Unit 1 Flashcards
(165 cards)
1
Q
What is the nature-nurture issue?
A
THe controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experiences make to behavior and traits
2
Q
What is Natural Selection?
A
principle that the inherited traits enabling an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular envrionment will most likely be passed on
3
Q
What is eugenics?
A
selectively breeding humans to promote certain characteristics
4
Q
What is behavior genetics?
A
study of relative power and limits of genetic and envrionmental influences on bheavior
5
Q
What is the main conclusion of the nature-nuture debate?
A
Nurture works on what nature provides
6
Q
What is a mutation?
A
A random error in gene replication that leads to a change
7
Q
How do our ancestors influence us today?
A
We are genetically predispose to think and act in ways that promoted our biological ancestors survival and reproduction
8
Q
What is environment?
A
Every nongenetic influence
9
Q
What is heredity?
A
Genetic transfer of characteristic from parents to offspring
10
Q
What does it mean when traits are polygenetic?
A
Influenced by many genes
11
Q
Details about identical twins
A
- monozygotic
- genetically identical
- have the same genes, but sometimes not the same number of those genes
12
Q
Details about faternal twins
A
- dizygotic
- genetically similar as ordinary siblings
13
Q
What is an important behavioral hallmark of humans?
A
Adaptive capacity
14
Q
What are Epigenetics?
A
Study of molecular mechanism, by which environments can influence genetic expression, which environments can trigger or block genetic expression
15
Q
Are genes predetermined or can they self-regulate?
A
self-regulate
16
Q
What are epigenetic marks?
A
Methyl molecules attached to a DNA strand
17
Q
How do epigenetic marks work?
A
The mark can determine whether a gene is turned on or not. If it is turned off, the DNA won’t produce the proteins normally encoded by that gene
18
Q
Can genes influenced by epigenetic marks be passed down?
A
Yes. Some epigenetic changes can be passed down to future generations which show that environmental influences can also effect genes
19
Q
What do humans share?`
A
Genetic legacy
20
Q
What effect does family environment have on personality?
A
Very little effect
21
Q
What is the nervous system?
A
Electrochemical communication network, consists of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system
22
Q
What is the nervous system made of? How do they communicate?
A
neurons that communicate via chemical messengers called neurotransmitter
23
Q
How does the nervous system function?
A
It takes in information, makes decisions, and sends back information and orders to the body’s tissues
24
Q
What is the central nervous system?
A
The brian and spinal cord that makes decisions
25
What is the peripheral nervous sytem?
The sensory and motor neurons that connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body, gathers information and transmits CNS decisions to other body parts
26
What are Nerves
Bundled axons that forms neural cables that connects the CNS with muscles, glands, and sensory organs
27
What are sensory neurons?
Neurons that carry messages from the body's tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
28
What are motor neurons?
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
29
What are interneurons?
Neurons within the brain and spinal cord, communicates and processes information between the sensory inputs and motor outoputs
30
What are the 2 components of the peripheral nervous system?
Somatic and Autonomic system
31
What is the somatic nervous system?
Controls the body's skeletal muscleS and voluntary movement
32
What is the the autonomic nervous system?
Controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs, many self-regulating survival functions
33
What are the 2 subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system?
Sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system
34
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
Arouses and expends energy, accelerates heartbeat, raises blood pressure, etc
35
What is the parasympathetic nervous system?
Converses energy and claims a person down
36
What does the sympathetic and parasympathetic work together to maintain?
homeostasis
37
Why do neurons create neural networks?
Neuron network with nearby neurons which they can have short, fast connects with
38
What is the spinal cord?
Connects the peripheral nervous system and the brain which sends signals between each other
39
What are reflexes?
Automatic response to a sensory stimulus
40
What is the reflex arc?
Simple spinal reflex pathway, composed of a single sensory neuron and a single motor neuron
41
Why do some reflexes feel as if you aren't in control?
Simple reflexes only pass through the sensory receptors, spinal cord, then the motor neurons, it doesn't pass into the brain. So the sensation isn't processed and you aren't consciously making the decision to move
42
What are neurons?
a nerve cell, basic building block of the nervous system
43
What are the 5 parts of a neuron?
Cell body, dendrites, axon, myelin sheath, terminal branches
44
What is the cell body?
Part of the neuron that contains the nucleus
45
What is a dendrite?
Extensions that receive and integrate messages
46
What is the axon fiber?
Passes messages through its branches to other neurons, muscles, or glands
47
What is a myelin sheath?
Fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons, increases greater transmission speed
48
What are the results of myelin sheath degeneration?
Diminished control and slower reaction time
49
What are glial cells?
Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons, aids in learning, thinking, and memory
50
How does glia contribute to intelligence?
Shows a correlation between higher glial cell concentration and higher intelligence
51
When do neurons transmit messages?
When stimulated by senses or neighboring neurons
52
What is action potential?
A neural impulse, a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
53
How do neurons generate electricity?
Chemical events, ions are exchanged
54
Describe the process in which neurons gain electricity. What is resting potential, what is depolarization
Outside the axon's membrane are positively charged ions, the fluid inside of the axon is negative. This positive/negative inside sate is the resting protentional. When the neuron fires, the axon opens up and positively charged ions flood inside, resulting in depolarization. Which causes the next section of axon channels to open like dominoes.
55
What is threshold
Level of stimulation requried to trigger a neural impulse
56
What is the refractory period?
Brief resting pause after the neuron has been fired, subsequent action potentials can't occur until the axon returns to its resting state
57
What is the all or nothing response?
Neurons will fire at the same intensity, they will either ire or not. Stimulus intensity does not effect the neuron firing intensity
58
How does a strong stimulus effect the neurons?
They will fire more often and trigger more neurons to fire
59
What is a synapse?
Junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the neuron
60
What is the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft?
Gap between 2 neurons
61
What occurs when an action potential reaches the axon terminals?
Chemical messengers, neurotransmitters are released
62
What are neurotransmitters?
chemicall messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons, they will bind tot he receptor sites on the receiving neurons
63
What occurs when the neurotransmitters bind to the receptor sites on the receiving neuron?
Channels at the receiving sites are unlocked and charged atoms low in, which can be excitatory or inhibitory
64
What happens with excess neurotransmitters?
They drift away to be broken down by enzymes or experience reuptake
65
What is Reuptake?
Process where the sending neuron reabsorbs excess neurotransmitters
66
Why are artificial drugs bad for the brain?
It disrupts the brain's chemical balancing act. If there is too much of the drug, it may stop producing its own natural opioid. If the drug is withdrawn, the brain may be deprived of opioids which causes discomfort
67
What are agonist molecules?
Increases a neurotransmitter's actions. Can increase the production or relapse of neurotransmitters, or block synaptic reuptake. Some can mimic neurotransmitter effects
68
What are antagonists?
Molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's action. They are similar enough to bind to the receptor site, but not similar enough to activate it
69
What is the endocrine system?
The body's slow chemical communication system, set of glands and fat tissue that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
70
What are hormones?
Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine gland and travel through the bloodstream
71
What are some differences between nervous system messages and endocrine messages? (2)
Nervous system messages are quicker
Endocrine systems tend to outlast the effects of neural messages
72
What is an example of an "endocrine hangover"?
In a moment of danger, the ANS orders the adrenal glands on top of the kidneys to release epinephrine and norepinephrine (also called adrenaline and noradrenaline). These hormones increase heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar, providing a surge of energy to power our fight-or-flight response. When the emergency passes, the hormones — and the feelings — linger a while.
73
What is the pituitary gland?
Located in the core of the brain and controlled by the hypothalamus, releases a growth hormone
74
What is oxytocin?
a hormone that enables orgasm, labo contractions and milk flow.
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76
Psychoactive drugs
Chemical substance that alters the brain, causes changes in perception and mood
77
Substance use disorder
Characterized by continued substance use despite significant life disruption
78
What are 4 parts of a substance use disorder?
Diminished control, diminished social functioning, hazardous use, and drug action
79
What are the 2 factors that contribute to the effect of a drug?
Biological effects and the users expectation
80
What are the 3 major categories of psychoactive drugs?
Depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens
81
What do psychoactive drugs do to neurotransmitters and receptors? (3)
Stimulates or inhibits the receptors
mimics neurotransmitters
82
Depressant function
calms neural activity and slows body function
83
How does alcohol act as a disinhibitor?
Alcohol slows brain activity that controls judgement and inhibitions
84
What are the 3 effects of alcohol consumption?
Slows sympathetic nervous system activity
disrupts memory formation
reduced self-awareness
85
What are barbiturates?
Drugs that depress the central nervous system activity, reduces anxiety but impairs memory and judgment, tranquilizers
86
What are opiods?
Depress neural activity, temporarily lessens pain and anxiety
87
What happens when the brain is repeatedly exposed to synthetic opioids?
The brain will stop producing natural endorphins, causing a dependence on these artificial opioids
88
What are stimulants?
Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions
89
What are some uses for stimulants?
Feeling alert, losing weight, boosting mood, athletic performance, or academic performance
90
What occurs when someone takes a hit of nicotine?
The central nervous system releases a flood of neurotransmitters. The epinephrine and norepinephrine will diminish appetite and boost alertness and mental efficiency. Dopamine and opioids will calm anxiety
91
How does cocaine effect the body?
It produces a rush of euphoria from the rush of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine, which results in a major depression and crash once the drug wears off. The drug binds to the sites that reabsorb the neurotransmitters, resulting in these neurotransmitters staying long afterwards
92
What is the effect of amphetamines?
They stimulate neural activity, energy and mood rises
93
What are mathamphetamines?
they trigger the release of dopamine which stimulates braincells that enhance energy and mood, but results in a crash afterwards. Over time, it reduces the baseline dopamine levels, resulting in a depressed mood
94
What is ecstasy?
A stimulant and a mild hallucinogen, it triggers dopamine release and released stored serotonin and blocks reuptake.
95
What are the harms of ecstacy?
Dehydrating effect that can lead to overheating, increased blood pressure and death. Can damage the serotonin-producing neurons. Suppresses the immune system, impairs memory, slows thought, and disrupts sleep
96
What are hallucinogens?
Distorts perception and evoke sensory images
97
What are the effects of THC?
Hallucinations, delusions, anxiety
amplifies sensitivity
also relaxes, disinhibits, and brings on a high
impairs motor coordination, perceptual skills, and reaction time
98
What are the 5 stimulants?
Caffeine, cocaine, methamphetamines, ecstasy, nicotine
99
What are the 2 depressants?
Alcohol, heroin
100
What are the 3 hallucinogens?
Ecstasy, LSD, Marijuana
101
What is phrenology? Is it trustworthy?
Study of the bumps on the skull and the possible mental abilities and traits, debunked
102
What is localization of function?
The idea that various brain regions have particular functions
103
What systems need to be studied to understand behavior?
Biological, psychological, and social cultural
104
What is the biopsychosocial approach? What are the 3 levels of analysis?
An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social cultural levels of analysis
105
What is neuroplasticity?
The brain's ability to change by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
106
What is lesion?
Tissue destruction
107
How do scientists lesion?
they lesion tiny clusters of normal or defective brain cells to observe their effect on brain function
108
What are the 3 main divisions of vertebrate brains?
Hindbrain, midbrain, and the forebrain
109
What does the hindbrain do?
Contains brainstem strucutres that direct essential survival functions
110
What does the midbrain do?
Connects the hindbrain and the forebrain, controls movement and transmit information that enables seeing and hearing
111
What does the forebrain do?
Manages complex cognitive activities, sensory and associative functions, and voluntary motor movement
112
Organism's brain parts evolve to best suit their environment, True or False?
true
113
What is the brainstem responsible for?
Automatic survival functions
114
What does the medulla do?
Hindbrain, controls heartbeat and breathing
115
Pon's function
Coordinate movements and control sleep
116
What is the brain's contralateral hemisphere organization?
The sides of the brain controls the opposite sides of the body.
117
Thalamus Function
The forebrain's sensory control center, directs messages tot he sensory reciving areas in the cortex and trasmit replies to the cerebellum and medulla
118
What is the reticular formation?
Nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus, filters information and controls arousal
119
Cerebellum function
Processes sensory input, coordinates movement output and balance, enables nonverbal learning and memory
120
What would occur if the cerebellum was injured?
Difficulty walking and balancing
121
Limbic system function?
Located mostly in the forebrain, associated with emotions and drives
122
What are the parts of the brain associated with the limbic system (5)
Hippocampus, thalamus, and pituitary glands, amygdala, hypothalamus
123
What is the amygdala?
Enables aggression and fear
124
What is the hypothalamus?
Directs maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system and is linked to emotion and reward
125
What is the hippocampus?
processes conscious, explicit memories
126
What happens when the hippocampus is injured?
The ability for form new memories of facts or events are lost
127
What is the cerebrum?
The 2 cerebral hemispheres that enables our perceiving thinking, and speaking
128
What is the cerebral cortex?
Thin surface layer of interconnected neural cells over the cerebrum
129
What is the cerebrum mostly filled with?
Axons connecting the cortex to other regions
130
What are the 4 lobes the hemisphere's cortex are divided into?
Frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal
131
Frontal lobe function
Enables linguistic processing, muscle movement, high order thinking, and executive function
132
Parietal lob function
Receives sensory input for touch and body posiition
133
Occipital lobe function
Areas that receive information from visual fields
134
Temporal lobe function
Auditory areas that receives information from the opposite ear, also enables language processing
135
What is the motor cortex?
Controls voluntary movement at the front lobes
136
How does body part sensitivity relate to brain size?
The bigger area in the brain, the greater sensitivity of that area
137
Somatosensory cortex function
Specializes in receiving information from the senses and from the movement of body parts
138
What are association areas?
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are involved in higher mental functions
139
What are 2 scenarios where the brain undergoes neuroplasticity?
When serious damage to the brain occurs and when new information/situations are happening
140
What will the right hemisphere do is a tumor appears in the language center of the left hemisphere?
It will begin to compensate for the lack of language
141
What is neurogenesis?
The formation of new neurons
142
What is the corpus callosum?
Large band of neural fibers connecting the 2 brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
143
Which hemisphere controls speech?
The left hemisphere
144
If an apple was on the left side and a heart was on the right side, if a split brain participant was asked to say which one they saw, which would they say?
heart
145
If an apple was on the left side and a heart was on the right side, if a split brain participant was asked to point with their left hand to what they saw, which would they point to?
apple
146
Which hemisphere of the brain is more engaged for a perceptual task?
Right hemisphere
147
Which hemisphere of the brain is more engaged in an activity involving math caluclations?
Left hemisphere
148
What are 3 things the right hemisphere excels at?
Making inferences, modulating speech, and self-awareness
149
Function of an MEG?
Measures magnetic fields to see how certain tasks influences brain activity
150
Function of an EEG?
Records brain waves
151
Function of an MRI?
brain scans that show the brain's anatomy
152
Functions of a CT?
Pictures of the brain that can reveal damage
153
Functions of a PET?
Depicts brain activity by showing the consumption of glucose, which can show which part of the brain is more active during a task
154
Functions of a fMRI?
Type of MRI that also shows blood flow
155
Acetylcholine, Function (3), effects, type
Muscle action, learning, memory, excitatory
Lack: Alzheimer's, Ach-producing neurons deteriorate
Excess: spasm
156
Dopamine, Function (4), effects, type
Movement, learning, attention, contributes to addicting behavior and repetitive actions
inhibitory
Excess: schizophrenia
Lack: tremors, decreased mobility, parkinsons
157
Serotonin Functions (4), effects, type
Mood, hunger, sleep, arousal
inhibitory
lack: depression, anxiety
excess: hallucinations
158
Norepinephrine Function (3), effects, type
Alterness, arousal, comes out when challenged
excitatory
lack: depressed mood and anxiety
159
GABA Function, effects, type
Calming
inhibitory
lack: seizures, tremors, insomnia
excess: too relaxed, impacts functions
160
Glutamate Function, effects, type
Memory, thinking, learning
excitatory
excess: overstimulation, migraines, seizures
lack: insomnia, lack attention
161
Endorphins Function, effects, type
Perception of pain or pleasure
inhibitory
excess: can suppress natural endorphin supply
lack: pain
161
Glyceollin
Controls hunger
162
Substance P Function, effects, type
Pain perception, immune response
excitatory
excess: chronic pain
163
Leptin
energy balance, maintains appetite
164
Melatonin
Regulates circadian rhythm and sleep
