Biological Psychology

Question 1

think of genes and environment examples

Give an in class example of how nature and nurture work with each other?

Answer 1

Lower -MAO gene along with maltreatment increased the probability of being a violent criminal.

Question 2

What is heridity?

Answer 2

The genetic transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring.

Question 3

What is heritability?

Answer 3

An estimate of the genetic proportion of the variation in some specific trait. (within POPULATION not individual)

Question 4

What are the parts of central nervous system?

Answer 4

Brain and the spinal cord

Question 5

What are the parts of the peripheral nervous system?(PNS)

Answer 5

Somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system.

(Symphathetic nervous system and parasymphathetic nervous system)

Question 6

What are neurons?

Answer 6

basic units of nervous systems

Question 7

Using what impulses?

How do neurons operate

Answer 7

Electrical impulses

Question 8

How to neurons communicate with each other?

Answer 8

Using electrical signals or aka ACTION POTENTIALS

Question 9

What are the three types of neurons?

Answer 9

1.Sensory Neurons (Afferent neurons)
2.Motor Neurons (Efferent neurons)
3.Interneurons

Question 10

What are action potentials?

Answer 10

the nuural impulse that passes along the axon and subsequently causes the release of chemicals from the terminal buttons.

Question 11

remember its 3 times

When do neurons fire?

Answer 11

1. Resting potential
2. Excitatory Potential
3. Inhibitory Potential

Question 12

What is resting potential?

Answer 12

Polarized state (more negative inside the cell in the neuron app. -70mV)

Question 13

What is excitory signals?

Answer 13

Increase the likelyhood that neurons will fire

Question 14

What are inhibitory signals?

Answer 14

decrease the likelihood that the neuron will fire.

Question 15

How do the neurons chance different signals. Ie form excitatory signal to Resting potential to Inhibitory signal?

Answer 15

They do this by affecting the polorization of the cell

Question 16

If the cell wants to go from polorised (resting potential) to excitatory state what changes might be made?

Answer 16

It might make the cell less negative, ie go from -70mV to -55mV (make it a bit positive)

If it wants to inhibit, then it might make it more negative

Question 17

What is the ALL or NONE principle?

Answer 17

It is a principle saying that neurons maintain the same magnitude of action potential everytime.

But how frequently this happens changes.

Question 19

What is happening at a cellular level in RESTING STATE or resting potential in a neuron?

Answer 19

1. Inner parts are more negative
2. More K+ inside than outside
3. More Na+ outside than inside
4. Most of the chanels (volted gates) are closed. The Na+/ K+ transporter pumps K+ into the cell and Na+ out of the cell.
5. Note the potential is about 70mV

Question 20

What is happening when the cell is depolarised?

Answer 20

1. The Na+ gates open, and Na+ rushes in. The inner part becomes more positive.
2. The charge starts to depolarize (charge lessens)
3. K+ gate is still closed, and the Na+/K+ is also closed

Question 21

What is happening when Peak Action Potential and Hyperpolarization is reached?

Answer 21

1.At the peak, Na+ chanels will close and K+ chanels will open allowing K+ to leave the cell which leads to a TEMPORARY HYPERPOLARIZATION so the cell cannot fire now. (the Na+ wont flow out as the outer atmosphere is also positive)

2. Now the K+ chanels close and the cell returns to its polarized resting state as the Na+/K+ pump activates and it uses ATP to push 3 Na+ out with 2 K+ in.

Question 22

What is refactory period?

Answer 22

It is hyperpolarization, when the potential is below -70Vm