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PSYC 1200 > Biological Psychology > Flashcards

Biological Psychology Flashcards

1
Q

Chromosomes

A

Structures in the cell nucleus that contains the genes an individual inherits

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2
Q

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

A

A double-helix molecule that contains four types of nucleotides (A, C, T, G)

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3
Q

Genes

A

The basic unit of heredity; guides protein synthesis

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4
Q

Genotype

A

The genetic makeup of an organism

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5
Q

Phenotype

A

The observable characteristics, including physical structures and behaviours

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6
Q

Homozygous

A

When genes at a particular location are the same on each chromosome

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7
Q

Heterozygous

A

When the genes at a particular location are different on each chromosome

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8
Q

Behavioural Genetics

A

Evaluating how genes and environment influence behaviour by studying people of varying relatedness

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9
Q

Twin Studies

A
  • Monozygotic vs dizygotic twins
  • Concordance rates: Degree of similarity between pairs of individuals
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10
Q

Adoption Studies

A

To adopted Child:
- Biological Parents = Nature
- Adoptive Parents = Nurture

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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
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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

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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
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14
Q

Evolutionary Psychology

A
  • Evolution can be thought of as the change infrequency of genes occurring in a population over generations
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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
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16
Q

Human Mate Preferences (Sex)

A
  • Females tend to prefer strong, committed, financially secure males
  • Males tend to prefer youthful, physically beautiful females
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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
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18
Q

Changing Brain

A

Brain previously thought to be unchanging outside critical developmental window during childhood

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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
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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
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21
Q

Glial Cells

A

A variety of cell types that serve support functions for neurons

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22
Q

Microglia

A

Engulf debris and mounts immune response

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23
Q

Oligodendrocytes

A

Produce extensions that wrap axons in myelin

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24
Q

Astrocytes

A

Provide physical support and delivers energy to neurons

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25
Q

Multiple Sclerosis

A
  • Diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are the result of malfunctioning glial cells
  • Microglia mount immune response against myelin sheath
  • Loss of saltatory conduction
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26
Q

Ion Movement (Cations)

A
  • Positively charged ions
    • Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+)
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27
Q

Ion Movement (Anions)

A
  • Negatively charged ions
    • Chloride (Cl-), negative charged proteins
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28
Q

Concentration Gradient

A

Ions naturally diffuse from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration

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29
Q

Electrostatic Pressure

A

Repulsion of like charges, attraction of opposite charges

30
Q

Action Potentials

A
  • 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
Q

Refractory Period

A

A brief period during which a neuron cannot fire
- Cell is hyperpolarized

32
Q

Synaptic Cleft

A

The small space between the terminal button and the dendrite of another neuron

33
Q

Reuptake

A

A process whereby released neurotransmitters are reabsorbed into the axon terminals of the pre-synaptic neuron
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)

34
Q

Excitatory neurotransmitters

A

Increase the likelihood of an action potential occurring

35
Q

Inhibitory neurotransmitters

A

Decrease the likelihood of an action potential occurring

36
Q

Agonists

A

Drugs that enhance or mimic the effects of a neurotransmitter’s action
- Direct vs indirect agonists

37
Q

Antagonists

A

Inhibit neurotransmitter activity by blocking receptors or preventing synthesis of the neurotransmitter

38
Q

Hindbrain

A

Structures of the hindbrain have many basic life sustaining function

39
Q

Tectum (Midbrain)

A

Consists of the superior colliculus, which orients our visual attention, and the inferior colliculus, which orients our auditory attention

40
Q

Substantia nigra (Midbrain)

A

Connected with forebrain and plays a role in producing voluntary movements

41
Q

Ventricles (Forebrain)

A

Contain cerebrospinal fluid which removes waste products, supplies nutrients and hormones, and helps cushion the brain and spine

42
Q

Basal Ganglia (Forebrain)

A

Involved in facilitating planned movements and skill learning

43
Q

Nucleus Accumbens (Forebrain)

A

Integrates sensory and movement information with the brain’s reward system
- Activation accompanies rewarding experiences such as sex, gambling, chocolate, drugs, etc.

44
Q

Amygdala (Forebrain - Limbic System)

A

Processes emotional responses and stimuli

45
Q

Hippocampus (Forebrain - Limbic System)

A

Critical for learning and formation of new memories

46
Q

Thalamus (Forebrain - Limbic System)

A

Relays sensory information to different regions of the brain

47
Q

Hypothalamus (Endocrine System)

A

Regulates basic biological needs and motivation systems
- Homeostasis: the body’s ‘steady state’

48
Q

Pituitary Gland (Endocrine System)

A

‘Master gland’ of the endocrine system

49
Q

Hormones (Endocrine System)

A

Chemicals secreted by the glands of the endocrine system

50
Q

Grey matter (Cerebral Cortex)

A

Composed of cell bodies and dendrites

51
Q

White matter (Cerebral Cortex)

A

Composed of myelinated axons that interconnect the different structures of the brain

52
Q

Localization

A

Specific function “located” in a specific brain area

53
Q

Circuits

A

Specific function controlled by interconnected areas

54
Q

Evolution of the Cerebral Cortex

A
  • 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
Q

Occipital Lobes

A

Located at the rear of the brain, where visual information is processed

56
Q

Temporal Lobes

A

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
Q

Frontal Lobes

A

Important for many ‘higher’ cognitive functions, such as planning, inhibition of impulses and emotion, language production, and voluntary movement

58
Q

Primary Motor Cortex (Frontal Lobes)

A

Control of voluntary movement

59
Q

Somatosensory Cortex (Parietal Lobes)

A

Processes touch sensations for various body parts

60
Q

Corpus Callosum

A

A densely concentrated bundle of nerve cells connecting the two hemispheres

61
Q

Lateralization of function (Cerebral Lateralization)

A

Cases in which one hemisphere is dominant for or specializes in the processing of certain types of information
- Increases processing efficiency (parallel processing)

62
Q

Structural/Static Neuroimaging

A
  • Computerized tomography (CT)
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
63
Q

Computerized Tomography

A

X-ray beam passed through the brain at many different angles creating many different images

64
Q

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A

Produces a 3D brain image by passing a strong magnetic field through the brain

65
Q

Diffusion Tensor Imaging

A
  • Method for visualizing white matter tracts
  • Used to identify functional neural circuits and abnormalities in neural pathways
66
Q

Functional/Dynamic Neuroimaging

A
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG)
  • Position Emission Tomography (PET)
  • Function Magnetic resonance Imaging (fMRI)
67
Q

Event-related potentials (Electroencephalogram)

A

Change in surface level activity of the brain during cognitive engagement

68
Q

Position Emission Tomography

A

Radioactive glucose taken up into neural tissues that are active during a mental risk

69
Q

Function Magnetic resonance Imaging

A
  • 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
Q

How can we study causality in the brain?

A
  • 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
Q

Lesioning Techniques

A
  • Cryogenic blockade
  • Surgical cuts
  • Chance cases of brain injury
  • Transcranial magnetic stimulation
72
Q

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

A

Magnetic pulse used to temporarily induce or disrupt brain activity

PSYC 1200 (8 decks)

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