Review Flashcards

Flashcards to help review for the upcoming exam.

What is the central question in the nature vs. nurture debate?

Is human behavior more influenced by environment or genetics?

What are monozygotic twins and why are they important in the study of psychology?

Monozygotic twins have the same genes and are valuable in studies examining nature versus nurture.

What is heritability?

The degree to which a trait is attributed to inherited genetic factors vs. environmental ones.

What does behavioral genetics study?

Genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

What is the focus of molecular genetics?

Studies the molecular structure/function of genes and their role in behavior; attempts to identify specific genes that influence behavior.

Explain epigenetics.

The study of how environmental factors influence gene expression.

What is the endocrine system?

A system of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream, influencing bodily functions.

What is the role of the hypothalamus in the endocrine system?

It is the control center, regulating the pituitary gland.

What is the main function of the pineal gland?

Regulates sleep patterns via melatonin secretion.

What hormones are released by the adrenal glands and what are their effects?

Adrenaline and cortisol, increasing heart rate and blood pressure.

What is the role of the pancreas in the endocrine system?

Releases insulin for metabolism and blood sugar regulation.

Name the two main divisions of the nervous system.

The central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

What makes up the central nervous system?

The brain and spinal cord.

What are the two subdivisions of the peripheral nervous system?

The somatic and autonomic nervous systems.

What are the functions of the somatic nervous system?

Allows voluntary movement and muscle control, and feeds sensory information to the brain.

What does the autonomic nervous system regulate?

Involuntary bodily functions, such as heart rate and digestion.

What are the two subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system?

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

What is the role of the sympathetic nervous system?

Mobilizes the body for action and initiates the stress response.

What is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Returns the body to routine function and conserves energy.

What are the two main types of cells in the nervous system?

Glial cells and neurons.

What is the role of glial cells?

Support and protect neurons.

What is the basic function of neurons?

Transmit information throughout the body.

What is the role of sensory neurons?

They carry incoming sensory information to the brain and spinal cord.

What is the function of motor neurons?

Transmit messages from the CNS to muscles and glands.

What are the main components of a neuron?

Soma, axon, and dendrites.

What is the function of the myelin sheath?

Insulates the axon, allowing faster nerve impulse transmission.

What is contained in the axon terminal?

Neurotransmitters.

What is the synapse?

The small gap where the axon of one neuron meets the dendrites of another.

What is neural transmission?

The process by which neurons transmit messages using electrical and chemical signals.

What is an action potential?

A brief electrical charge that travels down the axon.

What is the 'all-or-none' response in neuron firing?

A neuron either fires completely or not at all.

What happens to neurotransmitters after they cross the synaptic gap?

They are reabsorbed by the sending neuron for reuse (reuptake).

What is the refractory period?

A period during which a neuron cannot fire again.

What is long-term potentiation?

Strengthening of synapses through repeated firing between neurons.

What are neurotransmitters?

Chemical messengers that affect physical and psychological functions.

How are neurotransmitters classified?

As excitatory (increases neuron firing) or inhibitory (decreases neuron firing).

How do drugs interact with neurotransmitters?

Agonists mimic/increase effects, antagonists block neurotransmission effects.

What is the role of Acetylcholine (ACh)?

Interacts with motor neurons, memory, and learning.

What functions does GABA regulate?

Sleep, anxiety, vision, and motor control.

What is the role of Glutamate?

Aids in memory and learning.

What is the function of Endorphins?

Inhibit pain signal transmission and promote pleasure.

What is Norepinephrine essential for?

Alertness and stress response.

What is Dopamine involved in?

Movement, learning, attention, and emotion.

What can low levels of Serotonin be associated with?

Depressive disorders.

What are some methods of examining the brain?

CT scans, EEG, PET, MRI, FMRI.

What does a CT scan do?

Uses x-rays to produce 3D images of the brain.

What does an EEG measure?

Electrical activity in the brain via electrode placement.

How does PET work?

Maps neural activity by injecting trace amounts of radioactive glucose.

What does MRI provide?

Provides a picture of brain soft tissue using a magnetic field.

What does FMRI show?

Shows brain anatomy and function by measuring oxygen from blood flow.

What are the major brain regions?

Hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain.

What are the components of the hindbrain, and what functions are they responsible for?

Cerebellum (coordinates movement, balance); Brainstem: Medulla (controls life-sustaining functions), Pons (connects hindbrain).

What does the midbrain do?

Integrates sensory information and muscle movements; contains the Reticular Formation which controls arousal and attention.

What are the components of the forebrain?

Thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala.

What is the function of the thalamus?

Receives sensory signals from spinal cord and sends them to forebrain.

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

Regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and circadian rhythms.

What role does the hippocampus play?

Vital for memory system, processing long-term memories.

What is the amygdala central to?

Emotion, especially fear; driving 'fight or flight' response.

Why is the limbic system named so?

Because it includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala.

What functions is the frontal lobe involved in?

Executive part involved in planning, problem-solving, emotion, memory, personality.

Which activities rely on the parietal lobe?

Touch, sensation, perception, body orientation, and mathematical reasoning.

What sounds does the temporal lobe process?

Sound and aids in hearing and language comprehension.

What impulses does the occipital lobe process?

Visual impulses.

What are the sensory, motor, and association areas of the brain?

Sensory: visual, auditory, somatosensory; Motor: voluntary movement; Association: abstract thinking and language.

What is brain lateralization and how was it studied?

Specialization of neural functions to one side of the brain, studied via Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzaniga on 'split brain' patients.

What functions are typically lateralized to the right hemisphere?

Facial recognition and spatial abilities.

Which hemisphere is language typically lateralized to?

Left hemisphere.

What is the function of Broca’s area and where is it located?

It is associated with speech production; located in the left frontal lobe.

What is the function of Wernicke’s area and where is it located?

It is associated with speech comprehension; located in the left temporal lobe.

What is aphasia?

Loss of speech understanding or expression caused by brain damage.

What are the characteristics of Wernicke's aphasia?

A jumbled 'word salad'.

How does Broca's aphasia manifest?

Limits language to single words or short sentences.

What is neuroplasticity?

The brain's ability to adapt and change due to learning, experience, and memory formation.

What does functional plasticity involve?

Moving functions from damaged areas to undamaged ones.

What does structural plasticity involve?

The brain's physical structure changing due to learning.

What is synaptic pruning?

Eliminates weaker neural connections while strengthening stronger ones.

What determines which neural connections are strengthened and pruned.

Experience.

What is consciousness?

Awareness of ourselves and the environment.

What does dual processing involve?

The brain’s capacity to process information on both conscious and unconscious levels.

What are psychoactive drugs?

Chemicals that alter mood, perception, and consciousness by affecting the nervous system and neurotransmitter levels.

Stimulants: Effects and examples

Increase neural activity, heightened alertness and euphoria (e.g., nicotine, cocaine).

Depressants: Effects and examples

Reduce neural activity, impairing judgment and slowing bodily functions (e.g., alcohol, tranquilizers).

Opioids: Effects and examples

Block pain signals, can lead to addiction (e.g., heroin, fentanyl).

What is needed for optimal functioning of adults?

7-9 hours of sleep.

What is needed for optimal functioning of teenagers?

8-10 hours of sleep.

What are circadian rhythms?

Dictate the sleep-wake cycle, influenced by light and darkness.

What is the restoration theory of sleep?

Sleep restores bodily resources used during the day.

How long does each sleep cycle last approximately?

90-110 minutes.

What characterizes REM sleep?

Rapid eye movement, increased heart rate, and vivid dreaming.

What is insomnia?

Difficulty falling or staying asleep.

What is narcolepsy?

Uncontrollable sleep attacks and is genetically linked.

What is sleep apnea?

Temporary breathing cessation during sleep.

When do dreams primarily occur?

During REM sleep.

What does Freud's wish fulfillment theory suggest about dreams?

Dreams express unconscious desires (manifest and latent content).

What does the information-processing theory posit about dreams?

Dreams help consolidate memories and process daily experiences.

What is sensation?

The process of sensing our environment through sensory receptors, transforming stimuli into neural impulses.

What is absolute threshold?

Minimum stimulus level detectable 50% of the time.

How do children compare to adults regarding absolute thresholds?

Children have lower absolute thresholds.

What is signal detection theory?

Explains how we discern faint stimuli from background noise, factoring in expectations.

What is the difference threshold?

Minimum change in stimulus intensity required for detection.