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Bio Psych Lecture Flashcards

1
Q

explain francis galtons nature vs nurture

A

exploring how much of human traits - mostly intelligence are influenced by genetics (nature) vs environment (nurture)
he said that intelligence = genetics
twins should be more similar when raised apart
the most important characteristics of an organism that they use everyday should be biological rather than environmental
**overall it is impossible to separate nature and environment they work together to determine human behaviour

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2
Q

what are epigenetics

A

changes in gene expression that are due to non-genetic influences
how the environment can impact our genetics
can happen within a life time

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3
Q

difference between heredity and heritability

A

heredity = the genetic transmission of genes from parents to offspring like blood type, eye colour, diseases

heritability = an estimate of the genetic proportion of the variation in some specific trait - within a population
- statistical estimate of how much the variation can be atrtibuted to genetic differences among individuals within a pop
- if hertiability of height in a population is 80% in variation then 20% of the genetic differences come from environmental factors

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4
Q

what does the CNS have

A

central nervous system
brain and spinal cord

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5
Q

what does the PNS have

A

somatic nervous system
autonomic nervous system

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6
Q

what are 2 types of autonomic nervous system

A

sympathethic nervous system
parasympathetic nervous system

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7
Q

what is a neuron and what are the 3 types

A

the basic unit of the nervous system
action potentals = electrical impulses
communicate with other neurons through chemical signals = neurotransmitters
1. sensory neurons
2. motor neurons
3. interneurons

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8
Q

sensory neurons = efferent neurons

A

false
sensory neurons = afferent neurons
motor neurons = efferent neurons

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9
Q

what are action potentials

A

the impulses that pass along the axon and causes the release of chemicals from the terminal buttons
- causes the domino effect

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10
Q

what are the neural communication phases

A

resting potential = polarized state (more neg inside, pos outside)

excitatory signals = increase the liklihood that the neurons will fire (depolarize, neg leaves inside)

inhibitory signals = decrease the likelihood that the neuron will fire

the impact is decided by the polarization of the cell

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11
Q

what is the all-or-none principle

A

a neuron will fire or does not fire
the freq of a neuron varys

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12
Q

explain the resting state / resting potential of neurons

A

at rest, they are polarized
negative inside, positive outside
more Na+ outside and more K+ inside
there is an imbalance

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13
Q

explain the excitatory state

A

once the neuron reaches its excitatory threshold it will fully depolarize = generates action potential
Na channels open and the charge reverses
inside = positive bc of Na+ and outside = negative

at the peak of the action potential
Na+ channels will close and K+ channels will open allowing K+ to leave the cell = HYPERPOLARIZATION = refractory period (where the cell cannot fire because the concentrations needs to go back to the resting state for another neuron to fire, but the Na+ are not attracted to the outside positive environment, so the sodium-potassium pump needs to use ATP to force the molecules against the gradient
this is why action potentials can only move in one direction
the flow of sodium thru one gate will start the flow of the adjacent gate = wave like pattern along the membrane

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14
Q

what are neurotransmitters

A

chemical substances that carry signals from one neuron to another
stored in vesicles inside the terminal buttons and travels thru the cytosol to the dendrites to the other neuron adjacent

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15
Q

what is the presynaptic vs postsynaptic membrane

A

pre: membrane of the neuron that is sending the signal

post: membrane of the neuron that is recieving the signal

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16
Q

explain what the neurotransmitter gluctamate does

A

primary excitatory neurotransmitter
“go” signal
helps neurons send signals by making them more likely to fire an action potential
- helps brain growth, store memories
- with little glutamate = memory and learning issues

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17
Q

explain GABA neurotransmitter

A

the brains stop signal
the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter
calms the brain down by reducing neuron activity = relaxation

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18
Q

explain serotonin neurotransmitter

A

the mood stabilizer
regulated mood, happiness, emotions
affects sleep, hunger, impulsivness

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19
Q

explain dopamine neurotransmitter

A

motivation, pleasure, reward
makes you feel good when you achieve something
involved in voluntary movement, learning, addiction
too much dopamine = addiction
too little = lack of motivation

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20
Q

explai acetylcholine neurotransmitter

A

ACh
controls the muscle movement - actives muscles
it delivers signals from the brain to muscles to move the body
helps with learning, attnetion, memory, sleep

21
Q

explain eprinephrine neurotransmitter

A

adrenaline - fight or flight hormon
increases heart rate, oxygen, energy, alertness during stressful situations

22
Q

what is an agonist

A

it is a substance/drug that mimics or enhances the effects of a neurotransmitter by binding to its receptor and activating it
lock and key
- drugs can acts as an agonists
morphine mimics endorphins which are natural painkillers - this activates opiody receptors, reduce pain and produce euphoria
*drugs also enhance the effects of endogenous which is naturally occuring neurotransmitters without mimic - they boost the neurotransmitters natural action by increasing the release of the NTM and blocking the re-uptake of NTM

23
Q

what is antagonist

A

when a drug/chemical blocks or inhibts the effect of a NTM by binding to its receptor without activating it
it fits into the receptor, doesnt turn it on, this blocks the real neurotransmitter from working
- blocks, mimics and destorys the real NTM in synapse
EX: botulinum toxin = botox and it blocks ACh which paralyzes the muscles in the face that cause wrinkles

24
Q

what does neuroplasticity mean

A

the brain is plastic and can change, reorganize after experience, drugs, injury, stroke
EX: rats raised in good conditions rather than bad conditions had more dendrites

25
what are some common misconceptions of the brain
left brain / right brain bumps on ur head that tell you about the personality using only 10% of your brain
26
lateralization
refers to the fact that some brain fucntions are more dominant in one hemisphere than the other but it doesnt mean one side controls a concept specifically
27
what does the brainstem do
controls the autonomic nervous system breathing, digestion, heart beat inside the brainstem = reticular formation, pons, medulla the reticular formation is for sleep and alertness
28
what is the function of the cerebellum
behind the brain stem - essential for coordination, movement, balance most neurons fire in this area
29
what does the diencephalon part of the brain contain
the hypothalamus + cerebellum + right/left thalamus
30
what does the hypothalamus do
the brains master regulatory structure connects the nervous system to the endocrine system so fighting, feeding, fleeing, sex **maintains homeostasis and regulates body functions - it is a small ball like structure in between the right and left thalamus (hypothalamus and thalamus are not the same)
31
what does the thalamus do
relay station where is handles all incoming sensory information except smell touch, vision, hearing, taste signals to the cortex like a traffic director to make sure the signals get to the right place
32
is the basal gangila aprt of the diencephalon
no
33
what does the basal gangila do
gentle movement, prevents jerky movements works with the motor cortext and cerebellum for coordinated voluntary movement 2 on either side that surround the thalamus on the ends of the basal gangila = amygdala
34
what is included in the limbic system
it is the emotional system contains the amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus
35
what does the hippocampus do
forming new memories storage of memories = long term damages = alzheimers ability to move things from short term to long term
36
what does the amygdala do
best known for its role in processing fear - ability to associate things with emotional responses located in front of the hippocampus attached to the end of the basal gangila - the hippocampus and the amygdala become very active when recalling scary moments
37
what does the cerebral cortex do
outer layer of the brain and has 4 sections that cover the entire brain 1. occipital lobe = back of the head - vision = primary VISUAL cortex 2. parietal lobe = top, middle back = primary SENSORY cortex (touch) 3. temporal lobe = near the ear = hearing, primary AUDITORY cortex 4. frontal lobe = top flat part of head into forehead = primary MOTOR cortex = prefrontal cortext, good in planning, movement
38
what is the corpus callosum
bridge of axons that connects the 2 hemispheres and allows info flow between them
39
what is the role of the PNS
to transmit info to the CNS respond to messages from the CNSe
40
explain the somatic nervous system role
concerned with the external environment consists of the motor neurons responsible for sending signals from the CNS to the muscles = efferent pathway consists of sensory neurons which sends signals from the skin, muscles and other organs to the CNS = afferent pathways (reverse of the motor)
41
explain the autonomic nervous system role
concerned with the internal environment efferent and affereent pathwayds between the CN and smooth muscle/glands - between the circulatory system and disgestive system *typically involve changes in involuntary bodily functions like heart ate, digestion, perspiration SYMPHATHETIC NS - prepares the body for action - fight or flight, increases breathing and o2 PARASYMPATHETIC NS - returns the body back to its resting/normal state of rest and digest - both symp and para work complementary
42
what is a afferent neuron
afferent = neuron that carry information to the CNS from the PNS (sensory neurons) feeling a hot stove sends rapid signals to your brain arrives to the CNS
43
what is a efferent neuron
a neuron that moves signals away from the CNS and to the PNS (motor neurons) - moving your hand away from the hot stove is the signal your brain gives to ur hand after the sensory signal sends it to ur brain exits the CNS
44
what is the purpose of the endocrine system
works with the nervous systme to regulate psychological activity use of hormones
45
what are hormones
they are chemical substances released into the blood stream by endocrine glands until they rwach the targetted tissue this is slower in communication since it is less in need but it is long lasting and widespread
46
explain how the pituitary gland works to release hormones
the hypothalamus is the homeostasis regulator so it secretes a releasing factor this releasing factor causes the pituitary glans to release a hormone which is specific to the issue - hormones travel thru the blood stream
47
what causes the hyperpolarization in the cell membrane of a neuron
efflux of K+ movement out of the cell
48
what are gilal cells in the NS
they are non neuronal cells they provide support and maintenance for neurons some of them = support and repair neurons some of them form myelin sheaths around axons in the CNS and PNS (PNS = schwann cells)
49
In the study by Caspi et al. (2002), which combination of gene and environmental factor was found to be associated with the most increased probability of being a violent criminal?
Lower levels of MAO gene + maltreatment during childhood maltreatment = harmful or abusive actions directed towards a person/child

PSY100 (21 decks)

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