Unit 2: Biological Bases Of Behavior Flashcards
What is heritability?
The degree of variance among individuals that can be attributed to genetic variation. Many physical and psychological characteristics are inherited. However genes do not determine everything about us
What is environmentalist?
The degree to which a trait’s expression is caused by the environment in which an organism lives
Nature and nurture is no longer separate, they work together, our psychological makeup is largely the result of the interaction of the two forces
Pituitary gland: hormone
Growth
Prolactin
Oxytocin storage
Various hormones that stimulate other glands
What is the pituitary gland
Master gland forebrain structure elbow the hypothalamus
Pituitary gland: function
Regulates growth, breast milk production, childbirth, bonding, and communicates to other glands to release hormones
Pituitary gland: dysregulation
Extremes in height
What is the pineal gland?
Forebrain structure
Pineal gland: hormones
Melatonin
Pineal gland: function
Regulates seasonal and sleep cycles, melatonin concentrations fluctuate daily with higher levels at night causing drowsiness
Pineal gland: dysregulation
Seasonal affective disorder (sad)
Thyroid and parathyroid gland: hormones
Thyroxin
Calcitonin
Parathyrin
What is Thyroid and parathyroid glands?
Throat
Thyroid and parathyroid glands: functions
Thyroid controls metabolism or that rate at which glucose is converted to energy. Together the parathyroid gland regulate calcium levels in the blood
Thyroid and parathyroid glands: dysregulation
Hypothyroidism (under active gland)
Hyperthyroidism ( overactive gland)
What is adrenal glands?
Above kidney
Adrenal glands: Hormones
Cortisol
Epinephrine( adrenaline)
Norepinephrine (noradrenaline)
Adrenal gland: function
Controlled the sympathetic nervous systems flight or fight reaction which increases heart rate blood pressure and glucose levels to respond to a threat
Adrenal gland: dysregulation
Excessive sympathetic nervous system activity can compromise the immune system
What is pancreas?
Close t the stomach
Pancreas: hormones
Insulin
Glucagon
Pancreas: function
Regulates sugar metabolism
Pancreas: dysregulation
Diabetes
Low blood sugar
What are gonads?
Testes
Ovaries
Gonads: hormones
Androgens, including testosterone estrogen and progesterone
Gonads: function
Allow for sexual reproduction
Gonads: dysregulation
Reproductive difficulties
Higher level of testosterone are correlated with increased aggression
What is the central nervous system?
The bodies master control unit
What is peripheral nervous system
The body’s link to the outside world
What is the spinal cord?
A column of nerves between the brain and peripheral nervous system
What is the three major parts the bran divides into?
Lower part or hindbrain, the midbrain, and the forebrain
What does the autonomic nervous system regulate?
Regulates involuntary bodily processes, including heart rate, respiration, digestion and pupil contraction; operates automatically without conscious discretion
What does the somatic nervous system do?
Carries sensory information from sensory organs to the central nervous system and relays motor commands to muscles; controls voluntary movements
What does the sympathetic nervous system do?
Mobilizes bodily resources in responding to threat by speeding up heart rate and respiration and drawing store energy from bodily reserves
What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?
Replenishes bodily resources by promoting digestion and slowing down other bodily processes