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Brain and Drugs

103 min
75 marks

1.

The diagram below shows a section through a human brain.

C
B

Complete the table below by writing in the letter and the name of the region of the brain that
carries out each function.
Function

Letter

Name of region

Initiating and controlling

voluntary muscle
movement
Coordinating skeletal
muscle movement, balance
and posture
Controlling heart and
breathing rate
(Total 4 marks)

2.

The picture below shows the response of a cats pupil to bright light.

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(a)

(i)

Describe how the nervous system controls the pupil reflex in a mammal such as a
cat, in response to bright light.
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(ii)

Describe and explain how myelination of neurones is an advantage in this reflex

pathway.
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(b)

Hubel and Weisel covered one eye of kittens of different ages to investigate the timing of
visual development in mammals.
Kittens which had one eye covered from the fourth to the fifth week subsequently had
very poor vision in that eye. Kittens which had one eye covered at earlier or later times
had normal vision. Suggest an explanation for these observations.
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(c)

Some people have ethical objections to animal experiments. Suggest how a biologist
might justify the use of animals in experiments.
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3.

In an investigation into the effect of a drug on the nervous system, the reaction time of four
volunteers was tested by timing how long it took for them to push a button after seeing a
lamp light up.
Volunteer A drank 50 cm3 of water. Volunteers B, C and D each drank 50 em of a solution
containing different concentrations of the drug. The reaction time of each volunteer was then
tested every ten minutes during the next hour.

R e a c tio n tim e / s e c o n d s

V o lu n te e r

C o n c e n tra tio n
o f d rug /
a rb itra r y u n its

0 m in

1 0 m in

2 0 m in

3 0 m in

4 0 m in

5 0 m in

6 0 m in

0 .3

0 .3

0 .2

0 .2

0 .2

0 .2

0 .2

0 .3

0 .4

0 .4

0 .4

0 .3

0 .2

0 .3

0 .2

0 .5

0 .6

0 .6

0 .5

0 .4

0 .4

0 .3

0 .8

0 .9

1 .0

1 .0

0 .9

0 .9

(a)

Suggest what the data indicate about the absorption of the drug into the bloodstream.
Give a reason for your answer.
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.(2)

(b)

Describe the effects that the drug had upon the reaction times of the volunteers during

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the 60 minutes of the investigation.

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.(3)
(c)

This drug is known to affect synaptic transmission. Suggest how the drug might cause the
effects you have described in (b).
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.(3)

(d)

Give three factors, other than the concentration of the drug, that would need to be
taken into account in this investigation.
1 .
2 .
3 .
(3) (Total 11 marks)

4.

Parkinsons disease leads to the gradual loss of balance and movement, often with muscle
tremors. This disease is believed to be caused by a lack of the neurotransmitter dopamine in
parts of the brain. The disease can be treated with the drug L-dopa.
(a)
Explain why the lack of dopamine leads to the symptoms of Parkinsons disease.
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(2)

(b)

Suggest why L-dopa, rather than dopamine, is used for the treatment of patients with
Parkinsons disease.
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(c)

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that causes patches of inflammation in the brain. State the
name of an imaging technique and describe how the images could be used to establish
which parts of the brain have been damaged in a patient with multiple sclerosis.

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5.

People with Parkinsons disease have poor control over their skeletal muscles, caused by a lack
of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Large numbers of neurones secreting dopamine are found in
the basal ganglia region of the brain.
Parkinsons disease can be diagnosed and monitored using brain scans. The fMRI scans below
show the results of a study where subjects did a standard finger-tapping activity to investigate
the effectiveness of a new drug treatment.
The results below are
from a healthy brain, a patient with Parkinsons disease without drug treatment and a patient
with Parkinsons disease taking drug treatment. The scan shows a horizontal section with the
front of the head at the top. The most active areas are white.

(a)

Using the fMRI scans above, discuss the effects of this new drug on brain activity.
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(b)

Explain how neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, stimulate neurones.

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(c)

People with Parkinsons disease have much less dopamine in their brain than other
people. Using the information already given in this question and your own knowledge,
suggest and explain how Parkinsons disease can be treated using drugs.
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6.

The diagram below shows the structures of the neurotransmitter, dopamine, and the drug, Ldopa, used in the treatment of Parkinsons disease.
O
H O

H O
O H
N H

H O
D o p a m in e
(a)

N H

H O

L -D o p a

With reference to the structures of dopamine and L-dopa, suggest why the drug L-dopa is
effective in the treatment of Parkinsons disease.
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(b)

Scientists believe that the release of dopamine from the presynaptic membrane is
triggered by certain emotional responses. Describe how the release of this
neurotransmitter generates action potentials in the postsynaptic neurone.
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7.

(a)

Explain how nerve impulses are conducted along a myelinated axon after an action
potential has been initiated. You should write your answer in continuous prose.
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(b)

Habituation is a type of learning that allows animals to ignore repeated unimportant

stimuli. For example, snails withdraw their tentacles when the tentacles are gently
touched, but if the tentacles are repeatedly stimulated in this way they are no longer
withdrawn.

The diagram below shows a synapse involved in this type of response.

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C a lc iu m
channel

N e u ro n e 1

C a

2+

N e u ro n e 2

With repeated stimulation the calcium channels become less responsive. Using the
diagram of the synapse and your own knowledge, suggest how changes in the functioning
of the synapse might bring about habituation.
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8.

The human brain has many different neurotransmitters which influence behaviour. One of these
neurotransmitters is serotonin. A lack of serotonin in the brain can cause depression and an
excess can cause anxiety. Drugs that increase levels of serotonin are used as antidepressants.
The diagram below shows a synapse in which serotonin acts as a neurotransmitter.

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p re s y n a p tic
m e m b ran e

p o s ts y n a p tic
m e m b ra n e

s y n a p tic
c le ft
S e ro to n in
s y n th e s is

Ve s ic le c o n ta in in g
s e ro to n in
K ey
S e ro to n in p o s ts y n a p tic re c e p to r
S e ro to n in re -u p ta k e m e c h a n is m
S e ro to n in

(a)

In sufferers of depression the levels of serotonin are reduced. Using the diagram above,
suggest one explanation for low serotonin levels.
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(1)

(b)

Use the diagram and your own knowledge of synaptic transmission to explain how
information is transmitted across a synapse.
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(c)

Using the information given, suggest and explain two ways antidepressants work.
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(d)

The drug known as ecstasy (MDMA) can cause anxiety. The diagram below represents an
ecstasy molecule. Using your knowledge and the diagrams provided suggest how ecstasy
may have this effect.

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(Total 12 marks)

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