bio Flashcards
genotype
genetic makeup of an organism
phenotype
physical and behav expression of a genotype
sheldon’s somatotypes
William Sheldon created taxonomy according to human physique
Ectomorphic:
-skinny, weak, and usually tall with low testosterone levels
-intelligent, gentle and calm, but self-conscious, introverted and anxious
Mesomorphic
-naturally hard and strong, with even weight distribution, muscular with weight training, thick-skinned, and as having good posture with narrow waist
-competitive, extroverted, and tough
Endomorphic
-fat, usually short, and having difficulty losing weight
-outgoing, friendly, happy and laid-back, but also lazy and selfish
physical attractiveness
-Seem to be more trustworthy and other positive traits (cognitive bias)
-Convicted of crimes less often unless the crimes are extremely brutal or violent
-Less likely to be punished for it because of their pretty privilege (especially a trial by jury)
-Physically attractive women are less likely to be convicted
-Sentenced differently because humans are biased to what we deem attractive
neuropsychology
study of the brain
-learning is psychological + biological
-environment changes biochemistry and cell structure of the brain
-develops w/ exp
brain structure
-forebrain: governs -complex function
-cerebrum: contributes to human qualities (ability to think abstractly)
-corpus callosum: connects hemispheres (allows info to be exchanged
-hemispheric lateralization: responsible for independent functions
-limbic system: responsible for emotional drives
-cerebellum: balance and coordination
lobes of the brain and functions
-frontal: 1/3 of brain –> sensory info, higher order thinking, personality, inhibits aggression
-thinking, memory, behav, movement
-parietal: sides of the brain
-processing senses, movement, language and touch
-temporal: ears
-memories, lang, and speech comprehension, hearing, learning and feelings
-occipital: VISION
organic brain syndrome
-decreased brain functioning
-traumatic or acquired
-Includes lesions, cancer, stroke, congenital injuries, toxic exposure, substance abuse
-Adolescence: neuroplasticity is high damaged by alcohol, cannabis and nicotine → can cause psychosis if used consistently
traumatic brain injury
-Injuries when brain moves around in the skull (concussion)
-Diminished cognitive skills, memory retrieval and retention, sensations; personality changes; anxiety and depression; antisocial behaviour; impulsive or reactive violence
-can be causal to violent behav
-Violent offenders have LOW executive control functions: variety of higher-order cognitive skills that include decision making, planning, and predicting, focusing attention, understanding abstraction and logic, and exercising social control
tbi in youth
-Prefrontal cortex is last to develop (inhibition of inappropriate behav)
-Trauma less severe in adults who have already learned socially acceptable behavs
-Youth are still maturing and if faced with traumatic injury, they take longer to know social and moral rules or they cannot acquire a normal understanding of moral reasoning
-Disrupt social developments and how they respond to emotion and social interaction and peer relationships. → antisocial behav
-Poor academic skills in school
-child abuse is a major cause of brain injury
brain imaging
-Ct (computed tomography): structure using x rays and computers
-MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): structure using magnets, radio-frequency waves, and computers
-PET (positron emission tomography): function from metabolism via radioisotope decay
-Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT): function from blood flow via gamma rays
-fMRI (Functional magnetic resonance imaging): function from blood flow via mri during certain tasks
brain dysfunction and aggressive behav
-Prefrontal cortex plays important role in aggressive behav
-Temporal lobe dysfunction contributes to aggressive behav (sex offenders)
-Likelihood of aggression based on balance between prefrontal cortex and subcortical structures located on left side of temp lobe
phineas gage
-had frontal lobe dmg
-Recovered physically no changes to movement, speech, intelligence
-Personality was ‘no longer Gage’
-Became hostile, irritable, ost social graces, ill-tempered (lost ability to work with others)
-Dozen of ppl with prefrontal cortex damage could not behave appropriately in social situations or make decisions
frontal lobe dysfunction
-Impairs ability to control impulses and inhibit inappropriate behav
-Reduces ability to anticipate consequences of action
-Failure to adapt to context
-Overact to minor provocations to fail to display appropriate emotional response
temporal lobe dysfunction
-Impacts structure of the limbic system, including amygdala
-Amygdala involved with flight or fight response (if removed, less aggression)
-Dysfunction can lead to misinterpretation of environmental cues (perceive something that isn’t a threat as threatening)
-Cannot suppress fear and a greater risk of reacting impulsive and aggressively
neurochemistry
-neurotransmitters: nervous → spinal cord, nerves
-function: regulates and coordinates body’s activities
-relevant examples: serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, MAOA
-Hormones: endocrine → pituitary, hypothalamus, adrenals, thyroid, reproductive organs
-function: regulates essential functions such as growth, metabolism and sexual development
-relevant examples: testosterone, estrogen, proesterone, cortisol
neurotransmitters
-Transmits signals to instruct body how to act
-Communications takes place between synapses
-Info processing and communication in the brain
-Basis for most behaviour, including antisocial behav
serotonin
-Regulates HPA (hypothalamic- pituitary adrenal axis) stress response in mood regulation
-Dysfunction related to ADHD, BP, BPD, MDD, alcoholism
-Inverse relationship (lack of balance) with impulsive-aggressive behav
dopamine
-Reward system
-Major target of most drugs of abuse (illicit drugs)
-Increased dopamine related to increased aggression
-Triggers motivated behavs, including retaliatory or defensive responses
norepinephrine
-Prepares body for fight or flight reaction
-Increase sugar, heart rate, blood flow, and shut down functions not involved
-Higher in aggressive, dominating ppl
behavioural activation system (BAS)
- rewards and non punishment in environment, overactivity → impulsive behav, dopamine system
behavioural inhibition system (BIS)
- inhibits behaviours in signals to aversive stimuli, punishment, fear → underactivity → impulsivity, serotonin
hormones
-Chemical signals released by endocrine cells
-Hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid glands
-Constantly fluctuate to correct imbalances
-Behav changes, mood swings, and death
-50 known human hormones
testosterone
-Challenge hypothesis: Male levels will rise in contexts that challenge reproductive success
-Social environment to form responses to maximize fitness (mating ability)
-Behvs include competitiveness, aggression, perseverance, risk taking, status displays, DOMINANCE
-Has a role in prosocial (opposite of antisocial behav) behav can increase altruistic behav and can increase social cooperation)
-Test increases in anticipation for comp and after comp
-Not a direct causal relationship
