Chapter 7

Hypothalamus

A complex structure near the lower center of the brain that has direct connections to many other parts of the brain and is involved in the production of psychologically important hormones; thought to be important for mood and motivation

Fundamental Features:

• Flight

• Fight

• Mating

• Feeding

Hormones

A biological chemical that affects parts of the body some distance from where it is produced

Amygdala

Structure located at the base of the brain and is thought to play a role in emotion, especially negative emotions such as anger and fear

Hippocampus

A complex structure deep within the brain, behind the hypothalamus, that plays an important role in memory processes

Nucleus acumbens

A neural structure located deep within the brain that is part of the dopaminergic system that, among other functions, responds to reward with experience to pleasure

Cortex

Refers to outer layers of an organ, in this case, a brain.

Neocortex

The outer layer of the cortex of the brain is the most distinctively human part of the brain

Frontal Cortex

The front part of the cortex of the brain. Divided left and right into two frontal lobes, this part of the brain is associated with cognitive functioning such as planning, foresight, and understanding

Neurotransmitters

The chemicals that allow one neuron to affect, or communicate with, another.

Synapses

The space between two neurons across which impulses are carried by neurotransmitters

Neurons

A cell of the nervous system that receives and transmits information

Pituitary gland

A small gland, the size of a pea, located in the brain below the hypothalamus, that plays a central role in many bodily functions through the hormone it secretes

Adrenal cortex

The outer layer of the adrenal gland, atop the kidneys, that secrete several behaviorally important hormones

Chimp Big Five of fundamental traits

• Reactivity

• Openness

• Dominance

• Extraversion

• Agreeableness

Electroencephalography (EEG)

A technique for measuring the brain’s electrical activity by placing electrode sensors on the outside of the skull.

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

A technique for using delicate magnetic sensors on the outside of the skull to detect brain activity.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

A technique for creating images of brain activity by injecting a radioactive tracer into the blood and then, using a scanner, finding where in the brain the blood is being metabolized.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imagining (fMRI)

A technique for imaging brain activity by using a powerful magnet to help detect blood flow in the brain.

The chemicals that affect the brain can be studied in what two ways?

• Assays

• Change them

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter in the brain that plays an important role in positive emotions and response to reward.

Dopamine is associated with what?

Extraversion and openness. It is also the basis of sociability and general activity level and facilitates exploration, approach, and learning

Whats the basis of parkinsons disease?

A severe lack of dopamine

Behavioural Activation System

This system produces and reinforces the motivation to seek rewards

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter within the brain that plays an important role in the regulation of emotion and motivation.

Some of serotonins roles as it pertains to personality traits

• helps people to organize their behaviour and get work done

• get along with people even when they are annoying

• avoid mood swings and emotional overreactions to life events (emotional stability, or low neuroticism)

Epinephrine

A neurotransmitter in the brain and also a hormone that is released by the adrenal gland as part of the body’s response to stress; also called adrenaline.

Norepinephrine

An important neurotransmitter in the brain that is associated with responses to stress; also called noradrenaline.

Oxytocin

A hormone that may have specific effects in women of emotional attachment and calming.

Male initial response to threat

Males evaluate their strength relative to their opponent and assess their chances of escape. They then either fight or run away

Females initial response to threat

Females are more likely to seek out their friends and relatives and “circle the wagons,” as it were. If you can’t always fight or flee, at least there is some safety in numbers.

Gonads

The glands, testes in men and ovaries in women, that (among other effects) produce sex hormones testosterone and estrogen

Higher levels of testosterone in females is associated with?

• higher levels of self reported sociability and impulsivity

• lack of inhibition

• lack of conformity

Cortisol

A collective term for the glucocorticoid hormones, which are released into the bloodstream by the adrenal cortex as a response to physical or psychological stress

What can cortisol do?

Speed heart rate, raise blood pressure, stimulate muscle strength, metabolize fat, and cause many other effects as well

The big 5 traits can be categorized into two “meta traits” these are?

Stability and plascity

The stability traits include?

Emotional stability (the inverse of neuroticism), conscientiousness, and agreeableness, and the abilities to control impulses, moderate emotions, and reach happy compromise in relations with others. These traits are associated with serotonin and its asscoaited neural systems

The plasticity traits include?

Extraversion and openness, push in the other direction toward exploration, activity, and emotional expression. They are associated with dopamine and its associated neural pathways

Extraverts respond more strongly to dopamine; is this true?

Yes. They enjoy rewards more and are more motivated to seek them out

Endorphins

The body’s own pain-killing chemicals, which operate by blocking the transmission of pain messages to the brain.

The relation between dopamine and pleasure arises because?

The dopaminergic system stimulates the release of endogenous opiates called endoprhins

The brain structure associated with neuroticism is?

Amygdala

Brain structure associated with conscientiousness?

Frontal cortex

Insula

A region of the cortex associated with many functions including the generation of distracting impulses, the experience of pain, and addiction.

Two brain processes important for agreeableness?

• Mentalizing

• Empathy

Mentalizing

Understanding what other people are thinking

Empathy

Understanding other people’s feelings

Higher levels of testosterone are associated with high or low agreeableness in both men and women?

Low agreeableness

What trait is the only one correlated with performance on IQ tests?

Openess to experience