
 Protects the cell
c. Occipital lobe – visual hallucinations, visual perception problems
 Located at back of brain
 Contain the visual cortex
d. Temporal lobe – auditory hallucinations
 Located above ears
 Contains auditory cortex
 Plays a role in memory and processing speech
e. Parietal lobe – general sense of pain
 Located along top of brain
 Contain somatosensory cortex
 Processes the senses (pain) and creates a mental map of the body
f. Neurotransmitters – slowed reaction time, muscle weakness, general
sense of pain
 Chemical messengers that relay neural messages across the synapse
 If the neurotransmitters are not moving fast enough, this may cause
problems with messages regarding reaction time, weakness, pain
 Endorphins control pain; norepinephrine controls appetite,
dopamine influences hallucinations