AP Psychology - Biological Bases of Behavior, The Brain (Unit 1)

Evolutionary Perspective

The study of how psychological and behavioral traits have evolved to enhance survival and reproductive success.

Natural Selection

Where organisms survive in an environment that better suits their traits

Evolutionary Advantage

Individuals with better social intelligence has advantages in forming alliances, gaining social status, etc

Nature (natural)

Biological and genetic factors that influence an individual’s psychological development, traits, and behaviors.

Nurture (non natural)

Environmental influences and experiences that shape an individual’s psychological development and behaviors.

Twin Studies

Similarities, differences, and the influence of genetics and environment on traits and behaviors between identical and fraternal twins.

Adoption Studies

Similarities between adopted children and their bio and adoptive families.

Family Studies

Similarities and differences among family members to understand interplay of genetics and environment in how it shapes traits and behaviors within a family.

Heredity

Transmission of genetic info from biological parents to offspring

Genetic Predisposition

Inherited likelihood of developing specific trats or conditions due to genetic factors.

Which one of these is not an example of Genetic Predisposition

Birthmarks

Eugenics

A belief in improving genetic quality of the human population by selective breeding

Cerebral Cortex

Outer layer of the brain- responsible for higher level cognitive functions (the big boss)

How many lobes are there?

4

Frontal Lobes

Higher-level cognitive functions - decision making, problem-solving, planning, personality expression.

Prefrontal Cortex

Planning, decision making, self-control.

Motor Cortex

Controlling voluntary movements of the body (walking, talking, grabbing objects)

Parietal Lobes

At the top of the brain- Processing sensory information from the body (touch, temp, spatial awareness)

Somatosensory Cortex

Processing sensations from the skin, muscles, and joints.

Occipital Lobes

Your eyes in the back of your head, processes visual info.

Temporal Lobes

Sides of the brain- Processes auditory info, language comprehension and memory formation.

Corpus Callosum (CC)

Connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain and regulates communication.

Brainstem

Regulates basic life-sustaining functions (breathing, heart rate, sleep-wake cycle)

Medulla

(In the brainstem) Heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure

Reticular Activating System (RAS)

Arousal, attention, consciousness

Cerebellum

coordinates movement, balance, posture.

Limbic System

Brain structures involved in emotions, memory, and motivation.

Reward Center

Processes pleasurable experiences and reinforces behaviors associated with them.

Thalamus

Processes and relays sensory information (all senses but smell)

Hypothalamus

Regulates bodily functions like hunger, thirst, body temp. Helps maintain homeostasis in the body.

Pituitary Gland

Regulates hormonal activity and secretion throughout the body

Hippocampus

Forms and keeps new memories. (Camping the memories)

Amygdala

Processes emotions, particularly fear and aggression. (Flight-or-fight)

What are the 2 types of Nervous systems?

Peripheral and Central nervous system

What does the Central Nervous System do? (CNS)

Command center of the body, processes info, coordinates responses. (CEO)

What does the Peripheral Nervous System do? (PNS)

A communication network that transmits information from the body to the central nervous system. (a bunch of interns for the ceo)

Autonomic Nervous System

Regulates bodily functions without conscious control.

What are the two branches of the autonomic Nervous System?

Parasympathetic (decreases heart rate) and Sympathetic (increases heart rate).

Somatic Nervous System

Branch of peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movements.

Neurons

A cell that transmits electrical and chemical signals throughout the body

Glidal Cells

the “support cells.” Provides structural support to neurons

Moter Neurons

Initiates and controls voluntary and involuntary movements. (sends signals from central nervous system to muscles, glands, and organs)

Sensory Neurons

Transmits sensory info from sensory receptors (skin, muscles, organs) to the central nervous system

Interneurons

Relays signals between sensory and motor neurons.

Dendrites

receives messages from other cells

Cell Body

cells life support center

Axon

Passes messages from cell body to other neurons

myelin sheath

covers the axon to speed up neural impulses

Terminal Branches of Axon

forms junctions with other cells

Reflex Arc

Controls reflex actions

Neural Transmission

The process which neurons communicate with each other through electrical and chemical signals

Threshold

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

All-or-Nothing Principle

Once a neuron reaches its threshold of excitation, it will fire an action potential at full strength

Depolarization

A floodgate suddenly opens and allows a rush of positive ions to flow into the cell

Refractory Period

Brief period where after an action potential a neuron is unable to generate another action potential

Resting Potential

stable, negative electrical charge that exists across the cell membrane of a neuron when its not transmitting signals

Reuptake

Neurotransmitters have been released into the synapse are reabsorbed from where they were originally released

Neurotransmitters

transmit signals between neurons, allowing communication

Excitatory Neurotransmitters

increases the likelihood of an action potential to occur

Glutamate

Involved with learning, memory, and neural plasticity

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

the likelihood of an action potential to occur int he postsynaptic neuron

GABA

Promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety

Dopamine

Regulates mood, reward, motivation, and movement (ex: entertainment from phone)

Serotonin

regulates mood, sleep, appetite, and stress (happiness)

Endorphins

natural pain relievers and mood enhancers (released when stressed, in pain, or during an intense physical activity)

Substance P

transmits pain signals in the nervous system

Acetylcholine

involved in muscle contraction, memory, and learning

Hormones

chemical messenger that travels through the bloodstream to target cells or organs, where then regulate various processes and behaviors.

Ghrelin (growling)

Stimulates appetite and promotes hunger (hunger hormone)

Leptin

regulates energy balance and appetite (tells you that you are full)

Melatonin

regulates the sleep-wake cycle, ensures restful sleep

Oxytocin

key role in social bonding (the love hormone)

Adrenaline

A key role in the body’s stress response, referred to as fight or flight response

Norepinephrine

Neurotransmitter that responds to stress levels and enhances your cognitive functions to focus. (ex: last minute studying)

Plasticity

The brains ability to reorganize and adapt throughout life in response to experiences, learning, and environmental changes.

Split Brain Research

studies individuals who have gotten their two hemispheres disconnected

Contralateral Hemispheric Organization

Each hemisphere of the brain controls the opposite side of the body.

Hemispheric Specialization

Concept where each hemisphere of the brain has specialized functions and abilities.

Linguistic Processing

Understanding and producing language.

Broca’s Area

responsible for speech production and language processing

Broca’s Aphasia

Language disorder where there’s difficulty to produce fluent speech and grammatically correct sentences.

Wernicke’s Area

Helps interpret the meaning of words and sentences

Wernicke’s Aphasia

Can speak fluent but has difficulty understanding spoken and written language

Electroencephalogram “EEG”

neuroimaging technique used to record the electrical activity of the brain

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging “fMRI”

technique used to measure brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow and oxygen levels

Lesioning

Research on brain function by intentionally damaging or destroying specific areas of the brain on experimental animals.

Vision is also known as… and what does it do?

Sight- Perception of light and color

Hearing is also known as…. and what does it do?

Audition- Perception of sound waves

Smell is also known as… and what does it do?

Olfaction- Perception of odors

Taste is also known as… and what does it do?

Gustation- Perception of flavors

Touch is also known as… and what does it do?

Tactile- perception of pressure, temp, and texture

Transduction

Conversion of sensory stimuli into neural impulses

Where does sight take place? (think specific!)

Retina (specifically in rods and cones)

Where does audition take place? (think specific!)

Cochlea (hair cells in the Organ of Corti)

Where does olfaction take place? (think specific!)

Olfactory epithelium (in the nasal cavity)

Where does gustation take place? (think specific!)

Taste buds (on the tongue, roof of mouth, throat)

Where does tactile take place?

Receptor cells in the skin.

Absolute Threshold

Point at which a stimulus becomes noticeable to an individual

Just-Noticeable Difference (JND)

Smallest change in a stimulus that can be detected by an individual