AP Psych Bio Unit

Heredity

Transmission of genetic info from biological parents to offspring

Nature Vs Nurture

Nature

• Genes are inherent biological + genetic factors that influence psychological development

Nurture

• Environmental influences + experiences that shape someone’s phycological development

Genetic Predisposition

The inherited likelihood of developing specific traits or conditions due to genetic factors from biological parents

Evolutionary Perspective

How psychological traits + behaviors have evolved overtime to enhance survival

Natural Selection

The process which organisms w/ traits that are better suited to their environment are more likely to survive + reproduce passing those traits to future generations

Eugenics

The belief in improving the genetic quality of the human population by controlling reproduction to increase desirable traits + decrease undesirable traits

Twin Studies

Examines similarities + diff between identical (monozygotic) and fraternal (dizygotic twins to assess the relative influence of genetics + environment on traits + behaviors

Family Studies

Analyzes sims + diff among family members including parents + sibs to understand the interplay of genetics + environment in shaping traits + behaviors within a family unit

Adoption Studies

Investigates similarities between adopted children + their biological _ adoptive families to assess the impact of genetics vs environment on various traits + behaviors

Central Nervous System

Brain + Spinal Cord

• Command center of body

• Process Info

• Coordinates responses

• Regulates bodily functions

Peripheral Nervous System

Nerves + ganglia outside the brain + spinal cord

• Communication network

• Transmit sensory info from body to CNS

Autonomic Nervous System

Division of PNS that regulates involuntary bodily functions

• Operates automatically

2 Main Branches

• Sympathetic Nervous System

• Parasympathetic Nervous System

Sympathetic Nervous System

Activates body’s fight or flight response preparing the body for stressful situations

• Increase heart rate

• Dilates airways

• Redirects blood flow to essential organs

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Promotes relaxation + restores body to a calm state after stress/danger

• Slows heart rate

• Enhances Digestion

• Conserve Energy

Somatic Nervous System

Division in PNS

• Controls voluntary movements

• Relays sensory info from body to CNS

Neurons

Serve as the building block of Nervous System

• Transmit electrical + chemical signals throughout the body

3 Main Parts

• Soma

• Dendrites

• Axon

Glial Cells

Support Cells

• Provide structural support, insulation + nourishment to neurons

• Maintain brain health

• Support Neuronal function

Reflex Arc

Neural pathway that controls a reflex actions allowing for rapid automatic response to sensory stimuli w/o conscious thought

• Sensory Neurons detect stimuli + send signals to spinal cord

• Interneurons relay info to motor neurons triggering muscle/gland Reponses

• Protect body + enable quick reactions to potential dangers

The Emergency Reaction System

Sensory Neurons

Transmit sensory info from sensory receptors to the CNS

• Convert stimuli into electrical signals that can be processed by brain

• Enters the Brain

Motor Neurons

Transmit signals from CNS to muscles, glands + organs initiating + controlling voluntary + involuntary movements

• Cause muscles to contract/relax

• Exits the Brain

Interneurons

Nerves cells that serve as connectors within the CNS relaying signals between sensory neurons + motor neurons

• Message Processors

Neural Transmission

Process in which neurons communicate w/ each other through electrical + chemical signals

Action Potential

Brief electrical impulse that travels down the axon, initiating neurotransmitter release at the synaptic terminals

• Occurs when the neuron receives a stimulus that causes the inside of the cell to become more positively charged

All-or-Nothing Principle

Once a neuron reaches its threshold of excitation it fires an action potential at full strength

• If stimulus is strong enough to trigger an action potential the neuron will respond w/a full strength impulse

• If stimulus is below the threshold the neuron will not fire an action potential at all

Depolarization

Phase of action potential where the inside of the neuron becomes less - compared to the outside due to the influx of + charged ions

• Sodium Ions, through Ion channels in the cell membrane

• This change in electrical charge triggers the neuron to fire an action potential initiating the transmission of an electrical impulse along the neuron’s axons

Refractory Period

Brief period following an action potential in which a neuron is unable to generate another action potential

Resting Potential

Stable - electrical charge that exists across the cell membrane of a neuron when it’s not actively transmitting signals

• Maintained by the unequal distributions of ions w/more sodium ions outside the cell and more potassium ions inside

Reuptake

When neurotransmitters that have been released into the synapse are reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron from which they were originally released

Threshold

Level of stimulation required to trigger an action potential in a neuron

• Minimum stimulus intensity necessary to activate a neuron.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

A Chronic autoimmune disease that affects the CNS

• Occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the myeline sheath causing inflammation + damage

Myasthenia Gravis (MG)

A chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction where nerve impulses are transmitted to muscles

• Occurs when immune system produces antibodies that block/destroy the receptors for acetylcholine which simulates muscle contraction

Excitatory Neurotransmitters

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

Dopamine

Serotonin

Norepinephrine

Glutamate

GABA

Endorphins

Substance P

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter involved in muscle movement, learning, and memory regulation

Hormones

Pituitary Gland

Adrenaline

Leptin

Ghrelin

Melatonin

Oxytocin

Brainstem

Medulla

Reticular Activating System

Reward Center

Cerebellum

Cerebral Cortex

Limbic System

Thalamus

Hypothalamus

Pituitary Gland

Hippocampus

Amygdala

Corpus Callosum

Lobes

Occipital

Temporal

Parietal

Association Areas

Somatosensory Cortex

Frontal Lobes

Linguistic Processing

Higher-Order Thinking

Executive Functioning

Prefrontal Cortex

Motor Cortex

Split Brain Research

Epilepsy

Hemispheric Specialization

Broca’s Area

Wernicke’s Area

Aphasia (Broca’s + Wernicke’s)

Contralateral Hemispheric Organization

Plasticity

EEG

fMRI

Lesioning