AP Psych - Unit 1a - Nature, Nurture, and Nerves

John Locke

British political philosopher. Wrote "An essay concerning Human Understanding" which argued that the mind at birth is a blank slate, therefore there are no innate ideas.

Tabula Rasa

Blank slate; a young mind not yet affected by experience (according to John Locke)

Nature vs Nurture

A longstanding controversy in psychology over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today's science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of both.

Maturation

biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior, relatively uninfluenced by experience

Biological Perspective

the psychological perspective that emphasizes the influence of biology on behavior. We are slaves to our biology (very much on the nature side of the debate)

Evolutionary Perspective

Psychological perspective that emphasizes the influence of the natural selection of traits. Natural selection often promotes traits that help us survive

Natural Selection

A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.

Mutation

change in a DNA sequence that affects genetic information

Charles Darwin

English natural scientist who formulated a theory of evolution by natural selection (1809-1882)

Twin Studies

a common method of investigating whether nature or nurture affects behavior

Causation vs. Correlation

Causation, means that one event caused another. X led to or is responsible for Y. Correlation means that two events are associated. They are often seen at the same time.

Neurons

Individual nerve cells.

Dendrites

Rootlike parts of the cell that stretch out from the cell body; grow to make synaptic connections with other neurons.

Cell body/soma

Contains the nucleus and other parts of the cell needed to sustain its life.

Axon

Wirelike structure ending in the terminal buttons that extends from the cell body.

Myelin sheath

A fatty covering around the axon of some neurons that speeds neural impulses.

Terminal buttons

The branched end of the axon that contains neurotransmitters.

Synapse

The space between the terminal buttons of one neuron and the dendrites of the next neuron.

Graphing the Firing of a Neuron

A stimulus (like a brain signal) is sent to the neuron. Once the stimulus surpasses the threshold, the neuron must fire (all-or-nothing principle). The firing of the neuron can then be broken into depolarization, action potential, repolarization, refractory period, and a return to a resting state.

Action potential

The electric message firing of neurons.

refractory period

the time following an action potential during which a new action potential cannot be initiated

All-or-none principle

States that a neuron must either fire completely or not at all; a neuron cannot fire a little or a lot - the impulse is the same every time.

acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction. Could be linked to Alzheimers

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter that controls motor movement and alertness; a lack of it is associated with Parkinson's disease while an overabundance is associated with schizophrenia.

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters that act as pain control; excess or deficits of endorphins are involved in addictions.

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter that act as mood control; a lack of it is associated with clinical depression.

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

Helps brain cells communicate. Not enough gives you seizures, tremors, and insomnia

Glutamate

A major excitatory (stimulating) neurotransmitter; involved in thinking, learning and memory

Afferent (sensory) neurons

Carry nerve impulses from sensory stimuli towards the central nervous system and brain

Interneuron

Takes the messages from afferent neurons in the brain or spinal cord and sends them elsewhere in the brain or on to efferent neurons.

Efferent (motor) neuron

Takes information from the brain to the rest of the body.

Central nervous system (CNS)

Our brain and spinal cord (all the nerves housed within bone); transmits information from the rest of the body to the brain.

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Consists of all the nerves not encased in bone; divided into the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.

Somatic nervous system

Controls our voluntary muscle movements.

Autonomic nervous system

Controls the automatic functions of our body; divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

Sympathetic nervous system

Mobilizes our body to respond to stress.

Parasympathetic nervous system

Responsible for slowing down our body after a stress response.