Psychology Perspective: Individual Differences (week 1) Flashcards
What are inherent characteristics, and how do they differ from acquired characteristics?
Inherent characteristics are traits based on genetic makeup and are not easily changed. Acquired characteristics, on the other hand, result from experiences and may be partly chosen.
List some examples of inherent characteristics.
Age
Sex
Ethnicity
Congenital disability
List some examples of acquired characteristics.
Religion
Migration
Career path
Industry background
Education
Acquired disability
What do twin studies suggest about the heritability of intelligence?
Twin studies suggest that intelligence is inherent (genetic) because identical twins, who share the same genetic makeup, tend to have very similar intelligence levels, whereas non-identical twins, with differing genetics, have less similar intelligence levels.
How can adoption studies help us understand the role of genetics and environment in intelligence?
Adoption studies allow us to examine the impact of changing environments on children’s intelligence. They help determine whether intelligence is more influenced by the socioeconomic status of biological (inherent characteristics) or adopted (acquired characteristics) parents.
What is epigenetics, and how does it relate to behavior
Epigenetics refers to changes in the brain require alterations in the activation of genes.
What is the primary function of a neuron?
The primary function of a neuron is to transmit information from one place to another.
What are dendrites, and what is their role in a neuron?
Signals from sensory receptors and other neurones are received by the dendrites.
This causes a small change in the electrical charge in the neurone.
If there is sufficient change in electrical charge, a pulse of electrical activity is created (action potential).
Where is the nucleus of a neuron located, and what is its role?
The nucleus of a neuron is located in the cell body. It serves as the factory for the neuron, where energy is created and stored, and most of the components of the neuron are manufactured.
What is the role of the axon in a neuron?
The action potential that is created travels along the axon.
The axon is effectively a wire that conducts electrical signals from one place to another.
Form follows function and so the axon can be very short or very long.
What is the purpose of the myelin sheath surrounding axons?
Since the axon is a wire that carries electrical signals, it functions better if it is insulated.
Axons are insulated by cells that wrap a fatty sheath around the axon.
This fatty sheath is called myelin.
Neurones become myelinated from birth to about 20 years old.
How do neurons communicate with each other in a neural pathway?
Neurons communicate by releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters from the axon terminals into the synapse, which is the gap between the axon terminals of one neuron and the dendrites of the next neuron.
Why is the synapse important for neural function?
The synapse is crucial because it facilitates the transition from electrical to chemical activity in neurons. Different neurotransmitters can either increase or decrease the activity in the next neuron, allowing for greater flexibility in neural communication.
How does the number of synapses between two neurons affect their interaction?
The greater the number of synapses between two neurons, the greater the effect one neuron has on the other. Neural pathways with many synapses tend to create habitual behaviors, while those with fewer synapses are harder to activate and more prone to forgetting.
What are the key takeaways about neuroplasticity?
Neuroplasticity involves the creation of new neurons and synapses, which is a lifelong process.
Diverse experiences and aerobic exercise enhance brain plasticity, while anxiety and depression decrease it.
Learning becomes slightly more challenging as adults, but being in a state of flow can boost plasticity.
Believing in a growth mindset enhances the likelihood of learning
