PSYC*3270 Week 1 Flashcards
What does a neuropsychopharmacological research program study?
The effects of drug abuse on learning, memory, anxiety, social interaction, locomotion, development, and neural activity
What are the ABCs of psychology?
- Affect
- Behaviour
- Cognition
What does the neuropsychotechnological research program study?
The effects of sensory overstimulation on attention, learning, memory, social interaction, emotion, drug seeking and neural activity
What do translational research programs in neuroscience involve?
Applying neuroscience principles to promote health
Why are rats good models for studying neurodevelopmental changes?
They have similar neurodevelopmental periods to humans, but they occur over shorter periods of time
Which period of human neurodevelopment involves the refinement of cognitive-dependent circuitry, the onset of sexual maturity, and increased cognitive control capacities?
Adolescence
In terms of adolescent impulsivity and reduced control, which neural structures are said to be the “gas” and which structures are said to be the “breaks” of their behaviour?
- Gas: limbic system
- Breaks: prefrontal cortex
Which period of human neurodevelopment involves synaptic density, ongoing myelination, and declining grey matter?
Adulthood
Does overstimulation increase or decrease locomotor activity?
Increase
Does overstimulation increase or decrease risk-taking behaviour?
Increase
Does overstimulation increase or decrease anxiety-like behaviour?
Increase
Does overstimulation increase or decrease social behaviour?
Decrease
What is mephedrone?
A drug that causes increased release of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine
When given mephedrone, rats in which group (overstimulated or control) showed increased neural activity, and which group showed decreased activity?
- Overstimulated rats: increased activity when given mephedrone
- Control rats: decreased activity when given mephedrone
