Unit 1 psych review

nature vs. nurture debate and how does it relate to psychology?

longstanding controversy over the contribution genes and experience have on our development

nature

traits you are born with

nurture

traits where your environment influences you

eugenics

discredited idea that claims to improve human race by selective breeding to promote certain characteristics

evolutionary psychology

study of evolution of behavior and mind using principles of natural selection; how are humans alike because of shared biology and history?

behavioral genetics

study of relative power and limits of genetics and environmental influences on behavior; how do we differ because of genes and environment?

how do behavior geneticists explain our individual differences?

most of our differing traits are polygenetic, and influenced by environment with these genetic predispositions

monozygotic twins

developed from single egg

dizygotic twins

develop from 2 separate eggs

epigenetics

study of the molecular mechanisms by which environments can influence genetic expression

peripheral nervous system

nerves that aren’t encased in bone; sensory and motor neurons connect to CNS

somatic nervous system

controls voluntary muscle movements / sensory input, motor output

autonomic nervous system

sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

afferent neurons

sensory neurons AT brain

efferent neurons

motor neurons EXIT brain

interneurons

send info to brain or efferent neurons

dendrite

detect messages

soma

cell body

axon

passes messages through branches to other neurons

axon terminals or terminal buttons

end of axon / contains neurotransmitters

myelin sheath

fatty covering that speeds neural impulses

nodes of ranvier

periodic gap between the myelin sheath on the axon

schwann cells

glial cells that form the myelin sheath on axons

glial cells

cells that support, nourish, and protect neurons

synapse

space between neurons

how does info pass through the neuron

if the combined signals received by a neuron exceed a minimum threshold, the neuron fires, transmitting an electrical impulse down its axon by means of a chemistry-to-electricity process

multiple sclerosis

myelin sheath speeds up neural impulses

myasthenia gravis

a neuromuscular disease where muscles can’t contract due to blockage of ACh transmission

depolarization

sodium ions rushing into the neuron

threshold

when enough neurotransmitters reach dendrites

action potential

the action of neurons firing

resting potential

slightly negative charge / potassium ions inside, sodium ions outside

refractory period

brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron fires; action potential can’t occur until axon returns to resting state

inhibitory

stop from firing

reuptake

neurotransmitters reabsorption by sending neuron

acetylcholine (ACh)

deals with motor movement and memory

ACh malfunctions

too much = spasm / too little = paralysis / linked to Alzheimer’s disease

dopamine

deals with motor movement, alertness, pleasure

dopamine malfunctions

Parkinson’s disease / too much = schizophrenia

serotonin

involved in mood control, appetite, sleep

serotonin malfunctions

clinical depression

norepinephrine

adrenaline

norepinephrine malfunctions

lack = depression

GABA

inhibitory, calming

GABA malfunctions

lack = seizures/sleep problems

glutamate

excites you

glutamate malfunctions

lack = migraines/seizures

endorphins

involved in pain control, addictive drugs

endorphins malfunctions

lack = aches and hard time sleeping

substance P

involved in pain perception and immune response

substance P malfunctions

oversupply can lead to chronic pain

how do drugs and other chemicals alter neurotransmitters?

at synapses, some drugs are agonists or antagonists, where they increase or release of neurotransmitters or block synaptic reuptake / can make a person high by mimicking excitatory or inhibitory effects

reuptake inhibitor

substance that blocks neurotransmitters from opening receptor sites

agonists

increases neurotransmitters action

antagonists

decrease neurotransmitters action by blocking production or releases

how does the endocrine system transmit info and interact with nervous system?

secretes hormones into bloodstream / brain’s hypothalamus influences glands, which in turn influences brain with hormones

adrenaline

released at kidney’s adrenal glands

oxytocin

released at pituitary gland / aids social support

leptin

regulates balance between food intake and energy expenditure

ghrelin

released in stomach / signals hormone release, protects cardiovascular health

melatonin

regulates sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythms

cortisol

released in pituitary gland / stress hormone that increases blood sugar

how do biology and experience influence the brain?

our brains neuroplasticity allows us to build new neural pathways as we adjust to new experiences

neurogenesis

process in which new neurons are formed in brain

neuroplasticity

idea that when brain is damaged, will attempt to find new ways to reroute messages / children have more neuroplasticity

when would lesion be used?

treat behavior disorders

EEG used in

sleep research, epilepsy

PET

glucose, used in brain scans

MRI used in

show tissue damage, disease, inflammation, tumors

fMRI used in

showing brain functioning and structure

CT used in

locating tumors, bleeding, etc. / more detail on stroke patients

hindbrain

consists of medulla, pons, and cerebellum / directs essential survival functions

midbrain

found atop brainstem / connects hindbrain to forebrain / controls some motor movements and transmits auditory and visual info

forebrain

cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus / manages complex cognitive activities

brainstem

responsible for automatic functions

brainstem damage

paralysis

thalamus

brain’s sensory control center / directs messages to cortex and transmits replies to cerebellum and medulla

thalamus damage

unconsciousness, behavioral changes

reticular activating system

filters info and relays important info / controls arousal

RAS damage

coma

medulla

controls heartrate and breathing

pons

coordinate movements and sleep

cerebellum

enables motor learning, coordinates voluntary movements

hypothalamus

maintains homeostasis

amygdala

emotion, enables aggression and fear

amygdala damage

reduced arousal to fear and anger stimuli

hippocampus

processes conscious, explicit memories

hippocampus damage

lose ability/struggle to form new memories

corpus callosum

carries messages between left and right brain

pineal gland

secretes melatonin hormone

frontal lobes

linguistic processing, higher executive thinking and functioning

prefrontal cortex

enables judgement, planning, socializing, memories

broca’s area

responsible for speech production, aphasia

parietal lobes

receives sensory input for touch and body position

somatosensory cortex

registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

association areas

involved in higher mental functions

temporal lobes

includes auditory areas, enable language processing

auditory cortex

receives auditory info

Wernicke’s area

involved in helping you understand what you hear, aphasia

occipital lobes

receives info from visual fields