Biological Psychology Flashcards
1
Q
Chromosomes
A
Structures in the cell nucleus that contains the genes an individual inherits
2
Q
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
A
A double-helix molecule that contains four types of nucleotides (A, C, T, G)
3
Q
Genes
A
The basic unit of heredity; guides protein synthesis
4
Q
Genotype
A
The genetic makeup of an organism
5
Q
Phenotype
A
The observable characteristics, including physical structures and behaviours
6
Q
Homozygous
A
When genes at a particular location are the same on each chromosome
7
Q
Heterozygous
A
When the genes at a particular location are different on each chromosome
8
Q
Behavioural Genetics
A
Evaluating how genes and environment influence behaviour by studying people of varying relatedness
9
Q
Twin Studies
A
- Monozygotic vs dizygotic twins
- Concordance rates: Degree of similarity between pairs of individuals
10
Q
Adoption Studies
A
To adopted Child:
- Biological Parents = Nature
- Adoptive Parents = Nurture
11
Q
Heritability
A
- Heritability ranges from 0 to 1
- Measures degree to which genetics explains individual differences or variance in a behaviour or trait
12
Q
Behavioural Genomics
A
The study of DNA and the ways in which specific genes are related to behaviour
- How traits are inherited
- The Human Genome Project
13
Q
Single Genes and Behaviour
A
- “Scientists found gene for…”
- No single gene responsible
- Combinations of genes influence behaviour
- One gene is not limited to one trait
- Inheritance of a gene is not a guarantee that characteristic will be expressed
14
Q
Evolutionary Psychology
A
- Evolution can be thought of as the change infrequency of genes occurring in a population over generations
15
Q
Human Mate Preferences
A
- Human mate preferences likely shaped by differing evolutionary pressures on each sex
- ‘Just so’ stories can be strengthened by investigating other species
16
Q
Human Mate Preferences (Sex)
A
- Females tend to prefer strong, committed, financially secure males
- Males tend to prefer youthful, physically beautiful females
17
Q
What affects cognitive processes?
A
- Different hormone levels does affect cognitive processes
- Testosterone effects
- Statistical vs practical significance
- Hunter gather explanation vs byproduct of other evolutionary changes
- Environment always plays a role
- Stereotypes of women and math
18
Q
Changing Brain
A
Brain previously thought to be unchanging outside critical developmental window during childhood
19
Q
Neural Plasticity
A
- The brain’s ability to change structure and function
- Adult Neurogenesis: formation of new neurons that are integrated into the adult brain
- Dendritic branching and formation of dendritic spines
20
Q
Human Echolocation
A
- Tiny microphones placed in ears of blind echolocators as they tried to identify various objects
- Researchers played back recordings during fMRI scan
- Resulting activation was mostly in primary visual cortex
21
Q
Glial Cells
A
A variety of cell types that serve support functions for neurons
22
Q
Microglia
A
Engulf debris and mounts immune response
23
Q
Oligodendrocytes
A
Produce extensions that wrap axons in myelin
24
Q
Astrocytes
A
Provide physical support and delivers energy to neurons
25
Multiple Sclerosis
- Diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are the result of malfunctioning glial cells
- Microglia mount immune response against myelin sheath
- Loss of saltatory conduction
26
Ion Movement (Cations)
- Positively charged ions
- Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+)
27
Ion Movement (Anions)
- Negatively charged ions
- Chloride (Cl-), negative charged proteins
28
Concentration Gradient
Ions naturally diffuse from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration
29
Electrostatic Pressure
Repulsion of like charges, attraction of opposite charges
30
Action Potentials
- A wave of electrical activity that originates at the base of the axon and rapidly travels down its length if summation exceeds
- 55 mV firing threshold
- Cell is depolarized
- All-or-none principle
31
Refractory Period
A brief period during which a neuron cannot fire
- Cell is hyperpolarized
32
Synaptic Cleft
The small space between the terminal button and the dendrite of another neuron
33
Reuptake
A process whereby released neurotransmitters are reabsorbed into the axon terminals of the pre-synaptic neuron
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)
34
Excitatory neurotransmitters
Increase the likelihood of an action potential occurring
35
Inhibitory neurotransmitters
Decrease the likelihood of an action potential occurring
36
Agonists
Drugs that enhance or mimic the effects of a neurotransmitter's action
- Direct vs indirect agonists
37
Antagonists
Inhibit neurotransmitter activity by blocking receptors or preventing synthesis of the neurotransmitter
38
Hindbrain
Structures of the hindbrain have many basic life sustaining function
39
Tectum (Midbrain)
Consists of the superior colliculus, which orients our visual attention, and the inferior colliculus, which orients our auditory attention
40
Substantia nigra (Midbrain)
Connected with forebrain and plays a role in producing voluntary movements
41
Ventricles (Forebrain)
Contain cerebrospinal fluid which removes waste products, supplies nutrients and hormones, and helps cushion the brain and spine
42
Basal Ganglia (Forebrain)
Involved in facilitating planned movements and skill learning
43
Nucleus Accumbens (Forebrain)
Integrates sensory and movement information with the brain's reward system
- Activation accompanies rewarding experiences such as sex, gambling, chocolate, drugs, etc.
44
Amygdala (Forebrain - Limbic System)
Processes emotional responses and stimuli
45
Hippocampus (Forebrain - Limbic System)
Critical for learning and formation of new memories
46
Thalamus (Forebrain - Limbic System)
Relays sensory information to different regions of the brain
47
Hypothalamus (Endocrine System)
Regulates basic biological needs and motivation systems
- Homeostasis: the body's 'steady state'
48
Pituitary Gland (Endocrine System)
'Master gland' of the endocrine system
49
Hormones (Endocrine System)
Chemicals secreted by the glands of the endocrine system
50
Grey matter (Cerebral Cortex)
Composed of cell bodies and dendrites
51
White matter (Cerebral Cortex)
Composed of myelinated axons that interconnect the different structures of the brain
52
Localization
Specific function "located" in a specific brain area
53
Circuits
Specific function controlled by interconnected areas
54
Evolution of the Cerebral Cortex
- Human brain retains most of the basic features of other mammalian brains
- Brainstem
- Midbrain
- The cerebral cortex has grown dramatically during the evolution of the human brain
55
Occipital Lobes
Located at the rear of the brain, where visual information is processed
56
Temporal Lobes
Located at the sides of the brain near the ears, and involved in hearing, language and aspects of vision such as object and face recognition
57
Frontal Lobes
Important for many 'higher' cognitive functions, such as planning, inhibition of impulses and emotion, language production, and voluntary movement
58
Primary Motor Cortex (Frontal Lobes)
Control of voluntary movement
59
Somatosensory Cortex (Parietal Lobes)
Processes touch sensations for various body parts
60
Corpus Callosum
A densely concentrated bundle of nerve cells connecting the two hemispheres
61
Lateralization of function (Cerebral Lateralization)
Cases in which one hemisphere is dominant for or specializes in the processing of certain types of information
- Increases processing efficiency (parallel processing)
62
Structural/Static Neuroimaging
- Computerized tomography (CT)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
63
Computerized Tomography
X-ray beam passed through the brain at many different angles creating many different images
64
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Produces a 3D brain image by passing a strong magnetic field through the brain
65
Diffusion Tensor Imaging
- Method for visualizing white matter tracts
- Used to identify functional neural circuits and abnormalities in neural pathways
66
Functional/Dynamic Neuroimaging
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
- Position Emission Tomography (PET)
- Function Magnetic resonance Imaging (fMRI)
67
Event-related potentials (Electroencephalogram)
Change in surface level activity of the brain during cognitive engagement
68
Position Emission Tomography
Radioactive glucose taken up into neural tissues that are active during a mental risk
69
Function Magnetic resonance Imaging
- Measures brain activity by detecting the influx of oxygen rich blood into neural areas that were just active
- Signal averaging
- Data is correlational
- Active regions may not be necessary for task
70
How can we study causality in the brain?
- Brain stimulation pioneered by Wilder Penfield
- Electrical current used to induce or inhibit a specific behavioral response while the subject is awake
- Can be conducted at different depths (shallow or deeper into the brain)
71
Lesioning Techniques
- Cryogenic blockade
- Surgical cuts
- Chance cases of brain injury
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation
72
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Magnetic pulse used to temporarily induce or disrupt brain activity
