Biological Psychology Flashcards
think of genes and environment examples
Give an in class example of how nature and nurture work with each other?
Lower -MAO gene along with maltreatment increased the probability of being a violent criminal.
What is heridity?
The genetic transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring.
What is heritability?
An estimate of the genetic proportion of the variation in some specific trait. (within POPULATION not individual)
What are the parts of central nervous system?
Brain and the spinal cord
What are the parts of the peripheral nervous system?(PNS)
Somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system.
(Symphathetic nervous system and parasymphathetic nervous system)
What are neurons?
basic units of nervous systems
Using what impulses?
How do neurons operate
Electrical impulses
How to neurons communicate with each other?
Using electrical signals or aka ACTION POTENTIALS
What are the three types of neurons?
1.Sensory Neurons (Afferent neurons)
2.Motor Neurons (Efferent neurons)
3.Interneurons
What are action potentials?
the nuural impulse that passes along the axon and subsequently causes the release of chemicals from the terminal buttons.
remember its 3 times
When do neurons fire?
- Resting potential
- Excitatory Potential
- Inhibitory Potential
What is resting potential?
Polarized state (more negative inside the cell in the neuron app. -70mV)
What is excitory signals?
Increase the likelyhood that neurons will fire
What are inhibitory signals?
decrease the likelihood that the neuron will fire.
How do the neurons chance different signals. Ie form excitatory signal to Resting potential to Inhibitory signal?
They do this by affecting the polorization of the cell
If the cell wants to go from polorised (resting potential) to excitatory state what changes might be made?
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
What is the ALL or NONE principle?
It is a principle saying that neurons maintain the same magnitude of action potential everytime.
But how frequently this happens changes.
What is happening at a cellular level in RESTING STATE or resting potential in a neuron?
- Inner parts are more negative
- More K+ inside than outside
- More Na+ outside than inside
- Most of the chanels (volted gates) are closed. The Na+/ K+ transporter pumps K+ into the cell and Na+ out of the cell.
- Note the potential is about 70mV
What is happening when the cell is depolarised?
- The Na+ gates open, and Na+ rushes in. The inner part becomes more positive.
- The charge starts to depolarize (charge lessens)
- K+ gate is still closed, and the Na+/K+ is also closed
What is happening when Peak Action Potential and Hyperpolarization is reached?
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)
- 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.
What is refactory period?
It is hyperpolarization, when the potential is below -70Vm
