psychology AOS#1 Flashcards

1
Q

psychology

A

scientific study of human mental states and behaviour (observable actions)

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2
Q

father of modern psychology

A

wilhelm wundt

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3
Q

brain vs heart debate

A

is the brain or heart responsible for central functions?

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4
Q

central functions

A

thoughts, feelings, emotions

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5
Q

mind body problem

A

are the mind and body seperate entities (dualism) or the same thing (monoism)

dualism: mind and body are seperate because of how seperate their nature is eg. the things they do and the substances they are
monoism: mind and body are the same substance –> mental states ARE physical states

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6
Q

phrenology

A

feeling the bumps and grooves of the skull to determine intelligence, personality etc.
localisation of function originated from phrenology

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7
Q

autopsy

A

examination of the brain after death. helpful in initial studies of the brain

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8
Q

ablation

A

surgical removal of brain tissue
showed how brain worked when damaged and which area was responsible for what.

discovered mind was in brain not in heart

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9
Q

electrical brain stimulation

A

electrically stimulates parts of the brain to stimulate neuron activity. discovered that right hand was controlled by left brain

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10
Q

split brain studies

A

confirmed left and right hemispheres have different functions
conducted by rodger sperry and michael gazzaniga in 1960

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11
Q

neuroimaging techiques

A

a range of techniques used to capture images of the brain structure and functioning
- much less invasive than previous methods

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12
Q

CT scan

A

computerised tomography: structural

the patient ingests dye called contrast and then continuous 2D x-ray images are taken and processed to create a 3D image.

advantages: enables disease and cancer detection and does not need to be used as frequently as other methods
disadvantages: black and white only, can be dangerous if used excessively.

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13
Q

MRI

A

magnetic resonance imaging: structural

uses magnetic and radio fields to take 2D and 3D images of a person’s brain

the magnetic field causes atoms to move and send signals which can be captured as an image

advantages: less harmful than CT and more detailed than a CT scan
disadvantages: cannot be used with pacemakers or internal screws.

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14
Q

fMRI

A

functional magnetic resonance imaging

traces oxygen levels in the brain –> the more active a part is, the more oxygenated it will be

advantages: more detailed than a PET scan, and is the safest, most detailed option we have at the moment

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14
Q

PET

A

positron emission technology

person is injected with radioactive glucose solution which ‘lights up’ active parts of the brain. patients are then asked to perform certain activities in a chamber.

advantages: very useful for tracking brain activity
disadvantages: uses radioactive substances so it can be invasive

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15
Q

structural neuroimaging techniques

A

produces images of brains structure and composition

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16
Q

functional neuroimaging techniques

A

shows how the brain functions to perform specific tasks. can show both brain structure and brain activity.

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17
Q

nervous system

A

network of cells allowing for communicaton around the body

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18
Q

main functions of the nervous system

A

to recieve information
to transmit information
to process information
to formulate and coordinate a response

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19
Q

central nervous system

A

made up of the brain and spinal cord. coordinates information from the PNS and creates a necessary response

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20
Q

brain

A

coordinates thought, behaviour, and nervous system

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21
Q

spinal chord

A

connects the brain to PNS. carries motor information from the brain and sensory information from the body.

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22
Q

peripheral nervous system

A

all nerves outside of the CNS

carries information to and from the CNS

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23
Q

the somatic nervous system

A

sends motor information from CNS to skeletal muscles, and brings sensory information from the body to the CNS.

Formulates voluntary responses.

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24
Q

example of the somatic nervous system

A

it is raining

  1. body registers rain from the external environment
  2. SNS sends sensory information to the CNS
  3. CNS processes this information and coordinates a response
  4. CNS sends motor messages to skeletal muscles telling them to open up the umbrella
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25
Q

the autonomic nervous system

A

connects CNS to non-skeletal muscles, organs, and glands.

—> initiates responses and sends information to the CNS about these.
- -> Mostly involuntary although control can be gained eg slowed breathing

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26
Q

the sympathetic nervous system

A

responsible for activating the body’s visceral muscles organs and glands, during increased activity or threat.
–> could involve increasing or decreasing regular activity

responsible for the flight/fight response

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27
Q

what chemical is responsible for flight/fight response

A

adrenaline aka. epinephrine is released when under threat etc.

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28
Q

the parasympathetic nervous system

A

branch of the ANS that returns and maintains visceral muscles, organs, and glands to optimal and balanced functioning
maintains homeostasis

gently brings body back to normal after heightened arousal of a sympathetic response –> like a parachute

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29
Q

what would the nervous system do if it heard the phone ring unexpectedly?

A
  1. receive information: vibrating air molecules are received by sense receptors
  2. transmit information: information is sent to the brain via the auditory nerve
  3. process information: brain processes auditory information as your phone ringing
  4. coordinate a response: brain sends messages along nerve pathways to activate muscles to pick up the phone and answer it.
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30
Q

neurons

A

nerve cell responsible for transmitting, receiving, and processing information around the brain and nervous systems.
information is sent through neural messages.

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31
Q

electrochemical messages

A

chemicals that contain neural messages are sent between neurons, which is powered by an electrical current generated within a neuron.

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32
Q

neurotransmission

A

electric current (action potential) arrives to the end of the neuron, and chemicals are released

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33
Q

neural reception

A

chemical message is recieved by neuron

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34
Q

neural pathways

A

neurons are organised into pathways which are the basis for all we think, feel, and do

when we learn something, new pathways are formed or old ones strengthened

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35
Q

motor neuron

A

efferent neuron

messages are sent from CNS to muscles, organs, and glands. communicates information about movement

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36
Q

sensory neuron

A

afferent neurons

communicates information about sensations

information is sent from sense organs to CNS
—> sense organs have sensory receptors that convert sensory information into neural messages.

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37
Q

interneurons

A

relates neural messages between motor and sensory neurons. only found in the CNS

38
Q

the synapse

A

area in which neurotransmission occurs between neurons

contains

  1. presynaptic neuron: a neuron that releases messages into the synapse
  2. synaptic gap: space between neurons where message is transmitted
  3. post synaptic neuron: neuron that receives the message from the synapse
39
Q

dendrites

A

bushy branches that receive neurotransmitters during neural communication

40
Q

soma

A

where message is processed and electrical energy is generated

41
Q

axon

A

transmits electrical neural messages toward axon terminals

42
Q

myelin sheath

A

insulates the axon, protecting messages and speeding up electrical impulse

43
Q

axon terminal

A

responsible for the release of neurotransmitters

electric messages reach ‘synaptic buttons’, where neurotransmitters are contained and then released

44
Q

glial cells

A

protects and supports neurons and their functioning

45
Q

functions of glial cells

A
holds neurons in place
provide neurons with nutrients
repair and remove damaged neurons
keeps each neuron separate 
produces myelin which can be absorbed by neurons
aids in neurotransmission
46
Q

hind brain

A

includes medulla, pons, cerebellum

  • -> autonomic breathing
  • -> basic movement
  • -> some fundamental functions
47
Q

midbrain

A

the center part of the brain stem

  • -> process sensory information
  • –> regulates sleep and physiological arousal
  • –> involved in motor movement
48
Q

reticular formation

A

cluster of neurons that connects to parts of the brain and spinal cord.

  • –> located in midbrain
  • –> filters information from the brain - sends info to correct parts of brain
  • –> regulates sleep-wake and consciousness
  • –> regulates physiological arousal and alertness
49
Q

forebrain

A

made of thalamus, hypothalamus, cerebrum

  • –> cognition
  • –> perception
  • –> learning
  • –> memory
50
Q

thalamus

A

Information from all of the senses, (excluding smell), pass through the thalamus

the thalamus filters the most important information and directs it to other parts of the brain

51
Q

cerebral cortex

A

thin outer layer of the cerebrum

  • -> processes complex sensory information
  • -> voluntary movement initiation
  • -> language
  • -> emotional regulation
52
Q

contralateral functions

A

left controls the right, the right controls the left side

53
Q

localisation of functions

A

different brain areas responsible for different behaviours and mental processes

54
Q

left hemisphere

A

verbal and analytical functions

  • -> reading
  • -> writing
  • -> speaking
  • -> step-by-step analysis
55
Q

right hemisphere

A

non verbal functions

  • -> visual awareness for places, faces, and objects
  • -> spatial awareness eg. solving a jigsaw, visualising shapes
  • -> most dominant when appreciating art
56
Q

frontal lobe

A

high order mental processes, emotions, voluntary movement

  • ->logic
  • -> reasoning
  • -> personality
  • -> speech
57
Q

prefrontal cortex

A

part of the frontal lobe
higher-order cognitive processes
–> reasoning, decision making, symbolic thinking

58
Q

premotor cortex

A

plans required sequences for motor movements

–> kicking a ball: planning to see where ball goes

59
Q

primary motor cortex

A

initiates voluntary movements

–> sends motor messages to skeletal muscles - contralateral

60
Q

broca’s area

A

production of speech

–> coordinates mouth, tongue, muscle movement etc.

61
Q

broca’s aphrasia

A

broken speech

  • -> cannot properly express words but knows what they are
  • -> poor or absent grammar
  • -> omission of certain words
  • -> “cup, me” instead of “i want the cup”
62
Q

parietal lobe

A

receiving and processing sensory information and spatial awareness.
–> touch, temperature, pain

63
Q

primary somatosensory cortex

A

receiving and processing sensory information. important for spatial awareness.

64
Q

spatial neglect syndrome

A

caused usually by a stroke in the right parietal lobe

  • -> leads to left visual field neglect
  • -> left side is essentially non-existent
65
Q

occipital lobe

A

visual stimuli

66
Q

primary visual cortex

A

receives sensory information from sensory receptors in the eyes.

67
Q

temporal lobe

A

auditory perception

–> involved in memory, visual perception, and emotions

68
Q

primary auditory cortex

A

perception of sounds

–> different areas are for different sounds

69
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

comprehension of speech

–> interprets sound to give it meaning

70
Q

Wernickes aphasia

A

word salad

  • -> saying many words that don’t make sense
  • -> unable to understand the meaning of words
  • -> able to speak well in long sentences but they don’t make sense
  • -> use of the wrong words or nonsense words
  • -> inability to understand written words.
71
Q

plasticity

A

the ability of the brain to change physically in response to experience and learning

72
Q

developmental plasticity

A

changes due to maturity and ageing

  • -> occurs from foetus to 25 years old
  • -> changes due to learning and memories
73
Q

developmental plasticity during infancy

A
neural connections (synapses) increase 
--> synaptogenesis
74
Q

developmental plasticity during adolesense

A

neural connections are refined and reduced

75
Q

myelinatoin

A

formation of myelin around axons

–> occurs from infancy into early adulthood

76
Q

synaptic pruning

A

elimination of underused synapses - synapses that aren’t used or activated

  • -> makes way for essential connections
  • -> a child’s neural density is almost 2x the amount of adults.
77
Q

frontal lobe development in infancy

A

the last area of the brain to mature

  • -> synaptic density increases from infancy until 10 years old
  • -> size of the frontal lobe develops
  • -> some myelination occurs
78
Q

frontal lobe development in adolescence

A

last area of the brain to develop

  • -> synaptic pruning and myelination
  • -> emotional maturity and rationality develops
79
Q

adaptive plasticity

A

brain adapting to compensate for trauma and injury

  • -> compensates for lost functionality
  • -> restores and enhances neural functioning over time
80
Q

components of developmental plasticity

A
  • -> proliferation: neurons form in infancy
  • -> migration: neurons move from where they are formed to where they will stay
  • -> synaptogenesis: axons grow and form connections to other neurons
  • -> synaptic pruning: underused synapses are cut off and pruned
  • -> myelination: insulation of neurons
81
Q

impact of injury on biological functioning

A

largely related to movement

  • -> loss of movement in different areas of the body
  • -> eg. paralysis: the brain is unable to send adequate messages to the muscles
82
Q

impacts of injury on psychological functioning

A

memory impairments

  • -> can disrupt links and connections
  • -> may have difficulty making sense of information
  • -> difficulty with decision making, planning, mood, emotional regulation
83
Q

impacts of injury on social functioning

A

impact on personality

  • -> can affect relationships with friends or family
  • -> could result in social withdrawl
84
Q

sprouting

A

development of new branches on dendrites and axon terminals

85
Q

rerouting

A

form new connection with another undamaged neuron

86
Q

neurological disorder

A

disease characterised by any damage or malfunctioning of the nervous system
–> changes that impair neural functioning

87
Q

neurodegenerative disorder

A

a progressive loss of neurons in the brain

–> negative change to neural functioning

88
Q

parkinsons disease

A

a neurodegenerative disease of the nervous system involving motor and non-motor symptoms

  • -> caused by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra (located in the mid brain)
  • -> dopamine is responsible for the coordination of smooth voluntary movements
89
Q

symptoms of parkinsons disease

A

symptoms are degenerative

  • -> trembling in hands arms legs etc.
  • -> stiffness of the limbs
  • -> slowness of movement
  • -> impaired balance and coordination, sometimes leading to falls
90
Q

animal studies - levodopa

A

Parkinson’s medication converted to dopamine by neurons

  • -> conducted by Carlsson (1957) on rabbits with medically induced low levels of dopamine
  • -> levodopa helps to restore motor functions of rabbits
91
Q

animal studies - deep brain stimulation

A

an electrical current stimulates a particular region of the brain to increase neural functioning –> very invasive

  • -> electrodes are planted into substantia nigra
  • -> electrodes create electrical impulse
  • -> can cause other issues eg. stroke, depression, anxiety

tested on the brains of dogs

92
Q

functional neural imaging techniques and Parkinsons disease

A

functional techniques

  • -> examines levels of activity in the Basal Ganglia
  • -> low levels of activity due to decreased dopamine
  • -> very important in early detection
93
Q

structual neural imaging techniques and Parkinsons disease

A

degeneration of dopamine neurons causes brain mass to decrease in basal galinga (where substantia nigra is)
–> used to make an informed judgement of Parkinson’s