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PSYCH 333 > Chapters 8 & 9: The Biological Perspective > Flashcards

Chapters 8 & 9: The Biological Perspective Flashcards

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1
Q

Neuron

A

a cell of the nervous system that receives and transmits information

also called nerve cell

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2
Q

Hypothalamus

A

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

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3
Q

Hormone

A

a biological chemical that affects parts of the body some distance from where it is produced

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4
Q

Amygdala

A

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

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5
Q

Hippocampus

A

a complex structure deep within the brain, behind the hypothalamus, that plays an important role in memory processes

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6
Q

Cortex

A

outer layers of the brain

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7
Q

Neocortex

A

the outer layer of the cortex of the brain, regarded as uniquely human

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8
Q

Frontal Cortex

A

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

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9
Q

Electroencephalography (EEG)

A

a technique for measuring the brain’s electrical activity by placing electrode sensors on the outside of the skull

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10
Q

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

A

a technique for using delicate magnetic sensors on the outside of the skull to detect brain activity

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11
Q

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

A

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

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12
Q

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

A

a technique for imaging brain activity by using a powerful magnet to help detect blood flow in the brain

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13
Q

Somatic Marker Hypothesis

A

neurologist Antonio Damasio’s idea that the bodily (somatic), emotional component of thought is a necessary part of problem solving and decision making

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14
Q

Corpus Callosum

A

the thick bundle of nerve fibers connecting the right and left halves of the brain

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15
Q

Anterior Cingulate

A

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

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16
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

the chemicals that allow one neuron to affect, or communicate with, another

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17
Q

Synapse

A

the space between two neurons across which impulses are carried by neurotransmitters

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18
Q

Central Nervous System

A

the brain and spinal cord

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19
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

the system of nerves running throughout the body, not including the brain and spinal cord

20
Q

Endorphins

A

the body’s own pain-killing chemicals, which operate by blocking the transmission of pain messages to the brain

21
Q

Serotonin

A

a neurotransmitter within the brain that plays an important role in the regulation of emotion and motivation

22
Q

Gonads

A

the glands, testes in men and ovaries in women, that (among other effects) produce the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen, respectively

23
Q

Adrenal Cortex

A

the outer layer of the adrenal gland, atop the kidneys, that secrete several behaviorally important hormones

24
Q

Epinephrine

A

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

25
Q

Norepinephrine

A

an important neurotransmitter in the brain that is associated with responses to stress

also called noradrenaline

26
Q

Oxytocin

A

a hormone that may have specific effects in women of emotional attachment and calming

27
Q

Testosterone

A

the male sex hormone

28
Q

Estrogen

A

the female sex hormone

29
Q

Cortisol

A

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

30
Q

Personality Trait

A

a pattern of though, emotion, or behavior that is relatively consistent over time and across situations

31
Q

Alleles

A

a particular variant, or form, of a gene

most genes have two or more alleles

32
Q

Epigenetics

A

nongenetic influences on a gene’s expression, such as stress, nutrition, and so forth

33
Q

What is the frontal cortex (frontal lobes)?

A

planning ahead, anticipating consequences, and emotional experience

34
Q

What is the amygdala?

A

involved in emotion

35
Q

What is the hippocampus?

A

involved in memory

36
Q

How is the amygdala involved in personality?

A

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

37
Q

How are the frontal lobes and neocortex involved in personality?

A

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

38
Q

What is Capgras syndrome?

A

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

39
Q

How is the amygdala involved in personality?

A

important for controlling emotional responses and behavior impulses

inhibits the amygdala

possible implications for extraversion and neuroticism

40
Q

What are the difficulties of using imaging techniques?

A

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

41
Q

What is dopamine?

A

involved in responding to rewards and approaching attractive objects and people

related to plasticity: combination of extraversion and openness

42
Q

What is serotonin

A

role in inhibition of behavioral impulses

related to stability: combination of conscientiousness, agreeableness, and emotional stability

43
Q

What are the issues with twin studies?

A

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

44
Q

What is epigenetics?

A

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

45
Q

What is evolutionary personality psychology?

A

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

46
Q

What are the issues of evolutionary psychology?

A

methodology: backward speculation is difficult to test empirically

conservative bias

human flexibility

biological determinism or social structure?

PSYCH 333 (10 decks)

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