Unit 2 - Extra Terms Flashcards
Cognitive Neuroscience
Interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language)
Dual Processing
Principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious consciousness and unconscious tracks.
Brain Lesion
Destroys brain tissue to study animal behaviors.
Plasticity/Neuroplasticity
Brain’s ability to modify itself after some type of injury or illness.
Left Hemisphere Specialties
Reading, writing, speaking, mathematics, comprehension skills, and language.
Right Hemisphere Specialties
Non-verbal abilities, facial recognition, patterns.
Circadian Rhythm
24-hour cycle of wakefulness and sleep.
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus
Light triggers the suprachiasmatic nucleus to decrease melatonin (hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle) from the pineal gland and increase it at night fall.
Sleep Stages
Every 90 minutes; cycle of four distinct sleep stages (about 4 or 5 times per night). During each cycle each stage of REM becomes longer.
NREM Sleep; Stages 1-3
Hypnagogic state, drifting thoughts, falling sensations; mild hallucinations, light sleep, daydreaming (stages 1-2); sleep spindles/bursts of activity begin during stage 2; sleepwalking and bedwetting during stage 3.
Delta Waves
Large, slow waves of deep sleep
REM Sleep Stage
Paradoxical sleep; muscles are relaxed; body systems such as the brain is active; fast and regular beta waves; much like awake-aroused state; Rapid Eye Movements (REM) and reports vivid dreams.
Sleep deprivation
Can cause a depressed immune system
Freud’s Wish Fulfillment Theory
Dreams provide a psychic safety valve to discharge unacceptable feelings.
Freud’s Manifest v. Latent Content
Manifest - Remembered story line; Latent - underlying meaning
Information Processing Theory
Dreams may help sift, sort, and fix a day’s experiences in our memory.
Cognitive-Development Theory
Reflects dreamers’ cognitive development - their knowledge and understanding (Cognitive Perspective)
Activation-Synthesis Theory
Brain engages in a lot of random neural activity. Dreams make sense of this activity (Neuroscience Perspective)
REM Rebound
When deprived of REM sleep and then allowed to sleep, we show increased REM sleep.
Insomniacs
Have a normal desire for sleep, but is unable to and feels tired during the day; persistent problems in falling or staying asleep.
Narcolepsy
Uncontrollable sleep attacks; linked to low levels of orexin.
Sleep Apnea
Cessation of breathing during sleep; momentary reawakenings
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
Acts out dreams; can be dangerous due to the possibility of injuring the sleeper or the person next to them.
Night Terrors
Intense fear accompanied by physiological reactions; occurs during stage 3
Nightmares
A vivid dream that is frightening; occurs during stage 4 (REM)
Somnambulism
Sleepwalking
Behavior Genetics
The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
Chromosome
Threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes.
DNA
A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.
Gene
The biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins.
Genome
The complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes.
Identical Twins
Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms.
Fraternal Twins
Twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment.
Molecular Genetics
The subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes.
Heritability
The proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studies. Ex.: High heritability > differences among people are due to genes, and the environment had little effect. OR Low heritability > differences among people are mainly due to the environment, and the genes had little effect.
Interaction
The interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity).
Epigenetics
The study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change; the study of how your behavior and environment can affect the way your genes are expressed or function.
Evolutionary Psychology
The study of behavior and mind while using the principles of natural selection and other aspects of evolutionary biology.
Natural Selection
The principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.
Mutation
A random error in gene replication that leads to a change.
Substance Use Disorder
Continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and or physical risk.
Psychoactive Drug
A chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods.
Tolerance
The diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug’s effect.
Withdrawal
The discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior.
Depressants (Alcohol)
Drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.
Alcohol Use Disorder / Alcoholism
Alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdrawal, and a drive to continue problematic use.
Barbiturates (Tranquilizers)
Drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment.
Opiates (Heroin)
Opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety.
Stimulants (Caffeine and Nicotine)
Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, Ecstacy, and methamphetamine) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.
Amphetamines
Drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes.
Methamphetamines
A powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system, with speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes; over time, appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels.
Ecstasy (MDMA)
A synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. Produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short-term health risks and longer-term harm to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition.
Cocaine
A powerful and addictive stimulant, derived from the coca plant, producing temporarily increased alertness and euphoria.
Hallucinogens
Psychedelic (“mind manifesting”) drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.
LSD
A powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid (lysergic acid diethylamide)
THC
The major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations.
GABA
A major inhibitory neurotransmitter; undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia
Glutamate
A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory; oversupply can overstimulate the brain, producing migraines or seizures (which is why some people avoid MSG, monosodium glutamate, in food.)
Pituitary Gland
The endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
Adrenal Glands
A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.
EEG
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
CT Scan
A series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain’s structure; also called CAT scan.
PET Scan
A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.
MRI
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.
fMRI
A technique for revealing blood flow, and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain functions as well as its structure.
Autopsy
A postmortem examination to discover the cause of death or extent of disease.
