Psych 101: Exam 1

research cycle steps

theory → research questions → hypotheses → research design → data

operationalize

make quantifiable

directionality problem

unsure which variable is causing which

third variable problem

third variable is causing relationship

demand characteristics

aspects of procedure that influence participants to change behavior to fit how they think they are expected to behave

reliability

consistent

construct validity

accurately measures

proximate explanations

immediate causes, within lifetime

ultimate causes

long term → history of species

Darwin’s “three facts of life”

variation, competition, heredity

parental investment theory

NS favors “choosier” mate selection in sex w higher reproductive burden

implication of masculine features

more healthy (high t), but also more aggressive and less interest in parenting

what do women look for?

financial prospects, slightly older, athletic, masculine features, high levels of commitment

what do men look for?

younger (higher fertility), signs of ovulation, hourglass, sexual fidelity (b/c of parental uncertainty)

how do preferences align w/ gender?

align w/ gender over biological sex

the astonishing hypothesis

everything we are is just behavior of nerve cells

dualism (Rene Descartes)

mind/soul fundamentally distinct from body

what do neurons do?

communicate to process info

label parts of nerve

slay

glia function

structure and support; communicate with each other and with neurons

pre-synaptic neuron job

transmit

post-synaptic neuron function

recieve

synapse

gap between neurons

types of postsynaptic potentials

EPSPs, ISPS

excitatory signals (EPSPs)

tug the cell to depolarize

inhibitory signals (ISPSs)

tug cell to become more negative (hyperpolarize)

what causes action potential?

excitatory inputs outnumber inhibitory ones enough, positive charge reaches threshold of -55mV

what happens when an action potential is fired?

positive ions flow in and diffuse, trigger action potential to start nearby, and it flows down the axon

what is the function of myelin?

insulation

what are the nodes of ranvier?

ion channels concentrated

how does insulation affect action potential

makes it much faster (saltatory conduction) - jumps from node to node

what are neurotransmitters?

endogenous chemical messengers

what are the four steps of transmission?

1\.) neurotransmitters packaged into vesicles, 2.) vesicles released 3.) neurotransmitters attach to receptors 4.) whatever isn’t taken up goes into re-uptake channels

what are the four major neurotransmitter types?

acetylcholine (muscles) amines (catecholamines like dopamine and norepinephrine in addition to serotonin) peptides (opiods) amino acids (glutamate EXCITATORY gaba INHIBITORY)

what are the two types of psychoactive drugs?

agonists and antagonists

what do agonists do?

amplify natural effect of NTs

what do antagonists do?

mute natural effects of NTs

what are four ways to be an agonist?

1\.) induce increased synthesis of neurotransmitter 2.) increase release of existing neurotransmitter 3.) mimic neurotransmitter at post synaptic receptor 4.) reduce action of re-uptake channels

what are three ways to be an antagonist?

1\.) interfere with release of neurotransmitter 2.) block receptor site 3.) cause leakage of vesicles

what are the four types of psychoactive drugs?

stimulants, depressants, opiates, psychedelics

cognitive psychology

relates to the brain

affective science

The study of emotions, moods, and feelings, as well as their influence on behavior and mental processes.

social psychology

Study of how individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by others and the social environment

developmental psychology

Study of how individuals grow, change, and develop across their lifespan

David Hume’s Principle of Association

Our mind naturally connects ideas and experiences based on three principles - resemblance, contiguity, and cause and effect. This association of ideas forms the basis of how we perceive, think, and remember things.

what are three evolutionary principles that are important to remember for psych?

\-evolution is slower than environment, natural selection is impartial, evolution is only a piece of the puzzle

naturalistic fallacy

just because something is the product of natural selection doesn’t mean it’s good

oliver sacks

Renowned neurologist and author who explored the fascinating world of the human brain. Known for his captivating case studies and compassionate storytelling, he shed light on rare neurological conditions. His works, like "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat," brought awareness to the complexities of the mind, inspiring both scientists and the general public alike.

agnosia

inability to recognize sensory stimuli

prosopagnosia

inability to recognize familiar faces (fusiform gyrus damage)

leisons

accidental or intentional, can be imprecise

single-cell electrophysiology

measure electrical activity of neurons

electrical stimulation

activate or deactivate different areas of the brain

stereotaxic instrument

make leisons

hubel and wiesel

research on cats using single-cell electrophysiology

Wilder penfield

used electrical stimulation to figure out what different areas of the brain did

EEG

brain cap that detects electrical activity in brain

adrian owens

studied patients in vegetative state with EEG

FMRI

patterns of energy to infer areas of energy

subtraction method

process for isolating brain activity by comparing to a control condition

Nishimoto study of brain activity

showed people movies, AI were able to recreate using brain activity

TMS

change brain activity using a magnet

above

dorsal, superior

beneath

ventral, inferior

forward

rostral, anterior

backwards

posterior, caudal

medial

middle view

lateral

side view

what type of slice is this

axial/horizontal

what type of slice is this

coronal

what type of slice is this

sagittal

midbrain

primitive systems for vision and hearing reflexes, reward, movement

pons

bridge across brain and connects to cerebellum, breathing, sleep, sensations up to brain

medulla

connects brain and spinal cord; basic life support: blood pressure, heart rate, coughing gagging, swallowing, vomiting

cerebellum

smooths out voluntary movement

what makes up the limbic system?

hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus

thalamus

receives and routes all sensory info except smell

hypothalamus

four fs - fight, flee, feed, freak

amygdala

motivation & emotion, aggression, emotional memory - fear

hippocampus

stores new memories by interacting with temporal lobe

sulci

valleys of cerebral cortex

gyri

ridges of cerebral cortex

important sulci

central sulcus, lateral fissure

what are the five lobes of the cerebral cortex

frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital, insular

frontal lobe

motor control, higher cognition, self control & personality, language

broca’s area

impairs ability to speak but not to understand speech

parietal lobe

body sensation, fine sensation, spatial awareness

contralateral neglect

damage to parietal lobe on right causes loss of ability to recognize anything on contralateral side of visual world

temporal

smell, hearing, memory, language

weirnicke’s aphasia

impaired ability to understand speech, but not to speak

occipital lobe

vision

insular lobe

taste, internal awareness of organs

caveats of studying the brain

function not totally localized, the brain changes

event-related potential

Electrical activity recorded from the brain in response to a specific event or stimulus. Used to study cognitive processes and sensory perception.

parvizi’s

stimulation of the fusiform gyrus causes faces to change shape

label the limbic system

slay

label the lobes of the brain

slay

label the parts of the brain stem

slay

principle of association

tendency to see conjoined events as causal

overconfidence effect

think that you know best, even if research goes against what you think