McMaster Psych 1FF3

cohort effect

a disadvantage of the cross sectional design. difference between age groups may be due to generational differences and not reflect actual differences in development.

DNA

a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms. It is the carrier of genetic information and building blocks for chromosomes.

dominant gene

the allele of one gene that is expressed over the second allele of the same gene.

amblyopia

referred to as 'lazy eye'. the loss of visual acuity in an otherwise healthy eye.

analytic research

research focused on the processes and variables that are responsible for the changes in abilities and needs from age to age

Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)

when an individual is biologically male but is resistant to male hormones. this can affect the development of male sex characteristics.

chromosomes

a structure composed of acids and proteins found in the nucleus of most living cells. contains genetic material.

critical period

older term for the sensitive period.

cross-sectional design

research design that examines people of different ages at a single point in time

What are two disadvantages?

crystallized intelligence

our accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; tends to increase with age

experience-dependent

a neural system that only develops typically if it receives the appropriate input. a variation in input can lead to a variation in function.

experience-expectant

a neural system whose development is critically dependent on inputs that are stable across sources

fluid intelligence

involves abstract thinking and quick reasoning. tends to decline with age.

genes

the molecular unit of heredity used by living organisms.

genome

the complete set of genes or genetic material present in every cell of an organism.

genotype

genetic blueprint. interacts with the environment to produce observable traits.

longitudinal design

a development research design where the same individual is studied repeatedly over the course of their lifespan.

What are the 2 disadvantages?

neural plate

A key developmental component of the nervous system. It is composed of primitive neural tissue and eventually develops into the neural tube.

neural tube

the neural plate folds and closes to become a hollow structure.

neurogenesis

the development and growth of new neurons

normative (discriptive) research

investigates how things normally change as a person ages.

ocular dominance columns

columns of neurons in the visual cortex that respond to information from one eye to the other.

phenotype

the set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.

polygenic inheritance

traits controlled by more than one gene

quasi-experiment

Similar to traditional experiments (has subjects, treatment, etc.), but uses nonrandomized groups.

ressesive

Gene that will only appear if both genes are ressesive.

sensitive period

a point in development when organisms are most responsive to certain kinds of stimuli in their environments.

synaptic pruning

the elimination of neurons as the result of nonuse or lack of stimulation.

within-subjects design

an experimental design in which the same subjects are tested under each condition within the experiment.

adaptation

a process in which organisms become better suited to their environment and increase reproductive success.

adaptive radiation

the diversification of a group of organisms into forms filling different ecological niches.

co-residence duration

Cue of relatedness; the longer two individuals lived together throughout childhood, the more likely they are to be related.

cuckholdry

a mate is lead to believe that another person's child is their own.

differential reproduction

Organisms have different rates of reproductive success

diminishing marginal gains

A decline in the gain a person derives from the consumption of each additional unit of a product

direct fitness

personal survival and reproduction

eugenics

the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics

eusocial

Species with radical reproductive division of labour; a single female or caste produces the offspring and sterile individuals cooperate in caring for the young.

fertility

ones reproductive ability

fitness

an individual's ability to survive and reproduce

fluctuating symmetry

a measure of bilateral traits that are symmetrical over the population as a whole, but not necessarily for an individual.

Higher symmetry = more desirable.

Gametes

sex cells

genetic relatedness

an estimate of the proportion of genes shared between individuals.

Represented as the (r) in Hamilton's rule.

hamilton's rule

when C < r x B

C = cost of the actor

r = genetic relatedness

B = additional reproductive benefit gained by the recipient

heritable

characteristic can be passed on from parent to offspring.

inbreeding

breed from closely related people or animals, especially over many generations.

inclusive fitness

the ability of an individual organism to pass on its genes to the next generation, taking into account the shared genes passed on by the organism's close relatives.

indirect fitness

survival and reproduction of relatives

incest aversion

a dislike to mating with close relatives

intersexual selection

individuals want to capture the interest of the other sex

intrasexual selection

competition among individuals of one sex (often males) for mates of the opposite sex

kin recognition

A psychological mechanism that helps an organism to distinguish between close genetic kin and non-kin

mate choice

A component of intersexual selection where selection of a mate depends on the attractiveness of their traits

maternal perinatal association

older siblings learn to recognize offspring that their mother cares for as younger siblings

natural selection

organisms that possess favorable adaptations pass them onto the next generation

negativley related

r < 0, less related than we would expect by chance.

parent-offspring conflict

Conflict that arises between parents and their offspring over how much the parents will invest in the offspring. These conflicts stem from the opposing genetic interests of parents and offspring.

Phenotype

An organism's physical appearance, or visible traits.

Phylogeny

Evolutionary history of a species or group of species.

positivley related

r>0, more related than we would expect by chance alone

romantic jealousy

Feelings of anger and desire to guard a mate (or prospective mate) from emotionally investing in a new relationship

sexual jealousy

Feelings of anger and desire to guard a mate (or prospective mate) against engaging in sexual activity with another person

sexual selection

natural selection within mating, represented by preferences by one sex for characteristics in the opposite sex.

social behavior

the interaction between animals of the same species

waist to hip ratio

circumference of the waist, divided by the circumference of the hips.

absolute refractory period

the interval during which a second action potential absolutely cannot be initiated, no matter how large a stimulus is applied

action potential

the change in electrical potential associated with the passage of an impulse along the membrane of a neuron.

afferent nerve fibers

fibers that carry information towards the CNS from the periphery of the brain.

all or none law

principle that the action potential in a neuron does not vary in strength; the neuron either fires at full strength or it does not fire at all

anion

A negatively charged ion

automatic nervous system

the part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes.

axon

A threadlike extension of a neuron that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body.

bipolar neurons

one axon and one dendrite

cation

A positively charged ion

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

Dendrites

a neuron's bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

Depolarization

Loss of a state of polarity; loss or reduction of negative membrane potential

Diffusion

Movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

effector

An organ or cell that becomes active in response to nerve impulses.

efferent nerve fibers

axons that carry info outward from the central nervous system to the periphery of the body

electrostatic pressure

the force of repulsion and attraction between ions.

Eukaryote

A cell that contains a nucleus and other organelles surrounded by a membrane.

excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)

a slight depolarization of a postsynaptic cell, bringing the membrane potential of that cell closer to the threshold for an action potential.

ganglia

a structure containing a number of nerve cell bodies, typically linked by synapses, and often forming a swelling on a nerve fiber.

glial cell

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons. common in the CNS.

granule cell

smallest nerve cell

hyperpolarized

membrane potential becomes more negative than resting potential

inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)

temporary hyperpolarization of a membrane of the postsynaptic membrane potential.

interneuron

a neuron that carries nerve impulses from one neuron to another

leaky potassium channels

ion channels that allow a slow diffusion of potassium ions out of the neuron

motor neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands. the most common form of effector neuron.

multipolar neuron

a nerve cell that has many dendrites and a single axon

myelin sheath

covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses

neural integration

the process by which inhibitory and excitatory postsynaptic potentials summate and control the rate of firing of a neuron

neuron

a specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

nodes or ranvier

gaps in the myelin sheath

organelles

specialized structures that carry out specific cell functions

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy AFTER the activation of the sympathetic nervous system.

periphrial nervous system

all nervous tissues outside the brain and spinal cord