A-Level Psychology: Biopsychology — Hormones, Fight or Flight and Plasticity Evidence

Biopsychology questions in A-level Psychology often ask you to describe a biological process in the right order and then to support or challenge it with evidence. This material covers three parts of the topic in current specifications (for example AQA's A-level Psychology for first teaching from September 2025): the function of the endocrine system, the fight or flight response including the role of adrenaline, and plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma, with a focus on the research evidence.

The endocrine questions go beyond the pituitary and adrenal medulla to the wider system: you match the thyroid, adrenal cortex, pineal gland and ovaries with their hormones and functions. The fight or flight questions ask you to order the sympathomedullary pathway from the hypothalamus to the adrenal medulla, identify the effects of adrenaline (and the functions it suppresses), recognise the parasympathetic 'rest and digest' response, place the amygdala in the sequence and weigh criticisms such as the freeze response, Taylor's tend-and-befriend proposal and the mismatch with modern stressors.

The plasticity questions are built on named studies. You interpret Maguire's London taxi drivers and evaluate the study, explain why Kühn's video-game training study with before-and-after scans is stronger evidence of cause, use Bezzola's golf training study to show plasticity in middle age, apply cognitive reserve to recovery after a stroke and distinguish functional recovery after trauma from plasticity through learning. The flashcards add Draganski's juggling study, the freeze response and negative plasticity.

The material offers four formats. The 12-question quiz gives an explanation after every answer. The 17 flashcards summarise each gland, pathway and study. The printable written work sets eight open questions, from outlining the SAM pathway to evaluating research into plasticity, with ruled space for handwritten answers that are then checked. In the oral exam an examiner asks one question at a time, checks that sequences are in the right order and gives precise feedback at the end.

It complements the category's materials on the nervous system and on the brain, which cover neurons, synaptic transmission, localisation and the processes of recovery, by adding the hormonal side of biopsychology and the evidence that essays on plasticity need.

• Match the main endocrine glands with their hormones and functions
• Describe the sympathomedullary pathway and the effects of adrenaline in the fight or flight response
• Explain the role of the parasympathetic nervous system and evaluate the fight or flight explanation
• Describe and evaluate research evidence for brain plasticity, including Maguire and Kühn
• Distinguish functional recovery after trauma from plasticity through learning, and explain factors affecting recovery

Practice material written by Zestly, based on the Biopsychology topic of A-level Psychology specifications (for example AQA A-level Psychology 7182, specification for first teaching from September 2025, section 4.2.2: the endocrine system, the fight or flight response, plasticity and functional recovery).