Midterm 1 Flashcards
psychopharmacology
effect of psychoactive drugs
behavioral neuroendocrinology
hormones influence on behavior
psychoimmunology
psychology, nervous system, immune system
cognitive neuroscience
the brain and memory, language, attention, decision-making
behavioral genetics
influence of genes on behavior and mental processes ; twin studies
graded potential vs action potential
graded potential increases probability of action potential, greater the GP is the higher change of AP. AP is constant and cannot get ‘bigger’ in size. GP is in dendrites while AP is in axon. Both use Na+ channels
resting membrane potential, sodium-potassium pump
resting membrane potential is -70mV, when it increases to -55mV after Na+ flows in and cell depolarizes, K+ comes in. Sodium-potassium pump restores balance by diffusing 3 K+ out the cell and 2 Na+ in the cell
ionotropic vs metabotropic receptors
ionotropic: faster response, opens as soon as neurotransmitter binds
metabotropic: slower response, receptor is not on gate and sends cell signal to open gate
AMPA vs NMDA
AMPA: Na+
NMDA: Na+ and Ca++
central dogma
DNA [info storage] transcription mRNA (codons) [info carrier] translation protein [activate cell machinery]
PKU
Phenylketonuria
- Caused by one gene
- Lacks enzyme to convert phenylalanine to tyrosine
- Tyrosine > L Dopa > Dopamine
- builds up without treatment causing severe mental disabilities
- Newborns are tested; those with the disorder are treated with a diet free of phenylalanine and given tyrosine supplements
In what ways is it deterministic? In what ways is it not?
Down Syndrome
- Three copies of genes in chromosome 21
Epigenetics
Study of how experiences and behaviors influence the expression of genes
methyl groups
molecules that tag DNA transcription
Can cause DNA to be wound too tightly, preventing transcription
acetyl group
Can loosen DNA, allowing transcription
Genetic Engineering
Changing the DNA of an organism, creating a genetically modified organism (GMO)
(most plant food we eat comes from GMOs)
CRISPR-CAS9
relatively new method to accurately and easily change or alter DNA
transgenic organisms
have genes inserted, changed, or removed
genetic engineering methods
viral vectors:
a promoter region (drives the expression of genes in neurons) and a gene (new genetic material)
Packaged into a virus and injected into targetted brain regions
common: green fluorescent protein
knockout mice
animal models for research with targetted genes removed or disabled
behavioral genetics
researching genetic influences of behavior
extremely fast-growing field in psych and bio
often use studies of twins
monozygotic vs dizygotic twins
monozygotic (identical): same DNA and same womb
dizygotic (fraternal): share 50% of genes on average and same womb
heritability
- statistic looking at the proportion of variation that is due to genetics or the environment
- often difficult to assess
- Uses twin studies and looks at correlations on physical and behavioral measures
concordances
Look at the probability that related people will develop neuropsychiatric disorders
Eugenics
started with the misrepresentation of the natural selection theory that you can make “better” humans
positive vs negative eugenics
positive: promoting high reproduction rates with humans with “good” genes
negative: promoting the removal of “bad” genes
