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lecture 3 Flashcards

PSYC 2130 lecture 3 material

1
Q

What does biology have to do with personality?

A
  • many personality characteristics are genetically determined
  • behavioural tendencies derive from out evolutionary history
  • human behaviour is produced by a complex biological system
    • brain structures, hormones, neurotransmitters
  • anatomy
    • functions of parts of the brain
  • biochemistry
    • effects of neurotransmitters and hormones on brain
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2
Q

What are some cases of brain damage?

A

chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
- observed in athletes in high impact games (memory loss, depression, suicidal tendencies)
- dave dveson is an example of CTE
- committed suicide and requested his brain be studied (had mood swings, and aggression that he had no control over)

treatment
- deep brain stimulation (DBS)
- stimulates structure in brain that reduces obsessions and repettitive behaviours

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3
Q

What are some ways to image brain functions?

A

detects when brain is working
Electroencephalography (EEG)
- electrodes on the scalp picks up electrical signals generated by brain
Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
- detects magnetic indications of brain activity
-

detects what parts of the brain are working

computed tomography (CT) scan
- create representations of very thin slices of brain; exam small structures

positron emission tomography (PET)
- map brain activity based on blood flow

functional magnetic resistance imaging (fMRI)
- map brain activity based on magnetic impulses generated by oxygen in blood

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4
Q

Difficulties with brain imaging techniques

A
  • all parts of brain always active
  • brain activity in response to stimulus does not mean the same psychological process occurs every time it is active
    • same portion may light up while experiencing anxiety, excitement, problem solving
  • neural context effect
    • nearly everything in brain is connected to everything
    • knowledge of functions may not be very informative in absence of information about what other areas are doing
  • technology is very hard and expensive to use
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5
Q

what does the Amygdala do?

A
  • activated by emotionally arousing stimuli
  • role in assessing whether a stimulus is a threat or a reward
    • once assessed, activates relevant emotional centres
    • activates hypothalamus to release cortisol
  • links perceptions and thoughts with emotional meaning
    • anxiety, fear, sociability, sexuality
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6
Q

which side of the brain is associated with positive/negative emotions

A

left of brain
- pleasant emotions
- promotes good feelings/ inhibits bad
- anger

right of brain
- unpleasant emotions
- associated with neuroticsm

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7
Q

Who was Phineas Gage, and what happened to him?

A

he got impaled through the brain/cheek at work with a rod
- stayed conscious

effects
- caused emotional flatness
- frontal lobe was damaged
- basically a lobotomy

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8
Q

what is the insula?

A
  • small region of cerebral cortex
  • mentalizing, empathy
  • larger insula = higher agreeableness
  • conscientiousness, neutralized distractions generated by insula
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9
Q

differences between prefrontal leucotomy, and prefrontal lobotomy

A

Prefrontal lecuotomy
- control pathalogical levels of arousal
- less brain damage

Prefrontal lobotomy
- drastic measures, more brain damage
- replaces with drugs, chemical lobotomy

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10
Q

What is the function of the frontol lobe?

A
  • converging evidence
    • emotional control center and home of personality
    • functions
      • recieves informtion from limbic system and mediating between cognitions and emotions through executive functioning
    • anticipate and plan future
    • organizing and problem solving
    • reasoning, memory
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11
Q

Biologically-based personality theory; name the 3 seperate systems that influence behavioural tendencies

A

Behavioural approach system (BAS), fight-flight-freeze system (FFFS), and Behavioural inhibition system (BIS)

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12
Q

What is Behavioural approach system (BAS)?

A
  • approach
  • high = extraversion
  • regulates approach motivation and goal directed behaviours to attain rewards
  • activities ‘hope’ and ‘happiness’ that encourage approach behaviours
  • characterized by optimism, sensation seeking, and impulsivity
  • high BAS sensitivity = substance use and aggression
  • mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway
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13
Q

What is fight-flight-freeze system (FFFS)?

A
  • avoidance
  • responds to immediate punishment or threats
  • activates panic, fear, rage
    • initiates escape, fight/flight
  • high FFFS sensitivity is associated with phobias and panic disorders
  • hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis
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14
Q

What is Behavioural inhibition system (BIS)?

A
  • cautious approach
    • assess thread and respond accordingly
  • too little = psychopathy
  • responsible for resolving goal conflicts
    • between or within BAS and FFFS
  • conflict detected
    • elicits anxiety to inhibit ongoing behaviours (focus and asses conflict)
  • assessed as strong, produces high anxiety
  • inhibits BAS mediated behaviour, and facilitate FFFS mediated behaviour
  • hippocampus and amygdala
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15
Q

How does chemistry relate with the brain?

A
  • neurons communicate with neurotransmitters
  • hormones stimulate or inhibit neural activity
  • about 60 chemicals transmit information in brain and body
  • people differ in average levels of neurotransmitters and hormones, these differences produce personality differences
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16
Q

What are neurotrasmitters and what do they effect?

A

dopamine
- the nueromodulator of explorations
- unifying theory of role of dopamine in personality
- overarching function exploration
- cognitive exploration
- openness/intellect, impulsivity
- behavioural exploration
- extraversion, reward seeking
- extraversion associate with dopaminergic systems

too much : schizophrenia, stress
too little : depression, parkinsons

17
Q

how does serotonin affect the body?

A
  • modulates all behavioural processes
    • mood, perception, reward, anger, aggression, appetite, memory, sexuality, and attention
  • low serotonin = depression + irritability + aggression
  • high serotonin = constructive social interactions; decrease aggression and increase dominance
    • reduce amygdala activation
  • too high = irritability, restlessness, and anxiety
  • selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)
    • reduces neuroticism (depression and anxiety)
    • makes people less irritable rather than less anxious
    • does not make you happier; make negative emotions less severe
  • affects personality
    • helps organize behavour (coscientiousness)
    • helps people get along with others (agreeableness)
    • helps people avoid mood swings/overreactions (neuroticsm)
18
Q

Should people use medication for enhancement, rather than treatment?

A
  • use of psychoactive medications by normal individuals for enhancement, rather than treatment
  • are ordinary problems inappropriately medicalized?
  • is it appropriate to use drugs to change negative personality?
  • is personality based on chemicals?
19
Q

Hormones that affect behaviour

A
  • epinephrine + norepinephrine
    • released in response to stress to create fight/flight
  • females respond differently to stress
    • tend and befriend
      • calm others down; get people to work together
  • oxytocin
    • promotes nurturant and sociable behaviours, relaxation, and reduction of fear
    • decrease anxiety and increase attachment between mothers and children
    • simple acts of touch release oxytocin
      • hugs, massages, hugs
20
Q

How does testosterone affect behaviour?

A
  • 10x higher concentration in men
  • high levels = aggression, violent behaviour, increased sexual motivation
  • control/inhibits aggression or sexuality
  • fatherhood
    • decreases testosterone and aggression
  • interacts with personality traits, facilitates already inclidned behaviours
  • big five: higher levels of testosterone = low agreeableness
21
Q

what is cortisol and how does it affect behaviour?

A
  • released in response to stress
    • speeds up metabolism
    • preps body for action
  • high levels = stress, anxiety, depression
  • low levels = related to PTSD
    • sensation seeking, impulsivity, not following societal rules, abnormal response to danger
22
Q

Cause and effect; brain and enviornment

A
  • relationship between brain and its environment works in both directions
    • brain → environment
    • environment → brain
  • understanding brain = understanding behaviour
  • mind-body debate
    • are we products of our physical bodies

personality (10 decks)

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