chapt. 3 Biological Psychology Flashcards
evolutionary psychology
its own theory, meant to supply traditional perspectives into psych
evolution
-change in frequency of alleles within a population from one generation to the next
-species evolving over time
what is evolution driven by?
mutation: random genetic variation
migration: individuals moving in/out of pop.
genetic drifts: random change in genes
natural selection: some have beneficial traits that increase survival
sexual selection: promotes reproducibility rather than survival
alleles
alternate vesions of a specific gene
behavioural genetics
how genes + environment influence behaviour
cultural selection
preferred survival of certain types over repeated traditions
neurons
sends/receives messages in humans
neurogenesis
formation of new neurons
glial cells
supports neurons, removes waste
pre-synaptic neuron
releases NT’s into synapse
post-synaptic neuron
receptors that NT’s bind to
synaptic cleft
space between axon terminal and dendrite
re-uptake
when NT’s in synapse are reabsorbed into axon terminal of pre-synaptic neuron
types of neurotransmitters
glutamate: excited nervous system, affects memory
GABA: blocks brain activity, lowers anxiety
dopamine: controls movement, reward-seeking
serotonin: regulates mood
agonists
drugs enhance effects of NT’s/drugs
antagonists
block NT by blocking receptors
hormones
chemicals secreted by endocrine systemy
hypothalamus
brain structure: regulates basic needs
testosterone
hormone: drives sexual development
endorphins
hormones produced by pit. gland, reduces pain, induces pleasure
lesioning
technique to damage brain area to study
corpus callosum
left and right hemispheres of brain connected by thick band of axons
cerebral cortex
frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal lobes
attention, awareness, memory, cognition
hemisphere specialization
2 sides of cortex perform diff functions
