1.1-1.3B Risky retrieval

nature nurture issue

The longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Todays views come from the interaction of nature and nurture

Natural Selection

The principle tuat the inherited traits enabling an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will ( in competitiin with other trait variations) most likeky be passed onto succeeding generations.

evolutionary psychology

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

Behaviour genetics

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

Mutation

Random error in gene replication that leads to change

Environment

Every non genetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to our experiences of the people and things around us

Heredity

The genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

Genes

The biochemical units of heredity

Genome

The complete instructions of making an organism

Identical (Monozygotic) twins

Individuals who developed from a single fertilized ehg that split into two, creating two genetically identical organisms.

Fracternal( Dizygotic) twins

Individuals who developed from seperate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than ordinary siblings, but they share a prenatal environment

Interact

The interplay that occurs when the effect if ine factor ( environment) depends on another factor ( heredity)

Epigenetics

"above" or "in addition to" (epi) genetics; the study of the molecular mechanisms by which environments can influence genetic expression (without a DNA change).

nervous system

The bodys speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system

central nervous system (CNS)

brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body

Nerves

bundled axons that form nerual cabkes connecting the central nervius system with musckes, glands, and sensory organs

Sensory neurons

Neurons that carry incoming information from the bodys tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

Motor neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

Interneurons

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

Somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the bodys skeletal muscles. Also called skeletal nervous system

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs (heart). its symphathetic division aroused; its parasympathetic division calms

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy

Parasympathetic nervous system

division of the autonomic nervous ssytem that calms the body, conserves its energy

reflexes

simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as knee-jerk response

Neurons

nerve cell, building block of nervous system

Cell body

part of a neuron that contains the nucleus; the cells life-support center

dendrite

a neurons often bushy, branching extensions that recieve and integrate messages, conducting impulses towards the cell body

Axon

the segmented neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

myelin sheath

fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; it enables vastly grewtee transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next

Action potential

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

Threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

refractory period

in neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state

all or none response

a neurons reaction of either firing ( with a full strength response) or not firing.

synapse

[SIN-aps] the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.

reuptake

a neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron

Endorphins

[en-DOR-fins] "morphine within" — natural, opioid-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.

Agonist

a molecule that increases a neurotransmitters action

antagonists

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitters action

endocrine system

the body's "slow" chemical communication system: a set of glands and fat tissue that secrete hormones into the bloadstream.

Hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues.

psychoactive drugs

a chemical substance that alters rhe brain, causing changes in perceptions and moods

substance use disorder

a disorder characterized by continued substance use despite significant life disruption

barbiturate

drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment.

opiods

opium and its derivatives; they depress neural activity, temporarly lessening pain and anxiety.

stimulants

drugs that excite natural activity and speed up body functions

near death experience

an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death (such as cardiac arrest); often similar to drug-induced hallucinations.