AP Psych Unit 3 Flashcards
Be able to label all of the parts of a neuron and explain the functions of each
(refer to page)
What part of the nerve cell is implicated in the disease MS?
The myelin sneaths surrounding the axon of neurons in the central nervous system
What are nerves
Bundled axons that form neutral “cables” that connect with the CNS to the rest of the body
Explain how nerve cells transmit information within the cell
Dendrite -> Cell Body -> Nucleus -> Axon -? Myelin Sheath -> node of Ranvier -> Schwann cell -> axon terminal (Dog Can Not Attack Men, Noticeable, So, Annoying!)
What is the term for the cell’s resting state?
resting potential
What is threshold
The level of stimulation required to cause a neuronal impulse is met by chemical signals from nearby neurons
Explain Action Potential in general terms
When charged ions produce an electric charge and past the resting state
How is neutral transmission all or none responses?
Resting potential, when your cell receives a strong enough impulsive, your cell goes from resting potential to action potential
Explain how nerve cells transmit information between cells
through neurotransmitters
What is the synapse
The bond between the axon tip of the sending neurons and the dendrite/cell body of the receiving neurons
what is the role of neurotransmitters?
chemical messengers that move across the synaptic gaps between neurons
what happens to neurotransmitters after they are finished doing their jobs
broken down by an enzyme, and reabsorbed into the neuron and released
Know the functions of the following neurotransmitters and be able to identify diseases associated with deficits or excess of each:
1. Acteylcholine
muscle control, memory formation, sensory response, excitatory
diseases: imbalance can cause twitching and paralysis
Know the functions of the following neurotransmitters and be able to identify diseases associated with deficits or excess of each:
2. Endorphines
pain/stress hormones, when produced helps relieve pain, reduce stress, and improve mood
disease: autism, depression, depersonalization
Know the functions of the following neurotransmitters and be able to identify diseases associated with deficits or excess of each:
3. Epinephrine
Neurotransmitters -> helps neurons to communicate with each other
disease: sleep orders, anxiety, hypertension, lower immunity
Know the functions of the following neurotransmitters and be able to identify diseases associated with deficits or excess of each:
4. Serotonin
Neurotransmitters -> produced in CNS -> contributes to happiness
diseases: sadness, depression, fatigue
Know the functions of the following neurotransmitters and be able to identify diseases associated with deficits or excess of each:
5. Dopamine
Neurotransmitters made in brain -> memory, movement and motivation, mood, attention etc
not enough: Parkinson’s diseases, depression, schizophrenia, and ADHD
How do drugs affect neurotransmission? What parts of the brain contribute to our craving for drugs
Drugs release large amounts of dopamine, the brain remembers this pressure and sends messages to seek drugs over and over. Dopamine reinforces drug use and causes us to crave more
The basal ganglia
What do the following types of neurons do and where in the nervous system do they occur?
1. Motor Neurons
(efferent neurons) carries nerve impulses away from the CNS. Effector: (muscle/glands)
What do the following types of neurons do and where in the nervous system do they occur?
2. Sensory neurons
(Afferent neurons_ carries nerve impulses from receptors, senses organs towards the nerve system
What do the following types of neurons do and where in the nervous system do they occur?
3. Interneurons
“ones in between” forms a connection between other neurons, and mostly found in the brain and spinal cords
What are the two major divisions of the nervous system?
PNS- Peripheral nervous system
CNS- Central Nervous System
In the Peripheral Nervous System, what is the somatic NS responsible for? What is the atomic NS responsible for?
S: control of skeletal muscles
A: automatically controls the glands and muscles in our internal organs
What physiological changes occur in the body during a stress response?
Sympathetic NS -> triggers fight or flight response
Explain the function of the sympathetic and parasympathetic NS and explain how they are complementary
Sympathetic NS- Arousal and triggers the fight or flight response
Parasympathetic NS- relaxes your body after periods of stress or dangerous -> homeostasis
What are reflexes and where are they located?
Simple, automatic, and both response to a sensory stimulus
-> made possible via reflect arcs
What are neural networks and how do they form?
neutral networks- groups of interconnected neurons. As learning takes place connections are strengthened or inhibited. Networks are connected
What are hormones?
Chemical messengers produced in the glandular tissue which effect other tissues
What is the master gland and what does it do?
Pituitary, and it produces growth hormones, sex hormones and oxytocin and prolactin
What is the role of the adrenal glands?
creates cortical steroids for muscle development and stress control
-> produces adrenalin and noradrenalin for stress response
What is a brain lesion
type of damage to any part of the brain, specifically at the brain tissue
What is a brain lesion
type of damage to any part of the brain, specifically at the brain tissue
What was Phineas Gage and how did his accident affect him?
Was a railroad construction worker who survived a large iron rod through his head. changed his personality completely
What are the different imaging techniques for the study of the brain?
- CT Scan: computer tomography scan
- MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Functional MRI: additional to MRI imagining -> reveals blood flow and activity
In what order did the brain develop?
Know the divisions of the brain and the structures located within each. What are the functions of each of those structures?
- Brains Stem the midbrain
Cerebellum
“little brain”
- processes sensory information and is important in voluntary movement and balance
Know the divisions of the brain and the structures located within each. What are the functions of each of those structures?
- Medulla
controls the heart and breathing
Know the divisions of the brain and the structures located within each. What are the functions of each of those structures?
- Reticular Formation
Network of nerves which are necessary for arousal
Know the divisions of the brain and the structures located within each. What are the functions of each of those structures?
- Thalamus
Relay system that make information form the sensor and sends them to processing areas
Know the divisions of the brain and the structures located within each. What are the functions of each of those structures?
Forebrain
- Hippocampus
the emotional center of the brain is associated with fear aggression, hunger and sex drive
Know the divisions of the brain and the structures located within each. What are the functions of each of those structures?
- Hypothalamus
located below the thalamus
-> associated with hunger, thirst, temperature, regulation and controls pituitary glands associated with rewards
Know the divisions of the brain and the structures located within each. What are the functions of each of those structures?
Amygdala
two lima bean-> shaped clustered
- associated with aggression and fear
Know the divisions of the brain and the structures located within each. What are the functions of each of those structures?
Cerebral Cortex
- Association Areas
Area of the cerebra; cortex that functions in linking and coordinating the sensory and motor area
Know the divisions of the brain and the structures located within each. What are the functions of each of those structures?
Motor Cortex
The area within the cerebral cortex of the brain that is involved in planning, controlling, and execution of voluntary movement. Divide into primary motor contex
Know the divisions of the brain and the structures located within each. What are the functions of each of those structures?
Somatosensory Cortex
the site that register touch, pressure, temperature and pain in the cerebral cortex
Broca’s Area
responsible for speech production and language comprehension
Wernicke’s Area
known as the “language area”- responsible for comprehending
spoken words as well as formulation written/spoken languages
What are the 4 lobes of the brain and what information is processed in each?
Frontal: Located at the front portion of the lobe: carries thinking, decision-making, and planning
Temporal: processes auditory sensory input and is located at the primary auditory cortex
Parietal: located at the top of the brain, receives sensory input for movement and touch
Occipital: receives information from visual field (eyes)
What connects the two hemispheres of the brain?
The corpus callosum
What effects does a split-brain procedure have on a person’s ability to process information? What condition does this procedure treat? Consider hemispheric specialization as your answer.
the 2 hemisphere do not exchange information as efficiently as before condition for parents with extreme and uncontrollable form form epilepsy
What characteristics of the brain allows for brain-damaged individuals to recover some of their function
Functional plasticity
Understand all the different components of our genetic instructions
Genes
Segments of DNA modules that code physical features
Understand all the different components of our genetic instructions
Genes
Segments of DNA modules that code physical features
Understand all the different components of our genetic instructions
DNA
Complex molecule containing genetic info and make up and the chromosomes
Understand all the different components of our genetic instructions
Chromosomes
Thread link structure made of DNA molecules that contain the genes
What is the difference between evolutionary psychologists and behavior geneticists? What does each study
Evolutionary psychologists: study how our behavior and cognitive change according to the evolutionary biology
What is heritability
A measure of how well differences in people gene account for difference in their traits
eg; height, eye color etc
What are twin studies and how do they allow us to examine the roles of genetics in things like personality traits and belief
twins studies- allows researchers to examine the overall role of genes in the development of traits or disorders
What are some of the key findings of twins studies the Minnesota Twin Study?
Were separated and had the same chance of being similar to twins who were raised together. Concluded that genetic factors have a large influences on behavioral habits
Are all similarities between twins due to genetic factors? Why or why not?
- interest, food, etc, environments
- IQ, intro/extroverted: biological
What are nature-nurture interactions?
nature: influenced by genetic/biological factors
nurture: external factors after conception eg: life experiences, teach, etc
How do women and men differ in regards to what they find attractive in a potential male?
Female: affection important for a sexual relationship
- little casual sex
0 thinks about sex less frequently
attracted to strong affluent men -> protect/provides
Men
- stronger sex drive
- thinks casual sex is okay
- thinks about sex frequently
- more visual
- “friendly interest” come up
- attracted to youthful/fertile women
What are nature-nurture interactions?
nature: influenced by genetic/biological factors
nurture: external factors after conception eg: life experiences, teaching, etc
To what do evolutionary psychologists attribute fears or phobias?
genetic predispositions.
To what do evolutionary psychologists attribute fears or phobias?
genetic predispositions.
What are the basic principles of natural selection?
- adaptive traits are passed down from generation-> generation
bc of these traits, help the organism survive and reproduce
what are mutations and how do they contribute to natural selection?
random error in gene replication that leads to change
