Biological psychology Flashcards

1
Q

What is plasticity/neuroplasticity?

A

The brain’s capacity to change both physically and functionally as a result of usage, practice and experience.

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2
Q

Explain the amusement park for rats experiment

A
  • Enriched group: lived in groups, had toys and an overall enriched environment. Developed bigger, thicker brains and better neural connections (more dendrites and synapses)
  • Rats who were bombarded with visual stimuli showed 20% more synaptic connections in the visual cortex
  • Rats who performed acrobatics showed new synaptic connections in the cerebellum
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3
Q

Which cortex gets activated by sound and touch in blind individuals?

A

The visual cortex, these senses sharpen because there are more brain regions in charge of processing them

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4
Q

What area becomes activated by touch in deaf individual?

A

The auditory cortex

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5
Q

What is the traditional view on the brain hemispheres?

A

That they’re mirror images of each other, meaning they have the same functions and structures

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6
Q

What si the current view on the brain hemispheres?

A

That hemispheres are specialized for different functions (brain lateralization)

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7
Q

What is hemisphere crossover

A

The right hemisphere recives sensory input and sends motor commands to the left side of the body.

The left hemisphere receives sensory input from and sends motor commands to the right side of the body.

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8
Q

What is the corpus callosum?

A

A structure composed of white matter that connects the two hemispheres.

It allows the back and forth of information providing a unified experience.

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9
Q

Explain the case/experiments of N.G.

A
  1. She was asked to look at a dot at the center of the screen
  2. The image of a spoon is briefly flashed to the right visual field
  3. When she was asked what she saw she responded correctly
  4. The image of the spoon is briefly flashed to her left visual field
  5. When asked what she saw she was unable to provide a verbal response
  6. When asked to reach the object with her left hand, she chose correctly, evidencing that she did process the image
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10
Q

What are the factors that affect psychological experience?

A
  1. Biology: we’re determined by our biology
  2. Plasticity: We change as a function of our experiences
  3. Cognition: Allows us to have abstract and concrete thought to project to the future
  4. Development: We’re in constant biological, cognitive and social change
  5. Motivation: The forces around and within us energize and direct our behavior
  6. Society: The groups we form part of influence how we bahave
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11
Q

What are the biopsychological explanations?

A

Basic level of explanation
- Genetics: Ingerited biological predeispositions that establish the possibilities and limits on our behavior
- Nervous system: Changes in the brain result in changes in the mind
- Endocrine system: Hormines affect psychological experience
- Immune system: Our physical health affect our psychological experience and vice versa

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12
Q

Name the biological psychology case studies

A
  1. Phineas Gage
  2. Julia
  3. Henry M
  4. Genie
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13
Q

What is the nervous system and its components

A

Connects the brain and spinal cord to sensory organs
1. Central nervous system: Brain and spinal cord
2. Peripheral nerovous system: Nerves that radiate from central nervous system
- Somatic nervous system: Transmits sensory stimuli and relays motor controls to voluntary muscles and organs
- Autonimic nervous system: Connects central nervous system to involuntary muscles and organs
1. Sympathetic nervous system: In charge of fight or flight
2. Parasympathetic nervous system: Restores the body to pre energized state

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14
Q

What is the endocrine system?

A

Collection of glands that secrete hormones that regulate growth, sexual development, metabolism, etc.

The pituitary gland is the one that secretes hormones to stimulate the production of other hormones

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15
Q

What do neurons do and what are the types?

A

Send and receive info in the form of electrochemical signals

  1. Sensory neurons: Send signals from body to central nervous system
  2. Motor neurons: Send signals from central nervous system to body
  3. Interneurons: Connectors between sensory and motor neurons
  4. Glial cells: Provide structural support, insulation and nutrition to neurons
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16
Q

What are the parts of a neuron?

A
  1. Soma or cell body: contains nucleus, maintains chemical balance
  2. Dendrites: receive impulses form sensory organs or other neurons
  3. Axon: Sends impulses to other neurons or sensory organs
  4. Axon terminal: contains neurotransmitters
  5. Myelin sheath: prevents chemical leakage, speeds up the movement of impulses
17
Q

How do neurons transmit impulses?

A
  1. Action potencial: A change in voltage triggered by an electrical impulse that causes a surge of electrical energy through the axon
  2. The electrical impulse forces the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft
18
Q

What are the three mini brains?

A
  1. Brain stem/ core brain
  2. Lymbic system (primitive mammalian)
  3. Cerebral cortex (human)
19
Q

What are the components of the brain stem and their functions?

A
  • Medulla: Controls involuntary vital functions
  • Pons: Coordination of physical movement
  • Reticular formation (midbrain): Controls sleep, arrojado and attention
  • Cerebellum: Balance and coordination
20
Q

What are the components of the lun if system and their functions?

A
  • Thalamus: relays info from senses to cerebral cortex
  • Hypothalamus: Regulates biological functions
  • Hippocampus: converts short term memories into long term memories
  • Amygdala: Regulates and processes emotions like anger and aggression
21
Q

What are the components of the cerebral cortex and their functions?

A
  • Frontal lobe: planning movements and working memory
  • Parietal lobe: Sensory perception
  • Temporal lobe: hearing and advanced visual processing
  • Occipital lobe: visual processing and perception
22
Q

What are the structures of the brain based on function?

A
  • Sensory cortex: receives info from touch receptors
  • Motor cortex: Sends impulses to voluntary muscles
  • Association areas: higher mental functions
  • Language areas:
    1. brocas: formation of words and fluent speech
    2. Wernekes: comprehension of speech