AP Psych U1

Evolutionary Psychology

How psychological traits and behaviors evolved over time

Natural Selection

When organisms with traits suited for their environment are more likely to survive

• Survival of the fittest

Nature

Biological factors that affect people's behavior

Ex: Eye/Hair color, genetic disorders, intelligence, natural temperament

Nurture

The environment and experiences that affect how you behave

Ex: Childhood experiences, parenting styles, educational opportunities, socioeconomic status, life events

Twin Studies

Method of investigating to determine if nature or nurture affects characteristics

• Can include identical twins (same DNA) or fraternal twins (Different DNA)

Adoption Studies

Investigates similarities and differences between adopted children and biological/adoptive family

Family Studies

Similarities and differences between family members (parents and siblings)

Heredity

Transferring genetic information from biological parents to offspring

Genetic Predisposition

Likelihood of inheriting or developing traits or conditions from biological parents

Eugenics

Controlling the reproduction of humans to increase desirable traits and decrease undesirable traits (Discriminatory)

Cerebral Cortex

Surface of interconnected neural cells

• Control center and information processes

Association Areas

Involved in higher mental functions like learning, memory, thinking, speaking

• Takes information from all over the place (senses)

Brain Stem

The brain's innermost region responsible for survival functions

Limbic System

Associated with emotions, drives, and memory formation

Reward Center - Limbic System

Processes pleasurable experiences

Pitulary Glands

Controls the endocrine system and maintains/regulates growth hormones

Thalamus - Limbic System

Relays system from the brain stem to the cortex (sensory info)

Hippocampus - Limbic System

Long term memory and recalling facts

Hypothalamus - Limbic System

Survival drives, maintaining homeostasis, and controls pitulary gland

• Alerts body for thirst, hunger, and coldness

Amygdala - Limbic System

Processes emotions and survival responses

• Three A's for anger, afraid, and aggression

Medulla - Brain Stem

Processes autonomic functions (breathing, digestion, sneezing, swallowing, heartbeat)

Reticular Activating System (RAC) - Brain Stem

Controls some voluntary movement, learning, cognition, and emotions

Pons - Brain Stem

Regulates sleep-wake cycle and breathing

Midbrain - Brain Stem

Transmits vision, hearing, and helps you feel pain

Frontal Lobe - Cerebral Cortex (Front of brain)

Decision making, judgement, personality, reasoning, problem solving, and planning

Temporal lobe - Cerebral Cortex (near temples/bottom)

Senses, auditory information, language, and memories

Parietal Lobe - Cerebral Cortex (on top of brain)

Processes touch, pressure, and pain

Occipital Lobe - Cerebral Cortex (Back of the head)

Visual processes of the brain

• Perception, color, object, face recognition, and memory

Motor Cortex - Frontal Lobe

Controls voluntary movement

Somatosensory Cortex - Parietal Lobe

Detects sensory information

• Temperature, touch, and pain

Cerebellum - Hindbrain

Muscle control (balance and movement)

Corpus Callosum - Center of brain

Controls both hemispheres (right and left) of the brain

Broca's Area - Frontal Lobe

Speech production and controls muscles for speech

Wernicke's Area - Temporal Lobe

Comprehends speech

Nervous System

The body's communication network made up of neurons/nerve cells

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Brain and Spinal Cord

Peripheral Nervous System

Gathers information (sensory + motor neurons) and sending them to the rest of the body parts

• Outside of the brain + spinal cord

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Controls glands and muscles of internal organs

• Includes Sympathetic and Parasympathetic division

• Autonomic = Self regulating

Sympathetic Nervous System

Arouses and expands energy (part of ANC)

• "Fight or flight"

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Calms and conserves the body's energy (Part of ANC)

• "Rest and digest"

Somatic Nervous System

Controls the body's skeletal muscles (part of PNC)

Neurons

Cells that transmits signals throughout the body

• Includes the cell body, dendrites, and axon

Glial Cells

Provides structural support, insulation, and nourishment to neurons

Motor Neurons

Carries information from the brain to muscles and glands

Sensory Neurons

Carries incoming information from the body's tissues to the brain and spinal cord

Interneurons

Neurons in the brain and spinal cord that communicate and process information between sensory input and motor outputs

Reflex Arc

Composed of a singular sensory neuron and a single motor neuron --> automatic response to sensory stimulus

• "Knee-jerk system"

Neural Transmission

Process where neurons communicate with each other through electrical and chemical signals

Threshold

Amount of stimulus to trigger an impulse

• Stimulation amount does not correlate to impulse intensity

Action Potential

Neural impulse that travels down an axon

All-or-Nothing Principal

Neurons reaction of firing with a full strength response or not firing at all

• Will fire if threshold is met

Depolarization*

Loss of the inside/outside charge difference in an axon

Refractory Period

Resting period after a neuron fires --> Action potential cannot occur until axon is at its resting state

Resting Potential*

Positively charged outside and negatively charged inside of an axon

Reputake

Neurotransmitter's reabsorption by sending neuron

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

If mylon sheath deteriorates and causes less protection of an axon

Myasthenia Gravis

When acetylcholine (ACh) transmission is blocked and prevents muscles from contracting

• Causes weakness, paralysis, difficulty w/ muscle control

Neurotransmitters

Messengers that cross synthetic gaps between neurons to bind to receptor sites and influencing whether the neuron will generate a neural impulse

• Communication with Nervous System

Excitatory Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters that increase the likelihood of the neuron firing

• + Action potential

Glutamate

The brain's major excitatory neurotransmitter

• Learning, memory, neural communication

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

Decreases the likelihood of neuron firing

• -Action potential

GABA

Neurotransmitter that shows down brain's activity

Dopamine

Involved in reward, motivation, pleasure, and movement

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter that regulates sleep, mood, appetite, and emotions

Endorphines

Opioid-like neurotransmitter linked to pain control and pleasure (natural pain relievers)

Substance P

Neurotransmitter that sends pain signals from body to brain

• P for Pain

Acetycholine (ACh)

Neurotransmitter involved in muscle movement, learning, memory, and attention

Hormones

Chemical messengers from endocrine glands and affects other tissues that influence sex, food, and agression

Ghrelin

Hormone that increases hunger and signals the brain that the body needs food

Leptin

Hormone that reduces hunger and tells the body it has enough energy

Melatonin

Hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycle (promotes sleep)

Oxytocin

Hormone involved in social bonding, trust, childbirth

• "Love hormone"

Adrenaline

Hormone that increases heartrate, breathing, energy

Norepinephrine

Neurotransmitter that functions as both a hormone and neurotransmitter and regulates arousal, attention, and stress (Excitatory)

Plasticity

The brain's ability to change, especially during childhood

Split Brain Research

Cutting the fibers that connect the two hemispheres to disconnect the two hemispheres of the brain

Hemispheric Specialization

Where each hemisphere of the brain has specialized functions and abilities

Left Hemisphere

Language production, speech, and comprehension

• Processes the right side of the body

Right Hemisphere

Visual spacing, processing, facial recognition, some non-verbal tasks (gross motor coordination)

• Controls left hand

Broca's Aphasia

Condition from damaged Broca's Area that causes a difficulty to speak

Wernicke's Aphasia

Condition from damaged Wernicke's Area that impairs speech --> Adds extra words in sentences that are irrelevant

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Amplified recording over the brain's surface

• Measured by electrodes placed on scalp

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

Technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images

Lesioning

Tissue destruction occurring naturally from surgery or naturally

Consciousness

Subjective awareness of the environment and ourselves

• Able to perceive thoughts, feelings, sensations, and surroundings

Circadian Rhythm

Internal biological clock of sleep/wake cycle

Jet Lag

Disruption of the circadian rhythm from traveling to different time zones

Shift Work

Work from outside hours that disrupts circadian rhythm

NREM 1

Very light sleep and has high brain activity

NREM 2

Light sleep and experiences muscle twitches/jerks

• Spindles and K-Complex

NREM 3

Deepest sleep for recovery —> Systems slow down (Breathing, heartrate)

REM Sleep

Vivid dreams occur (“Paradoxical sleep”)

• Muscles are paralyzed and relaxed but systems are active

REM Rebound

Tendency for REM sleep to increase after a lack of REM sleep

Activation-Synthesis

Dreams are the brains attempt to synthesize random neural activity

• Triggers neural activity and evokes visual memories from random neural activity in brainstem

Consolidation Theory

Dreams play a role in processing memories

Restoration Theory of Sleep

Sleep is needed to restore neurotransmitters, hormones, and energy

Insomnia

Reoccurring issues in falling asleep

Narcolepsy

Sleep disorder that can cause you to have sudden drowsiness/urges of sleep

Sleep Apnea

Temporarily stops breathing during sleep

• Affects ability to reach REM

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Where you act out the dreams in your sleep from a lack of muscle paralyzation