Behavioral Sciences Flashcards
What is Functionalism
How mental processes help individuals adapt to their environments
Describe what afferent vs. efferent neurons do
Afferent: Ascends in the cord toward the brain
Efferent: Exit the cord on the way to rest of body
Describe what sensory neurons do and another name for them
transmit sensory info from receptors to spinal cord and brain
Afferent neurons
What do motor neurons do and another name for them
Transmit motor info from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands
Efferent neurons
What are interneurons most often linked to
Reflexive behavior
How is the nervous system divided
2 parts
Central Nervous system (CNS)
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Describe the central nervous system
Made up of brain and spinal cord
Describe the PNS
Made up of nerve tissue and fibers outside the brain
Somatic and autonomic systems
Autonomic breaks down to Sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system
Describe the somatic nervous system
Consists of sensory and motor neurons distributed thru skin, joints, and muscles
Describe the autonomic nervous system
Regulates heartbeat, respirations, digestion, and glandular secretions.
Involuntary muscle processes
Describe the parasympathetic nervous system
Conserve energy Rest and digest Reduce heart rate and constrict pupils Stimulate saliva Contracts bladder Acetylcholine (neurotransmitter) responsible for this
Describe the sympathetic nervous system
Fight or Flight Activated by stress Increase heart rate Dilate eyes Releases epinephrine Decreases digestion
What are the 3 basic parts of the brain
Hindbrain
Midbrain
forebrain
What forms the brainstem
Hindbrain and midbrian
What forms the limbic system
Forebrain
What is the primary role of the limbic system
Emotion and memory
What are the primary structures of the forebrain
Cerebral cortex Basal ganglia Limbic system Thalamus Hypothalamus
What are the primary structures of the midbrain
inferior and superior colliculi
What are the primary structures of the hindbrain
Cerebellum
Medulla Oblongata
Reticular formation
Pons
What is the role of the cerebral cortex
Complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes
What is the role of the basal ganglia
Movement
What is the role of the thalamus
Sensory relay station
What is the role of the hypothalamus
Hunger, thirst, emotion
What is the role of the inferior and superior colliculi
Sensorimotor reflexes
What is the role of the cerebellum
Refined motor movements
Posture and balance
What is the role of the medulla oblongata
Heart, vital reflexes (vomiting, coughing)
What is the role of the reticular formation
Arousal and alertness
What is the role of the pons
Communication WITHIN the brain, breathing
What is the role of the amygdala
Defensive and aggressive behaviors
What is the role of the hippocampus
Learning and memory processes
helps to form long term memories
What are the 4 lobes of the brain
Temporal: hearing
Occipital: sight
Parietal: Touch, temp, pain
Frontal lobe: executive function
Wernickes area
Associated with language reception and comprehension
Brocas area
Speech production
What behavior is the neurotransmitter acetylcholine responsible for
Voluntary muscle control, parasympathetic nervous system, attention, alertness
What behavior is epinephrine and norepinephrine responsible for
flight or flight response, wakefulness, alertness
What behavior is dopamine responsible for
Smooth movements, postural stability
What behavior is serotonin responsible for
Mood, sleep, eating, dreaming
What behavior is GABA and Glycine responsible for
Brain stabilization
What behavior is glutamate responsible for
Brain excitation
What behavior are endorphins responsible for
Natural painkillers
Motivation
The purpose or driving force behind our actions
Describe Drive reduction theory
Motivation based on the goal of eliminating uncomfortable states
Describe arousal theory
People perform actions in order to maintain an optimal level of arousal
What are considered primary needs
Physiological needs
the basics
food, water, sleep, shelter
what are maslows hierarchy of needs (base to tip)
- Physiological
- Safety
- Love/belonging
- Esteem
- Self actualization
Describe self actualization
the need to realize ones fullest potential
describe esteem as it relates to maslow
self esteem, confidence, achievement, respect of others
describe love/belonging as it relates to maslow
friendship, family, sexual intimacy
describe safety as it relates to maslow
security of body, employment, resources, health, morality
What is incentive theory
behavior that is motivated by a desire of reward and avoidance of punishment
What are the 7 universal emotions
- happiness
- sadness
- contempt
- surprise
- fear
- disgust
- anger
What is the James Lange Theory of Emotion
Physiological arousal first followed by secondary response in which emotion is labeled
ex. I must be angry because my skin is hot and my blood pressure is high
What is the Cannon Bard theory
physiological arousal and feeling an emotion occur at the same time and then the action follows
ex. I see a snake, so I feel afraid and my heart is racing … Let me out of here!
What is the Schachter Singer theory
two factors are needed to experience emotion. Includes environmental stimulus
ex. I am excited because my heart is racing and everyone else is happy.
What is spontaneous recovery
Presenting a subject with an extinct conditioned stimulus will sometimes produce a weak conditioned response
What is generalization
A stimulus similar to the conditioned stimulus can also produce the conditioned response
Describe discrimination
Learning to distinguish between similar stimuli
What is operant conditioning
Examines how consequences of voluntary behaviors change the frequency of those behaviors
What is the theory of behaviorism
Theory that all behaviors are conditioned
What is escape learning
An unpleasant stimulus is experienced, a behavior is displayed in order to remove the stimulus
What is avoidance learning
A behavior is displayed in order to avoid the unpleasant stimulus before it occurs
What is a fixed ration schedule
Reinforce a behavior after a specific number of performances of this behavior
What is variable ratio
Reinforce behavior after a variable number of performances of the behavior
What is a fixed interval schedule
Reinforce the first instance of behavior after a specific period of time has elapsed
What is a variable interval schedule
reinforce the behavior the first time the behavior is performed after a varying interval of time
Describe the method of loci
Associating each item in a list with a location along a route through a building that has already been memorized
what is iconic memory
Fast decaying memory of visual stimuli
what is semantic memory
Ideas, concepts, and facts that we know
What is retrograde amnesia
Loss of previously formed memories
What is anterograde amnesia
Inability to form new memories
What is the difference between explicit and implicit memory
Explicit: facts and stories
Implicit: Skills and conditioning effects
