AP PSYCH u1 - biological bases of behavior

heredity

genetic inheritance

environment

non genetic influences - experiences, peoples and things around us

nature nurture issue

the debate over if genetics or environment plays a bigger role in a person’s traits and behavior

evolutionary perspective

the study of behavior and metal processes’ origins, emphasis is on adaptive and survival value of the traits

natural selection

adaptive traits are passed thru generations that help species survive and reproduce

epigenetics

the study of the molecular mechanisms that environments use to trigger/block genetic expression - like writing in pencil

genes

segments of DNA that make proteins to determine your development

twin/adoption studies

suggest that adoptees are more similar to biological parents than adoptive family

identical/fraternal twins

twins born from a split egg ve twins born from 2 seperate egg and sperm

behavior genetics

explanation of the differences in population and attribute/find out how much is due to genes

central nervous system

brain + spinal cord ; decision maker that coordinates incoming sensory info and outgoing motor info

spinal cord

2 way connection between PNS and brain - oversees sensory and motor pathways for reflexes

peripheral nervous system

sensory and motor neurons ; connects body to CNS by gathering info from senses and transmitting messages from CNS

autonomic nervous system

controls glands and smooth muscles

somatic nervous system

controls skeletal muscles

parasympathetic nervous system

rest and digest - calms body and conserves energy

sympathetic nervous system

fight or flight : aroused body and mobilizes energy

neurons

‘create’ nerves - connect CNS with muscles, glands, and sensory organs

glial cells

‘glue’ cells - support protect and nourish neurons

reflex arc

1 - receptors send signals via sensory neurons

2 - interneurons receive and send info back

3 - motor neurons connect and direct movement

sensory neurons

neurons that carry info toward brain (afferent)

motor neurons

neurons that carry info from brain to muscles and glands (efferent)

interneurons

neurons that act as intermediary for passing signals between neurons

action potential

brief electrical charge the travels down axon (nerve impulse)

all or nothing principle

neurons either fire or don’t - no intensity change

depolarization

when the opposite charges aren’t away from eachother anymore

refractory period

resting period in between action potentials

resting potential

when a neuron isn’t firing and has negative charge inside or positive charge outside

reuptake

where the sending neuron reabsorbs neurotransmitters lost in the synapse

threshold

level of stimulation required to trigger a response

synapse

the meeting point between 2 neurons - gap between the 2

multiple sclerosis

where degeneration of the myelin sheath leads to diminished muscle control and slower reaction time, as well as potential impaired cognition

myasthenia gravis

neuromuscular disease where muscles can’t contract - weakness, control issues, or paralysis caused by blocked ACH

neurotransmitter

chemicals that affect your neurons and cross the synapse to carry their message to the next neuron

dopamine

movement, thought process, rewarding sensation

serotonin

emotional states , sleep

GABA

inhibits brain activity, reactivity, focusing

endorphins

natural opioid-like neurotransmitters, pain control and pleasure (runners high)

norepinephrine

physical arousal, learning and memory (short term)

glutamate

learning and memory, widely distributed excitatory NT

substance p

involved in pain perception and immune response

acetylcholine (ACH)

muscle contraction, memory, and learning

hormones

chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream to affect tissues

adrenaline

increase HR, BP, and blood sugar - surge of energy

oxytocin

the love hormone - milk release, contractions, orgasm, bonding with children

pituitary gland

land that releases hormones that influence and control other glands/hormones

agonists

molecules that increase a NT’s production and release or block retake (mimics acitivity)

antagonists

molecules that decrease an NT’s action or block production/release (false activity)

reuptake inhibitors / SSRIs

prevent serotonin from being reuptaked and allows its effect to last longer in the synapse

brainstem

medulla, pons, reticular formation, cerebellum, thalamus

forebrain

cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus - complex cognitive activities, sensory/associative functions, and voluntary motor functions

hindbrain

medulla, pons, and cerebellum- directs essential survival functions; breathing, sleeping, wakefulness, coordination, and balance

midbrain

on top of brainstem - connects hindbrain with forebrain, controls some motor movement, transmits auditory/visual info

medulla

breathing, heartBeat, barfing, blinking

pons

sleep and movement coordination

reticular formation

controls arousal and filters sensory stimuli

cerebellum

processes sensory inputs coordinates movement and balanced nonverbal learning and memory

cerebral cortex

the body’s ultimate control and info processing center - divided into 4 lobes

limbic system

hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus

thalamus

relay station for incoming and outgoing sensory info - sends sensory signals to correct brain part

hypothalamus

primary drives (hunger thirst and sex) helps govern endocrine system

hippocampus

turns short term into long term memories

amygdala

linked to emotion, fear, and aggression 1 starts fight or flight response

corpus callosum

fibers that connect the 2 hemispheres - allows for communication

occipital lobe

process visual info

temporal lobes

process hearing and facial recognition

parietal lobes

spatial reasoning - thinking abt stuff in 3d and drawing conclusions

association areas

most of the brain’s cortex - integrates info invoked in learning, remembering, thinking/ any other high level functions

somatosensory cortex

registers info from skin senses and body movement

frontal lobe

decision making and analysis

motor cortex

controls voluntary movement

split brain/research

when corpus callosum is severed (usually for epilepsy)

broca’s area

expressive language - speaking and writing

broca’s aphasia

speech impairment - words don’t work well

wernicke’s area

receptive language - reading and hearing

wernicke’s aphasia

responses don’t make sense - can’t make themselves understood

aphasia

language loss / impairment

neuroplasticity

ability for brain to change with new info and experiences

EEG

measures brainwaves and electrical activity

fMRI

measured blood flow to brain (color where there’s activity)

lesion

brain tissue is destroyed (researchers research the affect it has on functioning)

PET scan

shows brain functioning (inject radioactive glucose) (color!)

MRI

uses magnets and radio waves to see soft tissue structures

CT

uses x rays to make 2d images, usually for anomalies

MEG

indentifies brain activity and measures brain’s magnetic fields - creates brain map

biopsychosocial approach

combines bio, psycho, and social-cultural levels of analysis