pyschology unit 1

nature

our traits are results of genetics

nuture

our traits are a result of our eperience

natural selection

the principle that the inherited traits enabling an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will most likely be passed on to the succeeding generations - Charles darwin

Behavior genetics

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

Evolutionary view

organisms varied offspring compete for surivial

mutation

random error in gene replication that leads to change

Eugenics

based loosely on Charle’s Darwins theory- seeks to eradicate genetic defects and improve the genetic defects and improve genetic makeup throught selection human breeding - Not ethical and different traits benefit different people

Environment

nongenetic influence from prenatal( before birth) nutrition to our experiences of people and things around us

Heredity

the genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

Genes

the biochemical units heredity, not one gene will predict personality and intelligence and etc.

Genome

The complete instructions for making an organism

Indentical twins

monozygotic twins- people who developed from on single egg that split in two genetically identical people- doesn’t always have the same number of copies of genes

Fraternal twins

dizygotic twins: people who developed from separate eggs, not genetically closer compared to ordinary sibilings but share pre-birth environment

Twin studies- what do they do?

they allow researchers to examine the role of genes in the development of a trait or disorder. they compare dizygtoic and monozygotic twins to see the degree of effect

interaction

interplay that happens when the effect of one factor(such as the environment) depends on another facyore( such as heredity) - walking barefoot in summer example

Epigenetics

The study of the molecular mechanisms by which environment can influences genetic expression- a kids being sleep deprived may make them not grow to their genetic height

Nervous system

the body’s speedy electrochemical communication network

Central Nervous system (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

Nerves

Bundle of axons that form neural cables connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sensory organs

Sensory neurons

Afferent neurons: Carry incoming information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

Motor neurons

efferent neurons: Carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

Interneurons

In the brain and spinal cord that communicates internally and processes information between the sensory inputs and the motor outputs

Brain

controls most of the functions of the body: awareness, movement, thinking, speech, and the 5 senses

Spinal Cord

The spinal cord is an extension of the brain and carries messages to and from the brain to the rest of the body

Reflex

Simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulusm such as a knee-jerk reflex

Somatic nervous system

Definition: Division of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that controls voluntary movements and skeletal muscles.

Automatic NS

Divison of the PNS that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs

sympathetic NS

Divison of the Automatic NS that arouses the body, moblilizing its energy (heart rate increase, sweating, dilating pupils) fight or flight

Parasympathetic NS

Divison of the automatic NS that calms the body, conserving its energy: rest and digest

A nerve cell

basic building blocks of the nervous system

Glial cells

cells that provides physical and chemical support to neurons and maintain their environment- glue of NS

Multiple sclerosis

disorder when the body’s immune system attacks the myelin sheath- diminishes muscle control and can impare cognition

Myathenia Gravis

Progressive autoimmune disease where the body produces antibodies against the acethylcholine receptors, weakens transmissons- weakness in voluntary muscles( eyes, mouth, throat and limbs)

Action potential

A neutral impulse: brief electical charge that travels down an axon

threshold

level of stimulation required to trigger a neutral impulse

Refractory period

brief resting pause occurs after neuron has fired, action potential can’t happen until axon returns to resting state

all or nothing response

a neuron’s reaction of either firing or not firing

synapse

the junction between the axon ti of the sending neurson and the dendrite of the receving neuron. Tiny gap called synaptic gap

Dendrites

recieves messages

cell body/ Soma

Cell’s life support center in the center is the nucleus

Axon

Passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons/ the terminal branches

Myelin sheath

covers the axon and some neurons to help speed neural impulses

Node of ranvier

Gap where axon is exposed between myelin sheath

Terminal branches

forms junctions with other cells includes terminal buttons

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

ALS is a progressive disease that destroys upper and lower motor neurons, causing muscles to weaken, twitch, and waste away until the brain can no longer control voluntary movement.

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that corss the synaptic gap between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, the transmitters travel across the synapse and bind to the receptor sites on the receiving neuron

reuptake

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorbtion by sending neuron

Acetylcholin(ACh)

Muscle movement: excites skeletal muscles, slows heartrate, memory

what happens when they is a lack of acetylcholine

Alzheimer’s disease

Dopamine

movement: learning and attention, motivation and reward/pleasure

What happens if they is too much/ too little dopamine

too little: parkinson’s disease, too much: schizophrenia

Serotonin

Sleep and arousal: Mood regulation, eating and digestion, pain preception

too little or too much serotonin

Too little: eating disorders, depression, Too much: eating disorders, OCD

Norepinephrine

Sleep and arousal: Mood

Too little or too much Norepinephrine

Depression

GABA( Gamma-aminobutyric acid)

Major inhibitory neurotransmitter: regulate arousal and calm activity

too little GABA

Anxiety and seizure disorders

Glutamate

Major excitatory neurotransmitter: involved in learning, memory, and many brain functions

Too much glutamate?

Neural death after head injuries

Substance P

Carries pain signals

Too much substance P?

possivle link to depression

agonist

molecule that increases a neurotransmitters action( morphine)

Antagonist

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitters action( Haloperidol)

Edocrine system

network of glands and fat tisses that put hormones into the bloodstream

hormones

chemical messengers that are menufactured by the endocrine system

Adrenaline

Hormone and neurotransmitter: typically during stressful, exciting, or highly emotional stituations

Ghrelin

Hormone: primarly from gastrointestinal tract that helps regulate appetite(hunger)

Oxytocin

Hormone: Hypothalamus to pituitary gland, love hormone key role in socializing, romantic relationships, and parent-child bond

leptin

hormone: released by fat cells that work to regulate appetite( full)

Melatonin

A hormone released primarily by Brian pineal gland, regulates body’s sleep-wake cycle

Cortisol

Hormone: adrenal glands, regulate blood sugar, manage stress, and control metabolism

Psychoactive drug

Chemical substance that alters the brain, causing changes in perception and moods

Substance use disorder

characterized by continued subatsnce use despite resulting life disruption

Alcohol

Initial high followed by relaxation, after effect: depression, memory loss, organ damage, impaired reactions

Barbiturates(tranquilizers)

reduce anxiety, effects: depress NS activity, can be prescribed but in large doses they can impair memory and judgement

Opiates(Heroin)

rush of euphoriam, relief from pain. effects: Depressed physiology, agonizing withdrawal

Depressants

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions: alcohol, tranquilizers, opiates

stimulants

drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions: Caffeine, Nicotine, cocaine

Caffeine

Increased alertness and wakefulness, effects: anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia, uncomfortable withdrawal

Nicotine

Arousal and relaxation, sense of well-being effects: heart disease, cancer

cocaine

rush of euphoria, confidence, energy, effects: cardiovasular stress, suspiciousness, depressive crash

Hallucinogens

Drugs that distort perceptions and evokes sensory images in the absense of sensory input

Ecstasy(MDMA)

Emtional elevation, dishibition, effects: Dehydration, overheating, depressed mood, impaired cognitive and immune functioning

LSD

visual “trip”, effects: risk of panic

Marijuana(THC)

enhanced sensation, relief of distortion of time, relaxation, effect: impaired learning and memory, increased risk of psychological disorders

tolerance, addiction, withdrawal

diminishing effect with regular use of same dose of drug, addiction: complusive substance use that continues despite harmful effects, withdrawal: discomfort and distress that follows ending use of a addictive drug

phrenology

Franz Gall: studying bumps on the skull which would reveal a person’s mental abilities and personality

Biological psychologist

scientfic study of the connection between biological and psychological processes

Biopsychosocial approach

incorporates biological psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis

neuroplasticity

the brain’s ablitity to change, especially in childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

electroencephalogram(EEG)

detects electrical activity in the brain using electrodes placed on the scalp that record voltage flucuations form firing neurons

PET(Positron emission tomography)

Injects small dose of radioactive tracer into blood to track cellular metabolic and chemical activity

MRI (megnatic resonance imaging)

uses strong magnetic fields and radio pulses to align with hydrogen protons to produce high resolution anatomical images of soft tissue

FMRI(functional MRI)

tracks blood oxygenation and flow changes to identify which brain areas are actively consuming energy during tasks or at rest

Hindbrain

Medulla, oons, cerebellum: directs essential survival functions( breathing, sleeping, wakefulness, coordination and balance)

Midbrain

ontop of brain stem: connects to hindbrain with forebrain, controls some motor movement, transmits auditory and visual information

Forebrain

Cerebral cortex, thalamusm and hypothalamus: manages complex cognitive actives, sensory and associative functions, and voluntary motor activties

Limbic system

amygdala, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland: neural system located mostly in the forebrain-below the cerebral hemispheres

corpus callosum

uses axon fibers to connect the two cerebral hemispheres( right hemisphere and left hemisphere)