unit 0-1 Flashcards
- experimentally destroys brain tissue to study behaviors after such destruction
- usually done for scientific or medicinal purposes
brain lesion
an amplified recording of the electrical waves sweeping across the brain’s surface, measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
electroencephalogram
uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of brain tissue
MRI scan
measures brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow. the patient interacts with information during the scan to show that activity
fMRI scan
a process that’s used to observe metabolic processes in the body and brain. patient ingests a radioactive form of glucose, then scan takes pictures of it being used in the body/brain
PET scan
combines a series of x-ray images to allow taken rom different angles, that create cross-sectional images of the body (bone) and brain
CAT scan
a set of brain structures located on both sides of the thalamus, immediately beneath the temporal lobe, that controls emotion, behavior, motivation, learning, and memory
limbic system
the user most layer of the cerebrum and the most prominent part of the brain
cerebral cortex
made up of gray matter that covers the inner white matter of the cerebrum
cerebral cortex
responsible for most of the sophisticated information processing of the brain
cerebral cortex
judgment, planning, producing speech sounds, emotions, personality, temperament, movement, works with the motor cortex to make precise movements
frontal lobe / prefrontal cortex
- located at the back of the frontal lobe, largely responsible for voluntary movement of parts of the body
- if parts are stimulated, corresponding parts of the body will move
- movements that are precise or delicate are controlled by considerably larger portions of this
motor cortex
body position, spatial reasoning (touch, pressure, temperature, pain), somatosensory cortex
parietal lobe
- located at the front of the parietal lobe, largely responsible for perceiving touch and pressure on parts of the body
- if a part is stimulated, it would cause the person to “feel” pressure on the corresponding part of the body
- the more sensitive the area, the more surface area is dedicated to it
sensory cortex
hearing, storing long term memories, speech and language, understanding
temporal lobe
all aspects of vision, each piece of visual cortex corresponds to a particular place on the retina… receiving only information from that place… the pieces are later put together to form the whole
occipital lobe
in left temporal lobe, responsible. for language comprehension and expression
wernicke’s area
in left frontal lobe, responsible for directing motor movement involved in speech
broca’s area
left hemisphere
speech, grammar rules, reading, writing, arithmetic, verbal memory, language sounds, words, letters
right hemisphere
geometry, sense of direction, distance, mental rotation of shapes, emotional tone of speech, nonverbal memory, non language sounds, music, geometric patterns, faces, emotional expressions
the brain’s ability to continuously change throughout ones life due to it’s use
brain plasticity / neuroplasticity
- the study of how psychological traits and behaviors have evolved overt time to enhance survival and reproductive success
- seeks to understand universal human behaviors and mental processes through the lens of evolutionary principles
evolutionary perspective
- the process by which organisms with traits that are better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on those advantageous traits to future generations
- it explains how psychological traits and behaviors have evolved over time in response to environmental pressures
natural selection
- the inherent biological and genetic factors that influence an individual’s psychological development, traits, behaviors, and cognitive abilities
- traits inherited from parents, how our brain is structured, our natural temperament, how smart we are, our chances of having certain mental health conditions, basic instincts we’re born with, genetic disorders that affect our behavior or thinking
nature “genes”
- the environmental influences and experiences that shape an individual’s psychological development, behaviors, and cognitive process
- early childhood experiences, parenting styles and methods, social relationships, surrounding culture, educational opportunities and experiences, socioeconomic status and access to resources, exposure to media and technology, life events and significant experiences
nature “environment”
examines similarities and differences between identical and fraternal twin to assess the relative influence of genetics and environment on traits and behaviors
twin studies
investigates similarities between adopted children and their biological and adoptive families to assess the impact of genetic versus environment on various traits and behaviors
adoption studies
analyzes similarities and differences among family members, including parents and siblings, to understand the interplay of genetics and environment in shaping traits and behaviors within family unit
family studies
- the transmission of genetic information from biological parents to offspring
- helps us figure out how much of our traits come from our genes and how much comes from our environment
heredity
the inherited likelihood of developing specific traits or conditions due to genetic factors from biological parents
genetic predisposition
- the belief in improving genetic quality of a human population by controlling reproduction to increase desirable traits and decrease undesirable ones
- this concept has historically been associated with discriminatory practices, including forced sterilization and selective breeding, based on flawed ideas of racial superiority and genetic determinism
eugenics
Which of the following research designs would be most effective in disentangling the effects of nature and nurture in the development of intelligence?
a. case studies
b. surveys
c. twin studies
d. experimental designs
c. twin studies
Which of the following scenarios is an application of the evolutionary perspective to understanding human behavior?
a. analyzing how fear responses may have offered survival advantages
b. observing the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive functions
c. studying the impact of reward systems on student performance
d. all of the above
a. analyzing how fear responses may have offered survival advantages
Anna and Beth are identical twins who were separated at birth and raised in very different environments. Anna grew up in a suburban, middle-class family, while Beth was raised in a rural, low-income area. Despite these differences, both excel in athletics and have similar temperaments. This scenario best demonstrates the influence of:
a. nurture
b. nature
c. adoption studies
d. family studies
b. nature
In a study of siblings, one sibling develops a mental health disorder while the other does not, despite similar upbringings. This differential susceptibility is most likely due to:
a. family studies
b. natural selection
c. nurture
d. genetic predisposition
d. genetic predisposition
Considering the evolutionary perspective, which trait would most likely have been favored by natural selection in early human societies?
a. aggression, as it increases chances of survival and resource acquisition
b. passivity, as it promotes group harmony
c. dependence on others, as it could lead to neglect
d. inability to feel pain as it could lead to severe injuries
a. aggression, as it increases chances of survival and resource acquisition
- the outer layer of the brain, responsible for higher-level cognitive functions, including thinking, perceiving, and decision-making
- highly folded to increase its surface area, allowing for complex neural processing and integration of information
cerebral cortex
refer to the four main regions or sections into which the cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the brain, is divided
lobes of the brain