Psychology - chapter 3

Neuroscience

Heredity vs Environment

Nature vs. Nurture, refers to genetic or predisposed characteristics that influence development and external factors that influence development.

Twin studies/family studies

Helps researchers understand the relationship between heredity and environment. Allows them to see how environment and genetics will impact their growths differently, considering they have the same genes.

Epigenetics

How environmental events can chemically modify gene expression, turns genes on and off without changing DNA sequence. ex: “Rat licking”

Adverse Childhood Experiences → ACES

Early life experiences can trigger epigenetic changes that alter gene expression - can influence future generations

The Galvin Family

A case study of 12 children with half having alzheimers, helps explain epigenetics and why only some children have it

Shared Genetic Predisposition

The Galvin Family proved - children likely inherited a genetic predisposition, however having predisposition doesn’t guarantee the development to the disorder

Actual Twin Studies

(Identical) monozygotic → single fertilized, (Fraternal) dizygotic →developed from two fertilized. TWINS RAISED APART AFFECTS (difference in expressed genes except for personality)

Central Nervous System

Includes brain and spinal cord, manages everything your body does - your thoughts and feelings to your movements, controls PNS

Peripheral Nervous System

Consists of nerves that branch out from brain and spinal cord, PNS feeds information into the brain from your sense, carries signals that allow you to move muscles and control vital, unconsciousness pathways.

Sensory Pathway

carries signals from sensory receptors in the body to the brain, relies on sensory neurons called AFFERENT NEURONS, which take in sensory information and transmit it to brain and spinal cord

Motor Pathway

carries signals from the brain to the muscles and glands, relies on motor neurons called EFFERENT NEURONS, carry motor info to muscles from the brain

Interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that lie between afferent and efferent neurons, relay stations between sensory input and coordinating a motor response

SAME

Sensory Afferent Motor Efferent

Somatic Nervous System (part of PNS)

enables voluntary control of our skeletal muscles

Autonomic Nervous System (part of PNS)

controls our glands and the muscles of our internal organs - influences heartbeat, digestion, and more; operates on its own, involuntary movements/automatic commands

Sympathetic Nervous System (part of ANS)

reacts to danger “fight or flight”, arouses body to be prepared and expends energy. (why we feel adrenaline). Unhealthy when on for long periods of time because it decreases digestion, increases heart rate and blood pressure.

Parasympathetic Nervous System (part of ANS)

calms down system “rest and digest”, decreases heart rate, blood pressure, etc.

(pg 65)