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Psychology > The Biological approach (Module 2) > Flashcards

The Biological approach (Module 2) Flashcards

1
Q

Define biopsychology

A

The study of behaviour and experience in terms of genetics,evolution,physiology especially the physiology of the nervous system. Genes which we inherit affect much of our behaviour.

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2
Q

Who introduced the idea of biology in psychology?

A

Darwin

Ex: survival of the fittest
evolutionary theory

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3
Q

What are 2 ideas that Darwin introduced ?

A

He concluded that not only humans have complex mind functions, but also animals. He also concluded that human evolved from more basic species.

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4
Q

Mention 4 contributions that Darwin had on psychology.

A

1)Psychologists started trying to understand human behaviour from biological perspective: Freud highlighted the theory of sex drive in humans.

2) By studying non-human species, psychologists realized that this research could help shed more light on human behaviour

3) Heredity and behaviour. Psychologists started studying heredity and how it influences human behaviour. This influenced the nature and nurture debate.

4) Genetic differences in a species mean that evolution favours the survival of the fittest. This led to studying individual differences in intelligence and personality. (Darwin influenced evolutionary psychology)

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5
Q

What did Plomin came up with in terms of the biological approach?

A

He identified 3 ways how the genes of an individual influence his or her environment

Active covariation
Passive covariation
Reactive covariation

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6
Q

Explain active covariation

A

Our genetic abilities seek situations which reinforce genetic differences

Ex: children who have a high genetic ability, read more books which improves their intelligence

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7
Q

Explain passive covariation

A

For example: parents of high genetic ability provide more stimulating environment

Ex; these parents introduce reading and writing earlier on

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8
Q

Explain reactive covariation

A

When the genes of an individual influence how he or she is treated by other people.

Ex: adults discuss complex topics with high intelligence children

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9
Q

Therefore what can be concluded regarding active, passive and reactive covariation?

A

That genetic factors impact the environment. And the environment influences back the genetics. There is constantly an interaction between genes and the environment

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10
Q

What is the nature-nurture debate?

A

Are people different due to their genetic makeup? or are they different because of their experiences.

In reality both are important because they contribute to our differences and similarities.

For example individuals with blonde or brunette hair

Individuals who are lazy or smart

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11
Q

What is the best way how to study the nature-nurture debate?

A

Twin studies

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12
Q

Name the 2 types of twins

A

Monozygotic (identical twins) and Dizygotic (fraternal twins)

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13
Q

Name some characteristics of identical twins

A

Conceived from the same egg
share 100% of their genetic makeup

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14
Q

Name some characteristics of fraternal twins

A

Conceived from 2 different eggs
They only share 50% of their genes

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15
Q

What can be concluded about twin research?

A

That if genetic factors contribute to differences in things such as intelligence or aggression it can be understood that identical twins would be more similar regarding these characteristics than fraternal twins

HOWEVER, genetic factors also contribute to individual differences in identical twins,thereofr bot heredity and the nevironment determine certain characteristics.

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16
Q

What are some misunderstandings about twin research?

A

1) That they only give us information about genetic differences ,which is false because they also provide information on environmental influences

2) The impacts of genetics and the environment are separate (FALSE). Research shows that genetics influence the environment

3) The effects of genetic factors on individual differences are fixed and unchaniging.NO. Because they may vary in populations.

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17
Q

Define maturation

A

Aspects of children’s development occurring with little or no influence from learning or experience

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18
Q

Who came up with the maturational theory? + what does it state?

A

Gesell

He concluded that instinctive behaviour and maturation are less important to human species as most of our behaviour is learned, yet genetics do come to play

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19
Q

What is a reflex?

A

Rapid unlearned responses

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20
Q

True or false

Human behaviour is less associated with instinctive behaviour

A

True

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21
Q

What 2 organs is the nervous system made up of?

A

Brain and spinal cord

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22
Q

What is the nervous system made up of?

A

Brain
spinal cord
Nerve cells

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23
Q

What are the cells which support nerve cells?

A

Glia cells

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24
Q

Explain how a message passes along through a nerve cell,mentioning the different structures.

A

Messages move from the brain to the muscles thanks to nerve cells and vice versa

Messages move in the form of an electrical impulse

The message enters through the dendrites, moves to the cell body,and then down into the axons,to move to the next neuron until it reaches its destination.

The axons are covered in a fatty substance called a myelin sheath which helps in the transmission of the electrical impulse

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25
Q

What are the messages that are not passed to the brain called?

A

Reflexes (rapid unlearned responses)

They do not pass to the brain,to enusre that no time is wasted and the action is as fast as possible to conduct a response : ex: when letting go of a hot pan to not burn your hand

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26
Q

What are the 2 types of nervous system?

A

Central and peripheral

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27
Q

What do each systems consist of and mention their functions

A

Central: brain and spinal cord
Passes senosry information from the pns to the brain
Transmits motor information from the brain to the PNS.

Peripheral nervous system: (all the nerve cells which are not found in the CNS
Transmits information between the CNS and the receptors and effectors outisde the CNS

28
Q

How is the peripheral nervous system further divided?

A

Somatic and Autonomic nervous system

29
Q

Mention their functions and give examples

A

Somatic nervous system (concerned with the external environment)

Controls voluntary movement of skeletal muscles that is under your control. (muscles attached to bone)

Ex: walking,talking,running,writing

Autonomic nervous system: (concerned with the internal environment)

Controls involuntary movement of non-skeletal muscles . (muscle action that is not under your control)

Ex: heartbeating,sweating or breathing,reflexes.

30
Q

How is the autonomic nervous system divided?

A

Sympathetic and parasympathetic

31
Q

True or false

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system should try and balance eachother out,this is called homesostasis

A

True

32
Q

What is homeostasis in terms of psychology?

A

A dyanamic balance between the autonomic branches (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems)

33
Q

What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system + give examples?

A

Produces energy and arousal
Makes us active
Responsible for the flight or fight responses

Ex: increases heartrate and stimulates the production of adrenaline

34
Q

What is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system + give examples?

A

Makes us calm
Reduces arousal and saves energy
Responsible for the Rets and digst functions

Ex: Pupils constrict and slow heartbeat. ,increased activity in the stomach

35
Q

Define the “fight or flight response”

A

It is an instinctive physiological response and prepares one to either attack or to run away.

36
Q

What are the 3 types of brain organisations?

A

Forebrain
midbrain
hindbrain

37
Q

What are the components of the forebrain?

A

4 components

cerebrum
limbic system
thalamus
hypothalamus

38
Q

Mention the function of the cerebrum

A

Can also be called the cerebral cortex

Highly folded to increase the surface area for coordination
Major role in learning and cognitive abilities such as learning,thinking,remebering and voluntary actions

39
Q

Mention the function of the limbic system

A

Consists of the amygdala and the hippocamus

Hippocampus:learning and memory
Amygdala: responsible for emtional responses ,learning and memeory: abnormal functioning of the amygdala can be linked with condititons such as depression ,anxiety or autism.

40
Q

Mention the function of the thalamus

A

Conveys information to other areas of the brain and is involved in wakefullness and sleep

41
Q

Mention the function of the hypothalamus

A

Controls autonomic functions such as: body temperature,hunger,thirst and sexual behaviour.
Controls the major release of 8 hormones by the pituitary gland. ex:growth hormone

42
Q

Mention the function of the midbrain

A

The middle part of the brain which is responsible for vision,hearing and control of movement. + also concerned with reticular activiating system which is nvoved in sleep regulation,wakefullnes and arousal

43
Q

Name the 3 main components of the hindbrain

A

The hindbrain is one of the first evolved part of the brain (reptilian brain)

Cerebellum
Pons
Medulla oblongata

44
Q

Name the function of the cerebellum

A

Controls balance and coordination. Skills such as riding a bike or typing are controlled by this part

45
Q

Name the function of the pons

A

Controls consciousness and transmits messages to other parts of the brain

46
Q

Name the function of the medulla oblongata

A

Controls,breathing,digestion and swallowing

Damage to this part can cause death

47
Q

How can the cerebral cortex be divided?

A

The left cerebral hemisphere (controls the right side of the body)
The right cerebral hemisphere (controls the left side of the body)

Imp role in perception,language and memeory thought

48
Q

Define Hemispheric Specialisation/Lateralisation

A

It refers to the fact that the hemispheres differ in functions. One hemisphere is normally responsible for certain processing more than another hemisphere. EDx: the right hemisphere is more dominant in creativity, music and the left hemisphere is much more dominant in maths,logic,lanugae and calculations.

49
Q

What separates the 2 hemispheres from each other?

A

Corpus callosum

This structure allows information to be passed on from one hemisphere to another

50
Q

Mention the 4 lobes of the brain

A

Frontal
Parietal
Temporal
Occiptal

51
Q

Draw the brain showing the 4 lobes

A
52
Q

What is the function of the frontal lobe?

A

Responsible for complex thinking such as:organising,plannning, + voluntary movement.

Brain damage would cause dysexecutive syndrome which involves sevrere damage of complex cognitive functions (planning and organiztion)

53
Q

What is the function of the parietal lobe?

A

Responsible for various senses such as temperature,pain,taste or pressure. (This s called somatosensation) It involves various perceptual processes based on the information received from the skin and the body.

54
Q

What is the function of the temporal lobe?

A

Responsible for hearing processes such as speech and music

55
Q

What is the function of the occipital lobe?

A

Responsible for visual processing

56
Q

What is the evidence regarding that the brain transmits information to each hemispheres of the brain. Ex: right conveys information to the left

A

Split brain patients

57
Q

True or false

Although each lobe has different functions it is important to note that all 4 lobes work in association with each other

A

True

58
Q

Mention 2 techniques how the brain can be studied

A

Spatial resolution and temporal resolution

59
Q

What is the difference between these 2 techniques?

A

Spatial: helps us identify WHERE it happens
Temporal: helps us identify WHEN it happens

60
Q

What does MRI stand for?

A

Magnetic Resonance imaging

61
Q

What does ERP stand for?

A

Event related potential

62
Q

What does PET stand for?

A

Positron emission tomography

63
Q

Mention some characteristics of an MRI

A

High spatial resolution but low temporal resolution

A scanner which shows brain activity and measures the regions where there are a lot of oxygenated blood cells

64
Q

Mention some characteristics of ERP

A

A stimulus is presented several times

electrodes are used to get a brain activityreadings

High temporal resolution but low spatial resolution

65
Q

Mention some characteristics of PET

A

High spatial resolution
Low temporal resolution

Useful to measure how well the treatment is woring and used to detect several conditions like cancers or brains disroders ,or heart disease.

Psychology (11 decks)

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