Psychology

1. 1.

   Explain how chemical transmission across a synapse differs from an electrical impulse travelling along a neuron.

   [3 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

   Draft walkthroughs are based on marking guidance, not independently verified derivations.

   1. Electrical signalling reaches the terminal, where chemical release communicates across the gap. The receiving cell integrates excitatory and inhibitory effects rather than automatically firing after every release.

   Marking points

   • An action potential propagates electrically along the neuron's membrane.
   • At a chemical synapse neurotransmitters cross the gap and bind to receptors on the next cell.
   • Receptor effects can increase or decrease the likelihood of the next cell firing.

   Examiner tip: Avoid saying the electrical impulse simply jumps across every synaptic gap.

2. 2.

   Explain one distinction between the roles of the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches in a stress response and recovery.

   [2 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

   Draft walkthroughs are based on marking guidance, not independently verified derivations.

   1. The branches regulate bodily readiness rather than representing emotions themselves. Their organ-specific actions interact, so 'fight or flight' and 'rest and digest' are useful summaries, not complete descriptions.

   Marking points

   • Sympathetic activity generally mobilises resources for action, such as increasing heart rate.
   • Parasympathetic activity generally supports recovery and conservation, such as slowing heart rate.

   Examiner tip: Use an organ-specific example rather than claiming one branch switches off the other entirely.

3. 3.

   Fictional study: an imaging task shows higher activity in one brain region during face recognition than during object recognition. Analyse what this suggests and why it does not prove that region alone performs face recognition.

   [4 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

   Draft walkthroughs are based on marking guidance, not independently verified derivations.

   1. Activation supports involvement, not exclusive ownership of a function. Converging evidence from timing, lesions and controlled contrasts can clarify whether the region is necessary and how it interacts with others.

   Marking points

   • The region's activity is associated with the contrast between the tasks.
   • The comparison must match visual difficulty and other task demands.
   • Imaging measures are indirect indicators and do not alone demonstrate necessity.
   • Face recognition may depend on a distributed network including that region.

   Examiner tip: Distinguish association, necessity and sufficiency.

4. 4.

   Fictional study: identical twins are more similar on a trait than non-identical twins. Analyse a genetic interpretation and a limitation of the equal-environments assumption.

   [4 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

   Draft walkthroughs are based on marking guidance, not independently verified derivations.

   1. The design compares genetic relatedness but may also compare social treatment. Investigate relevant environmental similarity and use other designs rather than interpreting the contrast as a pure genetic experiment.

   Marking points

   • Identical twins share a greater proportion of genetic variants, consistent with a genetic contribution.
   • The inference assumes relevant environments are similarly shared across twin types.
   • More similar treatment or shared experiences for identical twins could also increase similarity.
   • The result does not identify a single gene or rule out environmental influence.

   Examiner tip: Greater twin similarity is evidence compatible with genetics, not proof of genetic determinism.

5. 5.

   Fictional case: a news article calls a neurotransmitter a single 'chemical cause' of motivation. Evaluate this explanation.

   [4 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

   Draft walkthroughs are based on marking guidance, not independently verified derivations.

   1. A chemical label can summarise one mechanism while obscuring complex interactions. Integrate neural processes with learning and context instead of treating one substance as a complete explanation.

   Marking points

   • Indicative: neurotransmitter systems can contribute to reward processing and behaviour.
   • Effects depend on receptors, circuits and context, not concentration alone.
   • Goals, experience and social incentives also shape motivated action.
   • A justified judgement rejects a single-cause claim while retaining biological mechanisms as part of an explanation.

   Examiner tip: Avoid turning a correlational chemical finding into a universal cause.

6. 6.

   Fictional case: a brain-injury case study is cited as proof that all language functions lie in one small region. Evaluate the evidence and generalisation.

   [4 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

   Draft walkthroughs are based on marking guidance, not independently verified derivations.

   1. Case studies can reveal dissociations but are not controlled removal of one isolated module. Compare comprehension, production and recovery patterns across cases and methods before claiming exclusive localisation.

   Marking points

   • Indicative: selective impairment can inform hypotheses about regional contributions.
   • An injury may affect connected networks as well as the visibly damaged region.
   • Single cases vary in premorbid ability, lesion extent and recovery.
   • A justified conclusion requires convergent cases and methods and distinguishes language subfunctions.

   Examiner tip: A region's involvement in one language task does not place all language there.

Original, unofficial practice questions from SubjectScout — not official past-paper questions.