Chapter 3 - Biological Processes & Consciousness Attention

Sensory Neurons

Bring messages from the world to the brain

Motor Neurons

Bring messages from the brain to the body

Interneurons

transmit messages between neurons

The resting potential

Ions are distributed unevenly inside and outside the cell

has a small charge (-60 to -70 mV)

The action potential

when the cell fires = excitatory message

Na+ flows into the cell and cell depolarizes

De-Re-Hyp

Neurotransmitters

chemical messenger: sends information from one neuron to the next

Acetylcholine

Important for transmitting messages, helps with motor neurons, usually creates an excitatory message

Dopamine

Calms the brain down, Anticipation of reward, Involves in making smooth motor movement

Parkinson’s Diseases

Patients have little dopamine, leads to movement problems, involuntary tremors

Schizophrenia

too much dopamine, when dopamine is reduced, these thoughts can go away

Serotonin

linked to sleep, arousal, dreaming

GABA

Regulates arousal → anxiety and alertness

Drugs like Valium and Xanex increase GABA

Agonists

MIMIC behavior of neurotransmitters

ex. nicotine behaves like acetylcholine

Antagonists

BLOCK action of neurotransmitters

ex. curare → antagonist of acetylcholine

ENDorphins

Body’s natural painkillers

NOT a neurotransmitter

Somatic Nervous System

Voluntary movements like running (sports)

Automatic Behavior System

Involuntary movement

ex. shivering, sweating

Hindbrain (OLDEST part of the brain)

Damage to this area = DEATH

Basic life support systems

Medulla & Pons

Basic life support system in the body, loose ability to breathe properly

The reticular formation

when you hear CHISME and automatically look and hear

Cerebellum

Coordination of complex movements

ex. problems with balance

Thalamus

Main processing center for sensory input

Hypothalamus

Maintains homeostasis of the body

Limbic system

emotional regulation/expression, deals with emotional balance

Amygdala

helps determine fear, danger, and threats

Hippocampus

MEMORY!!

The Forebrain & Cerebral Cortex

experiences conscious awareness and thoughts

integrates HIGHER mental processes

CT scan

3-D images of the brain, look for abnormality

MRI

tracks blood flow using magnetic fields

FMRI

Map changes in blood flow as the brain thinks

Clinical Psychology

Work with population members that are considered “abnormal”

trained as researchers and to administer therapy

Counseling Psychology

work with “normal” people experiencing abnormal situations/problems

nothing psychologically wrong about the individuals. Just navigating a difficult situation

Health Psychology

How do. we get people to stop smoking and exercise?

Human Factor Psychologists

How do we design a room/building that people can go into and can easily navigate?

Industrial/Organizational Psychologists

How do i design a team that works well together?

Educational Psychologists

NOT SCHOOL COUNSELORS

how do you design tests that measure ability and aptitude?

Research Psychologists

Study’s the fundamentals of human behaviors, spend years finding answers to ONE question

Selective Attention

When you attend to one thing while ignoring others

Dichotic Listening

we DO process unselected information

Cocktail Party Effect

ability to focus on 1 conversation despite many similar sensations around you

ex. HEARING YOUR NAME

Divided Attention

when you complete a task without attention, doesn’t require that much control because you are used to it

ex. driving a car

Inhibition

While you are listening to Apollo talk about magic, you missed he changed his shirt

Subliminal Messages

Advertising, Quitting Smoking

ADHD

People with ADHD don’t have a deficit of attention, they have trouble regulating attention

Executive Function System

Acts as brain self-management system, helps us prioritize, plan, and execute tasks