PSYCHOLOGY UNIT 3 & 4 Flashcards
To Learn ❓
3 Main Roles of the Nervous System
Receives
Processes
Responds
Central Nervous System
- Brain
- Spinal cord (spinal reflex)
Peripheral Nervous System
All nerves besides the brain and spinal cord
- Autonomic and Somatic
Somatic
- Voluntary motor movements (conscious)
- Sensory and motor neurons
Sensory
Afferent, towards CNS
Motor
Efferent, away CNS
Autonomic
- Involuntary (unconscious)
- Controls Visceral muscles
Sympathetic Nervous System
Activated in stress response, responding to threat. Fight / flight
Eg. Heart increases, bladder releases, breathing rate increases, pupils dilate
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Restores homeostasis (balance)
Eg. Digestive continues at normal rate, decreases heart rate
Fight / Flight / Freeze
Response of survival when under threat
Spinal Reflex
Unconscious, immediate response to protect the body from harm
Spinal Reflex 1.
Receptors - cells that detect a stimulus
Spinal Reflex 2.
Sensory neurons - carry stimulus to CNS (afferent)
Spinal Reflex 3.
Interneurons - in spinal cord intercepts the message and initiates a motor response
Spinal Reflex 4.
Motor neurons - carry message to skeletal muscles (efferent)
Spinal Reflex 5.
Response - message received muscles move
Then feel pain
Neurochemicals
- Neurotransmitters
- Neuromodulators
Neutotransmitters
Used from single pre-synaptic neuron to single post synaptic neuron
- GABA + Glutamate
Neuromodulators
Strengthen or alters the effectiveness of neural transmissions by controlling the amount of neurotransmitters produced
Used at more than one post-synaptic neuron
- Dopamine + Serotonin
Excitatory
Increased chance of action potential
Inhibitory
Decreased chance of action potential
Glutamate
Is associated with the learning and naming process as it is excitatory.
Stimulates activities in a neural pathway, and promotes a strengthening of the synapses within it
Memory - neurotransmitter (excitatory)
GABA
Counteracts the excitatory activity of glutamate by slowing down or inhibits neural activity, enabling neural pathways to be balanced
Calming - neurotransmitter (inhibitory)
Dopamine
Pleasure - neuromodulator (excitatory)
- Reward system
- Repetition of certain behaviours (links behaviour with reward)
Seretonin
Low levels of serotonin in the brain increases aggressive and violent behaviours
Mood - neuromodulator (inhibitory)
Chemical Transmission 1.
Electrical impulse reaches axon terminal of the pre-synaptic neuron
Chemical Transmission 2.
Neurochemicals are released from vesicles into synaptic gap
Chemical Transmission 3.
Neurochemicals bind to receptors on the post-synaptic neuron IF the shape is complementary
Chemical Transmission 4.
If neurochemicals are glutamate the post-synaptic neuron is more likely to release an electrical impulse
If neurochemicals are GABA the post-synaptic neuron is less likely to fire
Threshold
Excitatory: Once over the threshold, the post synaptic neuron has reached action potential
Inhibitory: Decreases until resting
Differences between neuromodulators and neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters have an effect on one or two synapses, whilst neuromodulators have an effect on multiple synapses
Similarities between neuromodulators and neurotransmitters
Both most bind to a specific receptor site
Synaptic Plasticity (neural plasticity)
Changes to synapses with an increased or decreased stimulation
Synaptogenesis (Sprouting)
After repeated use (practice) of neurons they develop new branches on dendrites
- More efficient communication
- Bushier dendrites
- Axon terminals grow more appendages
Rerouting
New neural pathways since new synapses form
- Response to damaged neurons
Pruning
Decreased number of synapses to conserve resources for sprouting of other neurons
- Weak stimulation leads to pruning
Long Term Potentiation (LTP)
Permanent strengthening of synaptic connections due to repeated activity, speeds up communication
Strengthening of synapses, more neurotransmitters and receptors are increased.
Repeated use of neural pathways:
- Increase in neurotransmitters
- Increase in receptors
Long Term Depression (LTD)
Weakening of stimulation signals of a synapse, therefore less efficient
- Pre-synaptic neuron reduce in neurotransmitters (glutamate)
- Post-synaptic neuron reduce in receptors
Internal Stressor
Body (within)
Eg. Thoughts, illness
External Stressor
Outside of body (anything environmental)
Eg. assignments
Acute Stress
Is short term and often more intense and immediate responses and isn’t prolonged
Chronic Stress
- Long term
- Ongoing pressure
- Cortisol - a stress hormone
Eustress
A positive perception of a stressor
Distress
A negative perception of a stressor
Role of Cortisol
Increased levels of cortisol can effect the results of changes in your gut microbiota
- Is a stress hormone
- Released by adrenal glands when stressor becomes more chronic
- Immune system is suppressed
Seyles General Adaption Syndrome (GAS)
Resistance to stress:
- Alarm reaction
- Resistance
- Exhaustion
Alarm reaction
Shock and countershock
Shock (Alarm)
- Acute stress response
Parasympathetic Nervous System - Heart rate drops
- Temperature drops
- Breathing rate decreases
Countershock (Alarm)
Sympathetic Fight-flight-freeze
Adrenaline and cortisol initially being released
Muscles tense, heart rate and breathing rate increases
Resistance Stage
- Cortisol levels are at their highest
- Increased energy levels because of the effect of Cortisol
- Immune system functioning impaired
Exhaustion Stage
- Bodies resources are depleted
- No longer manage everyday tasks
- Susceptible to serious illness, chronic diseases
Lazarus + Folkman’s transactional model of stress and coping
Stressor —-> Benign/Irrelevant
|
v
Stressful.
- Primary Appraisal -> unconscious evaluation.
Threat ( Future ).
Harm/Loss (Past)
Challenge ( Eustress ) -> benefit.
Secondary Appraisal -> Conscious decision.
“Are there sufficient recourses to cope?”
YES –> Reappraised as NOT stressful.
NO –> Distress is experienced.
Strategies to cope with stress
Approach and avoidant
Approach
Direct approach
- Directly minimises stressor
Avoidance
Indirect approach
- Minimises the effects/symptoms produced by the stressor
- Stressor always still there
Maladaptive
Makes avoidance worse in the long run
Approach + Avoidant Examples
Exam coming up
Approach: studying for it
Avoidant: procrastination
Context Specific Effectiveness
Appropriate for the unique demands of the stressor
Example:
Studying for exam
Coping Flexibility
Recognising that the coping strategy is no longer effective and change strategies
Example:
Not being able to study right before the exam, taking deep breaths instead
Enteric Nervous System
Controls digestive system
Nerve pathways within the GI (Gastro intestinal) track link to brain
Gut Microbiota
All the living microorganisms that live in the gut
-Healthy balance can maintain your stress
-Stress has a negative impact on your gut microbiota
-Gut microbiota must be well-balanced in order to be considered a healthy gut
Cortisols Impact on Gut
Increased levels of cortisol can effect the results of changes in your gut microbiota
Eg. Altering gut transit time
Gut Brain Axis
Refers to the brain and the gut being connected via several means including the vagus nerve
Bidirectional
Communication can occur in both directions, meaning that the brain and gut can influence each other
Good for gut health :)
Fermented food
- Miso soup
- Kimchi
Microbiota is good gut bacteria
Bad for gut health :(
Antibiotics
Poor food choices like sugar and high fat
Good microbiota health controls some stress hormone levels
Communicates with the brain via. the vagus nerve to control neurotransmitter release in the brain
Gut microbiome
Human digestive-tract associated with microbes 🦠
Behaviourists approaches to learning:
Classical Conditioning and Operant Conditioning
Classical Conditioning (Involuntary)
Is learning where a stimulus does not elicit a response, is repeatedly linked with a stimulus that does automatically get a response
Neutral Stimulus (NS)
Produces no naturally occurring response (restaurant)
= conditioned stimulus
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)
Stimulus that produces a naturally occurring response (disagreement)
Unconditioned Response (UCR)
An unlearned, innate response to an unconditioned stimulus (nerves)
= conditioned response
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
Produces a conditioned response after repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
= neutral stimulus
Conditioned Response (CR)
A response that is produced by the CS after learning has taken place
= unconditioned response
3 Phases of Learning - Classical Conditioning
- Before Conditioning
- Acquisition (During Conditioning)
- After Conditioning
IN Before Conditioning
The NS ___ produced no relevant to response. The UCS ___ produced the UCR ___.
IN Acquisition
The NS ___ paired with the UCS ___ repeatedly, produces the UCR ___.
IN After Conditioning
The NS ___ becomes the CS ___ to produce the CR ___ in the absence of the UCS ___.
Operant Conditioning (voluntary)
Is 100% active
Operant 3-Phase Process (ABC)
Antecedent
Behaviour
Consequence
Antecedent
A stimulus that causes the learner to make a decision about the behaviour
Behaviour
The action of the learner (voluntary)
Consequence
Consequence applied to the learner
- Positive and Negative Reinforcement
- Positive and Negative Punishment
Reinforcement
Strengthen the likelihood of behaviour repetition
Positive - applying something desired to strengthen behaviour repetition
Negative - removing something unpleasant to strengthen repeat of behaviour
Punishment
Decreases the likelihood that behaviour is repeated
Positive - applying something undesirable to reduce behaviour repetition
Negative - taking away something desired to reduce repetition of behaviour
Observational Learning
- Social and cognitive approach to learning
- Active type of learning
- Often occurs with children
- Can be latent. Learning has occurred but not shown (until later)
Social
Observation of other
Cognitive
Thought process
5 stages leaner goes through
A - Attention
R - Retention
R - Reproduction
M - Motivation
R - Reinforcement
Attention
Learner actively watches a model
Retention
Mental representation of behaviour
(step by step in head)
Reproduction
Learner must have the capacity to reproduce behaviour
Example: a 16 month old might have watched a person cook but doesn’t have the capacity to cook
Motivation
Desire to repeat behaviour, dependent on characteristics of model
- Expertise
- Similar to learner
- Same gender
- Attractiveness
Reinforcement
Increases likelihood that learner will repeat behaviour
- Direct Reinforcement (them)
- Vicarious Reinforcement (model)
Memory
Is our brains storage system that recall information and experiences.
Internal record of a prior event
Atkinson - Shiffren’s Multi-store model of memory
Stimuli -> Sensory memory —(Attention)–> Short term memory —(Encoding)–> Long Term Memory
Stimulus
- Vision
- Touch
- Taste
- Smell
- Hearing
- Sense organs to brain, spinal reflex
Sensory Memory
- Entry point for sensory information
- Filters out unnecessary information
- Stores information long enough so that we perceive the world as continuous
> 0.3 seconds (Iconic, light)
3-4 seconds (echoic, sound)
UNLIMITED CAPACITY
Short-Term Memory (STM)
Manipulates information so it remains in conscious awareness; working memory
Duration of 20-30seconds
Capacity 5-9 items (7 average)
Long-Term Memory (LTM)
Stores information through memory for a long time; storage system
Duration is unlimited
Capacity is unlimited
Encoding
Converting information to a useable form so it can be stored
Storage
Retaining information in memory over a period of time
Retrieval
Locating and recovering the stored information from memory when needed so that we can use it
Attention
Paying awareness to stimulus
Duration
Time (how long)
Capacity
Amount
Improving the capacity of STM
Chunking; grouping items together so they are considered as one
Maintenance Rehearsal; repetition
Elaborative Rehearsal
Making ‘meaning’ from the information
Types of long term memory
Explicit memory
Implicit memory
Explicit Memory
Consciously retrieving good and bad memories
Retrieved in response to a specific request or need
Semantic and Episodic
Semantic Memory
Facts
ENCODED BY HIPPOCAMPUS
Example:
Remembering the rules of chess or the fact something is scary
Episodic Memory
Personally relevant events
ENCODED BY HIPPOCAMPUS
Example:
Other experiences of playing chess
Implicit Memory
Does not require conscious retrieval
Not necessarily aware or trying to remember
Procedural and classical conditioned
Procedural Memory
How to do something
Voluntary motor movement, eg kicking a ball
ENCODED BY BASAL GANGLIA
Fine motor movements, eg posture
ENCODED BY CEREBELLUM
Classical Conditioned Memory
Fear or reflexes
Emotional; fear
ENCODED BY AMYGDALA
Reflexive; involuntary eg. blinking
ENCODED BY CEREBELLUM
Hippocampus
Encoding if explicit (STM)
- Aids in improving memories, consolidating more stable
- Acts in coordination with amygdala
Damage = recall of memories, although no new memories are formed
Retrieval of episodic
Amygdala
Encoding if implicit (STM)
- Processing and regulating emotional reactions
- Encoding classically conditioned emotional response
- Activated by adrenaline, is released when threatened or excited
Damage = difficulty processing memory and emotional response
Neocortex
(LTM)
- Processing, storage and retrieval of explicit memories
- Memory disrupted throughout neocortex
- Interacts with hippocampus when retrieving memories spread throughout neocortex
Basal Ganglia
Implicit (STM)
- Encodes motor components of implicit procedural memories
- Includes voluntary motor movements, picking up a pencil
Damage = people with Parkinson’s disease
Cerebellum
Encodes and stores implicit procedural memories
(Fine motor movements)
- And classically conditioned simple reflexes
Overtime some procedural memories are sent to neocortex
Autobiographical Events
Personally lived experiences stored in long term memory
- Activates both semantic and episodic
Retrieval of Autobiography Events
LTM is back to STM (consciously aware)
Example: Memory of a party
Hippocampus (retrieval) Episodic - Conversations at the party, taste of the cake, feeling of being happy
Temporal lobes (retrieval) Semantic - Location of party, what music was played, the flavour of the cake
Constructing Possible Imagined Futures
Hypothetical experiences + possible situations.
Example: planning what to wear tomorrow at a semi-formal party
Episodic - Recalling memory of receiving compliments last time you wore a particular outfit
Semantic - Understanding what semi-formal means, knowing what to wear on a hot day