Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

aaa psy > Ch 5 > Flashcards

Ch 5 Flashcards

1
Q

Consciousness

A

Awareness of oneself and the environment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Biological Rhythms

A 
A periodic, more or less regular
fluctuation in a biological system.
 A biological clock in the brain governs:
 Hormone levels
 Urine volume
 Blood pressure

Biological Rhythms
Entrainment
The synchronization of biological rhythms with
external cues.
Endogenous
Rhythms that continue to occur even in the absence of
external cues.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Types of Endogenous Rhythms

1. Circadian Rhythms

A 
1. Circadian Rhythms
 A biological rhythm with a period of about 24 hours
Examples:
 sleep-wake cycle
 body temperature

Circadian rhythms exist in plants, animals,
insects, and human beings.
Reflect the adaptation of organisms to the many
changes associated with the rotation of the earth
on its axis.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Types of Endogenous Rhythms

2. Infradian Rhythms

A 
2. Infradian Rhythms
 A biological rhythm that occurs less frequently than
once a day.
 Often monthly or seasonally.
Examples:
 Female menstrual cycle.
 Southern migration of birds in the fall.
 Hibernation of bears in the winter.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Types of Endogenous Rhythms

A
  1. Ultradian Rhythms
    A biological rhythm that occurs more than once a day.
    Often on a 90-minute schedule.
    Example:
    Stomach contractions
    Hormone levels
    Brain-wave responses during cognitive tasks
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Circadian Rhythms
With External Cues
Without External Cues

A

Humans usually adapt to a strict 24-hour
schedule.
Biological rhythms become entrained to external
cues.
Without External Cues
Body temperature and certain hormone levels
still follow a cycle close to 24 hours.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q 
The Body’s Clock
Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
A

A tiny teardrop-shaped cluster
of cells in the hypothalamus.
Contains a biological clock that
governs circadian rhythms.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

The Body’s Clock

The Process

A 
Receptors in the back of
the eye send information
to the SCN about
changes in light and
dark.
 SCN responds by sending
out messages that cause
the brain and body to
react to the light and
dark changes.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

The Body’s Clock

Melotonin

A

A hormone secreted by the pineal gland.
Involved in the regulation of circadian
rhythms.
Helps keep the biological clock in phase with
the light-dark cycle.
Directly promotes sleep in blind people who
lack light perception.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

The Body’s Clock

Internal desynchronization

A 
A state in which biological rhythms are
not in phase with one another.
Examples:
 Jet lag from airplane flights.
 Feeling tired and irritable when adjusting
to a night shift.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

The Body’s Clock
Three proposed methods to treat internal
desynchronization:

A
  1. Using bright lights to “reset” the clock in the SCN.
  2. Treating people with small amounts of melatonin
    on a controlled schedule.
  3. Combining melatonin treatment with light
    therapy.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

The Body’s Clock
Circadian rhythms can be affected by many
factors:

A

The Body’s Clock
Circadian rhythms can be affected by many
factors:

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Moods & Infradian Rhythms

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

A

A controversial disorder in which a person experiences
depression during the winter and an improvement of
mood in the spring.

 Evaluating the actual prevalence and
treatment of SAD is difficult.
 Clinicians suggest that 20% of the
population suffers from the disorder.
 Scientific surveys indicate that the
prevalence of SAD is much lower:
 2 to 3% of Canadians
 1% of Americans
 0 to 1% of Asians
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Treating SAD

A 
1. Phototherapy
 Sitting in front of a extremely bright
fluorescent light.
2. Negative ion Therapy
 Exposure to high levels of negative ions.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Female Menstrual Cycle

A

Changes in a woman’s
hormones that direct her body
to release a tiny egg or ovum.
Average length is 28 days.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Day 1
Estrogen and progestrone are at their lowest level.
Inner lining of the uterus is discharged as menstrual blood.
Unfertilized ovum produced in the last cycle is discharged.
Day 2 through 12
Menstruation continues for three to six days.
A new ovum begins to mature in the ovaries.
Estrogen levels increase prompting the uterine lining to thicken.
Ovulation
Estrogen levels peek.
A mature ovum is released (Day 14).
Days 15 through 22
Ovum travels down the fallopian tube.
Egg may be fertilized at this time (unite with a sperm).
Day 22 to the beginning of next cycle
If egg is not fertilized, levels of both estrogen and progesterone will begin
to fall.
The uterine lining is shed as menstrual blood.

A

a

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Is there really such a thing as “PMS”?

A 
A condition that describes the physical, psychological, and emotional
symptoms related to a woman's menstrual cycle.
 Water retention
 Cramping
 Breast tenderness
 Backache
 Irritability
 Mood swings

Only 5% of women actually experience the emotional
symptoms of “PMS”.
Two reasons why the emotional symptoms of “PMS” are often over-reported:
1. Women are more likely to notice feelings of irritability when these moods
occur premenstrually.
2. Women label symptoms that occur before a period as “PMS”. Similar
symptoms at other times of the month are due to a stressful day.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Is there really such a thing as “PMS”?

A
  1. No gender differences exist in mood.
  2. No relation exists between stage of the
    menstrual cycle and emotional symptoms.
  3. No consistent “PMS” pattern exists across
    successive menstrual cycles.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Why We Sleep

A 
Sleep appears to function as a time-out period for
the body:
 Waste products are eliminated.
 Cells are repaired.
 Immune system is strengthened.
 Hormone levels are maintained.
Loss of One Night’s Sleep
 Decline in mental flexibility, attention, and
creativity.
Chronic Sleep Deprivation
 Impairment of brain cells necessary for
learning and memory.
 The experience of hallucinations and delusions.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Trouble Sleeping?

Chronic Insomnia

A 
Difficulty in falling or staying asleep.
 Occurs in 10% of adults.
Causes of Chronic Insomnia
 Worry and anxiety.
 Psychological problems.
 Hot flashes during menopause.
 Physical problems (e.g., arthritis).
 Irregular or demanding schedule.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Sleep apnea

A 
Sleep apnea
 Breathing briefly stops during sleep
 Individual momentarily awakens
Causes of Sleep apnea
 Blockage of air passages
 Failure of the brain to control respiration properly
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Trouble Sleeping?

Narcolepsy

A

Narcolepsy
Involves sudden and unpredictable daytime
attacks of sleepiness or lapses into REM sleep.
Affects 27, 000 Canadians.
Causes of Narcolepsy
Degeneration of neurons in the hypothalamus.
Genetic factors.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Most adults need at least 8 or 9 hours of sleep
Two-thirds of Americans get fewer than 7 or 8
hours.
Most students get only about 6 hours.

A

a

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Exploring the Dream World

Dreams

A

A series of mental images, sounds, or other
sensations occurring during sleep.
Dreams may be vivid or vague, terrifying or
peaceful.
The focus of attention is inward, though
external events can influence the dream’s
content.

25
Exploring the Dream World | Lucid dream
A dream in which a person is aware that they are dreaming. May involve the ability to control the action occurring in these dreams.
26
Dreams & REM | viewpoints
Viewpoint #1 Eye movements in dreams resemble those of waking life. Eyes and head move in synchrony with the content of dreams. Viewpoint #2 Eye movements are unrelated to the content of dreams.
27
Dreams as Unconscious Wishes
1. Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory Dreams express human being’s unconscious wishes and desires. Desires and wishes are often sexual and violent in nature. Dreaming allows human beings to maintain their sanity. Reality is often distorted in dreams. Distortion keeps anxiety at bay so our sleep will not be distrupted. Distressing thoughts and objects are translated into symbolic images. Threatening characters may be represented by less threatening images.
28
1. Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory….cont A. Manifest content B. Latent content
1. Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory….cont A. Manifest content The aspects of dreams that we consciously experience during sleep. Remember these aspects upon awakening. B. Latent content The unconscious wishes and thoughts expressed symbolically. Should be analyzed in the context of the dreamer’s wakening life.
29
Supporters of Freudian Theory
1. Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory….cont. Supporters of Freudian Theory Dreams have psychological meaning. Critiques of Freudian Theory Theory lacks reliable rules for interpreting the latent content of dreams. No objective way to know whether a particular interpretation is correct.
30
Dreams as Efforts to Deal with Problems
2. The Problem-focused approach Dreams reflect the ongoing conscious preoccupations of wakening life. Symbols and metaphors reveal the true meaning of a dream. Example: University students often experience test-anxiety dreams: Unprepared or unable to finish an exam. Show up for the wrong exam. Can not find the exam room. Dreams provide people with the opportunity to resolve their concerns. Recovery may be related to particular patterns of dreaming. Recovery Dream Pattern: First dream occurs early in the night. Dreams last longer, and are more emotional and story-like.
31
Dreams as Thinking | 3. The Cognitive Approach
``` Emphasizes current concerns. Dreaming is a modification of the cognitive simulations of the real world. Dreaming draws on the same memories, knowledge, metaphors, and assumptions as wakefulness. ```
32
Female Dreams
Dream about family members, friendly | interactions, household objects, and clothes.
33
Male Dreams
Dream about strangers, weapons, violence, | sexual activity, and achievement.
34
Dreams as Thinking
Brain activity in dreams is similar to when awake. Parts of the cerebral cortex are highly activated during dreaming. The brain just receives no sensory input and feedback from the world during sleep.
35
Dreams as Interpreted Brain Activity | 4. The Activation-synthesis Theory
4. The Activation-synthesis Theory I. Why are dreams often confusing? The signals from the pons are random. In turn, the cortex’s interpretation (i.e., dream) is often incoherent and confusing. II. Why are dreams quickly forgotten? The cortical neurons that control the initial storage of new memories are turned off during sleep.
36
The Activation-synthesis Theory | III.Why are dreams often emotionally charged?
The brain stem sets off responses in emotional and visual parts of the brain. Brain-stem cells produce acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that boosts activity in the brain’s emotional centres. Brain regions that handle logical thought and sensations from the external world are shut-down.
37
Critique of the Activation-synthesis Theory
Not all dreams are disjointed or bizarre. Can not account for dreaming that occurs outside of REM sleep. Other brain mechanisms may be involved in dreams. Many dreams reflect a person’s desires and goals.
38
The Nature of Hypnosis | Hypnosis
A procedure in which a practitioner suggests changes in the sensations, perceptions, thoughts, feelings or behaviour of the participant.
39
The Nature of Hypnosis | The Process:
The Process: Hypnotist suggests that the participant feels relaxed. Hypnotist assures the participant they are sinking “deeper and deeper”. Participant is often encouraged to concentrate on a colour or small object. Participant’s focus of attention turns outward to hypnotist’s voice.
40
The Nature of Hypnosis | 1. The hypnotic state is not sleep.
1. The hypnotic state is not sleep. Hypnosis and sleep do not appear to have comparable physiological responses. A hypnotized person almost always remains fully aware of what is going on. They remember the experience, unless explicitly instructed to forget.
41
2. Hypnotic responsiveness depends on the efforts and qualities of the person being hypnotized.
2. Hypnotic responsiveness depends on the efforts and qualities of the person being hypnotized. Some people are more responsive to hypnosis. Weakly related to the ability to become absorbed in activities and to become involved in the world of imagination. 3. Hypnotized people can not be forced to do things against their will No evidence that a hypnotized person will do anything against their morals or that constitutes a real danger to themselves or others.
42
Hilgard’s (1977) Dissociation Theory
Dissociation A split in consciousness in which one part of the mind operates independently of others. Hidden observer The part of the mind that is not subject to hypnotic suggestion. Hypnotized volunteers submerged one arm in ice water, a normally painful task. Volunteers were told they would feel no pain. Nonsubmerged hand would signal level of pain by pressing a key. Many people said they felt little or no pain even while their free hand was busily pressing the key.
43
Dissociation Theories
Supporters Consistent with research on nonconscious mental processing. Consistent with modern brain theories. Critiques Hypnosis does not differ from normal consciousness. Definition of hypnotic state is circular.
44
Sociocognitive Explanation
Hypnotized person is playing a role. Similar to submitting to suggestions by parents, teachers, and doctors. Their role becomes so engrossing that their actions may occur without their conscious intent. Why do some participants report “memories” of alien abductions? Participant has a need to “escape the self”, by turning control over to the hypnotist. Hypnotist assumes control and shapes participant’s story with subtle hints.
45
Why do participants often report experiences in a | past-life?
Participants are fulfilling role requirements. Weaving events, places, and persons from their present lives with the beliefs of the authoritative hypnotist.
46
Classifying Drugs: Psychoactive Drugs
``` A drug capable of influencing perception, mood, cognition, or behaviour. Psychoactive drugs are taken for many reasons: To alter consciousness As part of a religious ritual For recreation To decrease physical pain For psychological escape ```
47
Some commonly used drugs fall outside the four classifications. steroids
``` 1. Anabolic Steroids Synthetic derivatives of testosterone. Taken in pill form or by injection. Increase muscle mass and strength. General Side Effects Heart and liver disease . Severe acne. Halted growth, if taken before adolescent growth spurt. For Men Shrinking of the testicles Reduced sperm count Baldness Development of breasts For women Growth of facial hair Baldness Deepened voice ```
48
Classifying Drugs: Psychoactive Drugs | Marijuana
2. Marijuana Commonly referred to as “pot”, “grass”, and “weed”. Some researchers classify it as a mild psychedelic. The active ingredient is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is derived from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. In some respects, THC appears to be a mild stimulant. Increases heart rate. Makes tastes, sounds, colours seem more intense. However, reactions to THC range from mild euphoria to relaxation or sleepiness Moderate doses Interfere with the transfer of information to longterm memory. Large doses Can cause hallucinations, and a sense of unreality. Can impair coordination, concentration, visual perception, and reaction times.
49
The Physiology of Drug Effects
``` Alcohol affects cognitive and emotional functioning: Judgment Perception Response time Coordination Balance Storage of memory ```
50
Heavy or frequent use of other recreational | drugs affects cognitive functioning:
Methamphetamine → poor performance on tests of memory, attention, and movement. Ecstasy → evidence of memory deficits.
51
The Physiology of Drug Effects Tolerance Withdrawal Symptoms
Tolerance Increased resistance to a drug’s effects accompanying continued use. More and more of the drug is needed to get the same effect. Withdrawal Symptoms Physical and psychological symptoms that occur when someone addicted to a drug stops taking it. Nausea abdominal cramps, sweating, muscle spasms, depression, and sleeping problems
52
The Psychology of Drugs
The effects of drugs are not always automatic. Reactions to psychoactive drugs involve many factors: 1. Individual’s physical condition 2. Experience with the drug 3. Environmental setting 4. Mental sets
53
1. Various physical factors affect people’s reactions | to psychoactive drugs:
Body weight Metabolism Initial state of emotional arousal Physical tolerance for the drug
54
2. Past experience with a drug affects an | individual’s reaction to it:
``` First-time users → neutral or unpleasant experience. Regular users → Reactions change when a person is more familiar with a drug’s effects. ```
55
. Environmental setting greatly affects the | response to a drug:
Drinking with friends → Happy and full of energy. Drinking with strangers → Fearful and nervous.
56
4. A person’s mental set has a powerful effect on | the chemical properties of a drug:
``` Mental set Expectations about the drug’s effects, as well as reasons for taking the drug. Often influence behaviour more than the chemical properties of the drug. ```
57
Cultural attitudes toward drugs vary with the | times:
Cultural attitudes toward drugs vary with the | times:
58
The Drug Debate
All Drugs are Good Do not accept evidence that some drugs have harmful effects. All Drugs are Bad Do not accept that some forms or amounts of drugs may have beneficial effects. People often hold rigid assumptions about psychoactive drugs: Illegal drugs → 100% Dangerous. Legal drugs → 100% Safe. Legal drugs are not always safe Prescription painkillers can be addictive. Nicotine (legal) is as addictive as heroin and cocaine (illegal).
59
The Marijuana Debate | Canadian Law
``` 1923 → Banned in Canada. July, 2001 → May be used for medical purposes. Current status → Should marijuana be decriminalized? ``` Research Findings on Marijuana: 1. Heavy, prolonged use of marijuana poses some physical dangers. 2. Memory and learning may be affected after long-term use. 3. Marijuana use has some medical benefits

aaa psy (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions