Chapter 7 Flashcards
Physiological Characteristics
The functioning of organ systems within the body.
Physiological Systems
Nervous system, cardiac system, and the musculoskeletal system.
Theoretical Bridge
Bridge between personality dimension of interest and physiological variables in order to use physiological concepts to help explain personality.
Electrodes
Sensors placed on the surface of a participant’s skin.
Telemetry
Process by which electrical signals are sent from the participant to the polygraph through Bluetooth, Wifi, or other radio waves instead of by wires.
Sympathetic Nervous System
Branch of autonomic nervous system that supports the fight-or-flight response.
Autonomic Nervous System
Part of the peripheral nervous system that connects to viral bodily structures associated with maintaining life and responding to emergencies such as the beating heart.
Electrodermal Activity (Skin Conductance)
Most obtained by electrodes or sensors placed on the skin surface. Due to sweat with arousal, skin conductance of electricity increases.
Blood Pressure
Pressure exerted by the blood on the inside of the artery walls, and it is typically expressed with two numbers: diastolic and systolic pressure.
Diastolic Pressure
Resting pressure inside the system between heart contractions. Smaller number.
Systolic Pressure
Maximum pressure within the cardiovascular system produced when the heart muscle contracts. Larger number.
Cardiac Reactivity
Greater than normal increase in blood pressure and heart rate when performing task such as backward serial subtraction.
Type A Personality
Behavior pattern characterized by impatience, competitiveness, and hostility.
Ascending Reticular Activating System (ARAS)
Structure in the brain stem thought to control overall cortical arousal.
Arousal Level (Arousability)
Extroverts have lower levels of cortical or brain arousal than introverts. Difference between both lies in their nervous systems. with extroverts showing less arousability than introverts to the same levels of sensory stimulation.
Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory
Theory based on two principles: the behavioral activation system and the behavioral inhibition system.
Behavioral Activation System (BAS)
Responsive to incentives, such as cues for reward, and regulated approach behavior, most likely through the dopamine system.
Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS)
Responsive to cues for punishment, frustration, and uncertainty.
Anxiety
An unpleasant, high-arousal emotional state associated with perceived threat.
Impulsivity
Inability to inhibit responses.
Sensation Seeking
Tendency to seek out thrilling and exciting activities, take risks, and avoid boredom.
Sensory Deprivation
Researchers use this to see what happens when a person is deprived of sensory input. They are in a sound-proof chamber containing water where the person floats.
Optimal Level of Arousal
People are motivated to reach an optimal level of arousal.
Comorbidity
Where two or more disorders simultaneously occur within the same individual.
Neurotransmitters
Chemicals in the nerve cells that are responsible for the transmission of a nerve impulse from one ell to another.
Monoamine Oxidase (MAO)
Responsible for maintaining the proper levels of neurotransmitters.
Dopamine
Neurotransmitter associated with pleasure.
Serotonin
Neurotransmitter associated with depression or anxiety.
Norepinephrine
Neurotransmitter involved in activating the sympathetic nervous system for fight or flight.
Tridimensional Personality Model
Three personality traits are tied to levels of the three neurotransmitters.
Novelty Seeking
Based on three levels of dopamine, recall that low levels of dopamine create a drive state to obtain substance or experiences that increase dopamine.
Harm Avoidance
Associated with abnormalities in serotonin metabolism.
Reward Dependence
Related to levels of norepinephrine, people tend to act in ways that produce reward.
Morningness-Eveningness
Referring as to which one identifies more with a morning person or evening person.
Circadian Rhythm
Biological clock.
Free Running
There are no time cues to influence your behavior or biology.
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Electrical Activity that is rhythmic and exhibits waves that are fast or slow, depending on neurological activation in the brain.
Alpha Wave
Type of brain wave that oscillated at 8-12 times a second.
Frontal Brain Asymmetry
Exhibit enough stability and consistency to be considered as indicative of an underlying biological disposition or trait.
Cortisol
Stress hormone that prepares the body to fight or flight, and increases in cortisol mean that the animal has recently experienced stress.
Evoked Potentials
EEG recording during presentation of stimulus.
