psych unit 1 part 1

evolutionary perspective

study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection

ex: humans developing fear of snakes because ancestors survived by avoiding them.

natural selection

principles that inherited traits enabling an organism to survive and reproduce and will be most likely be passed to succeeding generations.

ex: giraffes with longer necks have higher chance of attaining food, therefore have a higher chance of surviving and reproducing.

eugenics

the scientifically immoral theory of racial improvement and planned breeding

ex: the holocaust attempting to stop certain people from breeding yo control racial improvement and planned breeding

twin studies

comparing identical and fraternal twins to figure out how much a trait comes from genes (nature) versus environment (nurture)

ex: studying identical twins separated at birth who both developed schizophrenia.

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord, the body’s primary control system that processes incoming sensory information and directs outgoing motor commands.

ex: brain deciding to raise hand to answer question in class.

peripheral nervous system

the network of nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body.

ex: wires carrying feeling from your toe to your spine

autonomic nervous system

the part of your nervous system that automatically controls involuntary body functions like breathing, heart rate, and digestion.

ex: your body breaking down food without having to think about it

somatic nervous system

branch of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movements and transmits sensory information to and from the central nervous system.

ex: telling your legs to move so you can walk

sympathetic nervous system

system that acts as a fight or flight and prepares a person for a stressful situation

ex: public speaking and your heart racing and pupils dilating.

parasympathetic nervous system

branch of the peripheral nervous system that calms the body down after the stressful situation.

ex: sitting after eating and heart rate slows and digestion starts

neuron

the basic units on which the entire brain and nervous system are built on.

ex: brain cell sending a signal that allows you to recall a memory.

glial cells

provide support, nourishment and protection of neuron and plays role in learning, thinking, and memory.

ex:

reflex arc

a fast, automatic neural pathway that handles a reflex entirely in the spinal cord, skipping the brain to save time.

ex: burning yourself & moving your hand immediately without thinking.

sensory neurons

(afferent) carry incoming information from body’s tissues and sensory receptors = spinal cord and brain

motor neurons

carry outgoing information from spinal cord and brain = muscles and glands

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and processed information.

all-or-nothing principle

once initiated cannot be stopped, full strength or nothing

ex: when toilet flushes, it goes and there’s no stopping

depolarization

the change in charge (negative to positive)

ex: stubbing toe, shocking nerve and alerting pain to brain

refractory period

a brief resting pause after a neuron has fired, during which it cannot fire again until it resets its electrical charge.

ex: then toilet stops for a while before you can flush again

resting potential

the inactive state when a neuron is not transmitting a message, maintaining a negative charge inside the cell while it waits to fire.

ex: loaded slingshot pulled back and held still

reuptake

process where NT is reabsorbed by the sending neuron

ex: sponge absorbing water on counter after spreading water on it.

threshold

the minimum level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse (action potential)

Multiple sclerosis

A disease where the immune system destroys the myelin sheath (the fatty coating around neurons), causing electrical signals to slow down or short-circuit.

Myasthenia Gravis

autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness and rapid fatigue of any of the muscles under voluntary control

Excitatory neurotransmitter

neurotransmitters that release chemicals from the terminal buttons, they excite connecting neurons and cause them to fire.

ex: pressing down on pedal in car to move forward

inhibitory neurotransmitter

neurotransmitters that inhibit (prevent) the next neurons from firing

ex: pressing break in car to slow down but not break check

dopamine

a neurotransmitter, things that are pleasurable release this chemical

ex: releases during and right after the intense drop of a rollercoaster

serotonin

a neurotransmitter that is connected to mood, emotion, appetite, sleep, and sexual desire

ex: eating a food with carbohydrates releases serotonin, leading to comfort.

norepinephrine

a neurotransmitter that helps control alertness and arousal

ex: someone suddenly scaring you after moment of relaxation

glutamate

an excitatory NT that is involved in larding, memory and is in many psychological disorders

GABA

the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter that slows things down, calming the central nervous system

Substance P

a type of neurotransmitter that sends pain signals to the brain (plays a crucial role in the body’s pain perception.)

ex: stepping on lego while barefoot

endorphins

a neurotransmitter that relieves pain and stress

ex: body releasing endorphins while working out to manage fatigue

acetylcholine

the first neurotransmitter discovered and responsible for muscle action and involvement in memory and learning.

ex: brain remembering a phone number

hormones

chemical messengers that travel in the bloodstream to control processes like growth, mood, stress, and sleep.

ex: growing taller or voice getting deeper

adrenaline

a hormone that affects behavior by enhancing alertness for immediate action for survival.

leptin

a hormone that communicates with the brain about the body’s energy status, stopping hunger

ex: stopping while eating because body is telling you that you are full

ghrelin

a hormone produced in the stomach and signals the brain to appetite.

melatonin

a hormone that influences circadian rhythms and is crucial for healthy sleep patterns

oxytocin

a hormone that is released in response to social interaction and bonding activities.

agonist drugs

mimics or enhances of NT effects

ex: drug that mimics serotonin to help relieve anxiety.

antagonist drugs

inhibits or blocks effects of NT

ex: drug that prevents blood vessels from narrowing, helping to lower blood pressure.

stimulants

drugs that speeds up the body’s functions

ex: caffeine making you hyper and stay up longer

caffeine

stimulant drug found in coffee, tea, and many her the counter medications.

ex: drinking coffee to study late at night

cocaine

illegal stimulant drug that blocks the uptake of NTs

ex: heart rate going up after snorting cocaine

depressants

drug that lowers functioning of central nervous system

alcohol

a depressant drug that slows down brain activity that controls judgement and inhibitions, also disrupts memory

ex: someone taking a shot of vodka and feeling more loose.

hallucinogens

drug that cause hallucinations

ex: someone taking LSD and imagining things that aren’t there

marijuana

hallucinogen drug from natural plant that contains TLC, lowers inhibitions and produce feelings of relaxation and mild euphoria

opioids

drugs that reduce neurotransmissions and lessen paint and anxiety

heroin

highly addictive opioid that slows brain activity, blocks pain, feel euphoric

addiction

compulsive use of a substance despite harmful consequences

withdrawal

discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior

ex: getting a headache from not drinking caffeine after daily caffeine consumption.

tolerance

creating a need for increasing amounts of a drug to experience the same effects

ex: increasing caffeine intake because of ineffective results.

brain stem

the oldest part of the brain that connects spinal cord to the brain, messages received from both hemispheres.

medulla

a critical part of the brain stem that control breathing regulates reflexes

reticular activities system (RAS)

a network of neurons located in the brain stem, regulating wakefulness and sleep-walk transitions.

brain’s reward center

collection of structures that are key to the experiences of pleasure motivation, and reinforcement learning

cerebellum

part of brain that coordinates muscle movement, balance and posture, and forms of procedural learning

cerebral cortex

outer layer of brain

hemispheres (2)

left hemisphere of brain focuses on verbal processing, speech, and grammar. Right hemisphere focuses on spatial perceptions, visual recognition, and emotion

limbic system

brain network that processes emotions and survival.

thalamus

sensory relay center that routes signals to cortex

hypothalamus

regulates survival, drives, body temperature, and hormone release

pituitary gland

gland that releases hormones into the bloodstream

hippocampus

converts short term memories into long term storage

ex: HM had it removed and had long term memory loss, but kept short term and “unconscious” memory

amygdala

process emotions, especially fear and anger

ex: SM having no amygdala, and being unfazed by horror movies and even being robbed

corpus callosum

nerve bundle connecting and passing signals between hemispheres

lobes

-occipital: visual information;

ex: seeing a blue sky

-temporal: hearing, memory, and faces;

ex: hearing a friend’s voice

-pariental: touch, pressure, and temperature;

ex: feeling a hot stove

-frontal: controls decision-making, planning, and movement; ex: deciding what to wear today

somatosensory cortex

parietal region receiving touch and body sensations

motor cortex

frontal region controlling voluntary movement

split brain researchorcas areab

studies on patients with a severed corpus callous

broca’s area

left frontal region controlling speech production

Werenicke’s area

the brains area that understands language

split brain patient

someones brain halves are separated by cutting the connecting tissue

aphasia

brain damage that causes speech or language trouble

brain plasticity

the brain’s ability to adapt and rewire itself\

ex: someone with brain damage and Broca’s aphasia speaking better after years of recovery

brain scans (EEG, fMRI)

pictures or records of brain activity

lesioning (brain surgical procedures)

removing or destroying tin areas of brain tissue