questions Flashcards
What is brain plasticity?
Brain plasticity is the capacity of the brain to reorganize its circuitry.
How are neurochemistry and behavior related?
Behavior affects neurochemistry.
What is the effect of environmental events on schizophrenia?
Environmental events may cause schizophrenia, resulting in increased activity in dopaminergic systems.
What are the two divisions of the peripheral nervous system?
The two divisions are the somatic and autonomic nervous system.
What are the functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems?
The sympathetic system readies the body for action, while the parasympathetic system shuts down the digestive process.
What can an overactive autonomic nervous system lead to?
An overactive autonomic nervous system can increase readiness to acquire phobias or other anxiety disorders.
What is the heritable component for level of emotionality?
There is a heritable component for level of emotionality.
How can deficits in the regulation of ANS functions influence behavior?
Deficits in regulation of ANS functions can influence disordered behavior.
What can decreased parasympathetic regulation of heart rate and respiration indicate?
Decreased parasympathetic regulation of heart rate and respiration can indicate generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
What can an inflexibility of the autonomic and somatic systems manifest as in GAD?
An inflexibility of the autonomic and somatic systems can manifest as constant worry and an inability to control or stop the worry in GAD.
What type of thought can predict later symptoms of GAD?
Repetitive thought can predict later symptoms of GAD, not depression.
How does the endocrine system interact with the CNS?
The endocrine system and CNS interact in a feedback loop to maintain homeostatic levels of hormones circulating in the bloodstream.
What is the HPA axis?
The HPA axis refers to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis.
What is the role of cortisol in the HPA axis?
Cortisol is released into the bloodstream by the adrenal cortex in the HPA axis and has anti-inflammatory effects and other survival benefits.
What is implicated in the etiology of depression and anxiety?
Sensitivity to stress is implicated in the etiology of depression and anxiety.
What can sensitivity to stress lead to?
Sensitivity to stress can lead to an increase in the number of intracellular glucocorticoid receptors.
What is cretinism?
Cretinism is a condition characterized by dwarf-like appearance and mental disability, resulting from a defective thyroid gland.
What happens in hypoglycemia?
In hypoglycemia, the pancreas fails to produce insulin.
Is human behavior solely determined by inherited characteristics?
No, human behavior is not solely determined by inherited characteristics.
What does behavioral genetics offer insight into?
Behavioral genetics offers insight into the biological bases of abnormal functioning.
What does genotype-environment interaction suggest?
Genotype-environment interaction suggests a reciprocal relationship between genetic predisposition and environmental risk factors.
What kind of interaction is required to explain the onset of a disorder?
A complex interaction of both genetic predisposition and environmental risk factors is required to explain the onset of a disorder.
What did a study investigate the link between?
A study investigated the link between a gene involved in serotonin transmission, stressful life events, and depression.
How did people with different alleles of the gene cope differently?
People with two LL alleles of the gene coped better than people with two SS alleles of the gene.