Chapters 8 & 9: The Biological Perspective Flashcards
Neuron
a cell of the nervous system that receives and transmits information
also called nerve cell
Hypothalamus
a complex structure near the lower center of the brain that has direct connections to many other parts of the brain and is involved in the production of psychologically important hormones
thought to be important for mood and motivation
Hormone
a biological chemical that affects parts of the body some distance from where it is produced
Amygdala
a structure located near the base of the brain that is believed to play a role in emotion, especially negative emotions such as anger and fear
Hippocampus
a complex structure deep within the brain, behind the hypothalamus, that plays an important role in memory processes
Cortex
outer layers of the brain
Neocortex
the outer layer of the cortex of the brain, regarded as uniquely human
Frontal Cortex
the front part of the cortex of the brain
divided left and right into the two frontal lobes, this part of the brain is associated with cognitive functioning such as planning, foresight, and understanding
Electroencephalography (EEG)
a technique for measuring the brain’s electrical activity by placing electrode sensors on the outside of the skull
Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
a technique for using delicate magnetic sensors on the outside of the skull to detect brain activity
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
a technique for creating images of brain activity by injecting a radioactive tracer into the blood and the, using a scanner, finding where in the brain the blood is being metabolized
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
a technique for imaging brain activity by using a powerful magnet to help detect blood flow in the brain
Somatic Marker Hypothesis
neurologist Antonio Damasio’s idea that the bodily (somatic), emotional component of thought is a necessary part of problem solving and decision making
Corpus Callosum
the thick bundle of nerve fibers connecting the right and left halves of the brain
Anterior Cingulate
the front part of the cingulate, a brain structure that runs from the front to the back of the brain in the middle, just above the corpus callosum
is believed to be important for the experience of normal emotion and self-control
Neurotransmitters
the chemicals that allow one neuron to affect, or communicate with, another
Synapse
the space between two neurons across which impulses are carried by neurotransmitters
Central Nervous System
the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System
the system of nerves running throughout the body, not including the brain and spinal cord
Endorphins
the body’s own pain-killing chemicals, which operate by blocking the transmission of pain messages to the brain
Serotonin
a neurotransmitter within the brain that plays an important role in the regulation of emotion and motivation
Gonads
the glands, testes in men and ovaries in women, that (among other effects) produce the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen, respectively
Adrenal Cortex
the outer layer of the adrenal gland, atop the kidneys, that secrete several behaviorally important hormones
Epinephrine
a neurotransmitter in the brain and also a hormones that is released by the adrenal gland as part of the body’s response to stress
also called adrenaline
Norepinephrine
an important neurotransmitter in the brain that is associated with responses to stress
also called noradrenaline
Oxytocin
a hormone that may have specific effects in women of emotional attachment and calming
Testosterone
the male sex hormone
Estrogen
the female sex hormone
Cortisol
a collective term for the glucocorticoid hormones, which as released into the bloodstream by the adrenal cortex as a response to physical or psychological stress
Personality Trait
a pattern of though, emotion, or behavior that is relatively consistent over time and across situations
Alleles
a particular variant, or form, of a gene
most genes have two or more alleles
Epigenetics
nongenetic influences on a gene’s expression, such as stress, nutrition, and so forth
What is the frontal cortex (frontal lobes)?
planning ahead, anticipating consequences, and emotional experience
What is the amygdala?
involved in emotion
What is the hippocampus?
involved in memory
How is the amygdala involved in personality?
links perceptions and thoughts with emotional meaning
role in assessing whether a stimulus is threatening or rewarding
relevant traits: anxiety, fearfulness, sociability, sexuality
role in anger and fear (negative)
social approach, response to sexual advances
How are the frontal lobes and neocortex involved in personality?
higher cognitive functions
inhibition, self-control, and emotional stability
social and emotional understanding
somatic marker hypothesis: suggest experience of emotion is effective in problem solving
What is Capgras syndrome?
believe loved ones have been replaced
follows injury to right frontal lobe
fail to respond emotionally to their loved ones, so they conclude they are an imposter
How is the amygdala involved in personality?
important for controlling emotional responses and behavior impulses
inhibits the amygdala
possible implications for extraversion and neuroticism
What are the difficulties of using imaging techniques?
all parts of the brain are always active to some degree; must compare activation differences, are validated by either S-Data or B-Data
brain activity in response to a stimulus does not mean the same psychological process occurs every time that area is active; also a problem with heart rate
most researchers only look in small areas; difficult to detect the neural context effect
the technology is difficult to use
expensive, time-consuming, difficult so hard to replicate
What is dopamine?
involved in responding to rewards and approaching attractive objects and people
related to plasticity: combination of extraversion and openness
What is serotonin
role in inhibition of behavioral impulses
related to stability: combination of conscientiousness, agreeableness, and emotional stability
What are the issues with twin studies?
cultural similarities of the families involved don’t match assumptions
variability matters: traits with little variation –> lower heritability, greater variability in environment –> lower heritability
don’t tell us how genes affect behavior
What is epigenetics?
non-genetic influences on a gene’s expression (stress, nutrition)
experience can influence how or whether a gene is expressed during development
epigenetic changes - including those from trauma experienced by recent ancestors - might be inherited
What is evolutionary personality psychology?
addresses how patterns of behavior that characterize all humans may have originated in the survival value of these characteristics
assumptions: if a characteristic helped our ancestors carry on their genes is more likely to be passed down
self-esteem: “sociometer theory”, gage of how socially accepted you are in your environment
depression: signals something has gone wrong
What are the issues of evolutionary psychology?
methodology: backward speculation is difficult to test empirically
conservative bias
human flexibility
biological determinism or social structure?
