Psych 101 3 - Biology and Behavior

Gilbert Gottlieb’s systems theory model (epigenesis)

Environment, behavior, neural activity, and genetics activity can influence us

4 relations fundamental to human development

Parent’s genotype - Child’s genotype

Child’s genotype - Child’s phenotype

Child’s environment - Child’s phenotype

Child’s phenotype - Child’s environment

Parent’s Genotype

Every cell has 46 chromosomes (23 pairs)

½ of genetic inheritance comes from mom and the other ½ from dad

Child’s Genotype - Child’s Phenotype

Genetic makeup observing observable characteristics

Gene expression

Genes are gonna influence our behavior only when switched on or off which are called regulator genes

Regulator Genes

control other genes (puberty, graying hair)

Alleles (different forms of genes)

people can inherit 2 of the same allele which makes them homozygous, one dominant and one recessive makes them heterozygous

Homozygous

inherit 2 of the same alleles such as dominant/dominant or recessive/recessive

Child’s Environment - Child’s Phenotype

Depending on the environment - genotype relationship, numerous phenotypes may result

Norm of Reaction

Refers to all the phenotypes that could theoretically result from a given genotype, in relation to all the environments in which it could survive and develop

Child’s Phenotype - Child’s Environment

For example, the activity level of a child gets differing responses from adults

Children create environments of interest, talents, and personality

Geneticists believe all behavioral traits are

hereditary

Geneticists also believe that behavioral traits are multifactorial

influenced by hereditary and environment

Brain isn’t fully developed until

after birth

Neurons are

specialized cells that are the basic units of the brain’s information system

Soma

cell body, center of neuron

Dendrites

getting info from other cells and bringing it to the cell body

Axon

carries electrical signals over distance, away from the soma toward other things

Synapse

 the space in which neurotransmitters do stuff

Axon Terminal

Little knobs that secrete neurotransmitters to communicate in the synapse between one neuron and another.

Muelin Sheath

speeds stuff up as it goes down the axon

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that communicate info between neurons

Acetylcholine (ACh)

important for memory

Dopamine

pleasure, decision making chemical

norepinephrine

increasing alertness, arouseness, attention, and sleep-wake cycles

serotonin

a neurotransmitter and hormone, regulates appetite, sleep, mood, and also called the calming chemical

Decrease in dopamine may be associated with

erratic behavior and less independent function

GABA

essential for regulating anxiety, eliminating feelings of unrest, balancing moods and emotions

Endorphins

morphine-like substances, produces feelings of pleasure

Glial Cells

morphine-like substances, produces feelings of pleasure, cells in the brain that provide a variety of critical supportive functions

Left hemisphere

logical, verbal, analytical

Right hemisphere

visual, creativity, and intuitivity

Occipital lobe

processing visual information

Temporal lobe

primarily involved with memory, visual recognition, processing emotion, and processing auditory information

Parietal lobe

integrates sensory input, sense of touch, body positions, spatial processing

Frontal lobe

largest lobe, organizes behavior, responsible for planning and decision making, last part of brain to develop