Biopsychology
Define biopsychology...
application of biology in order to study the physiological, genetic, and developmental mechanisms of behavior.
What are the two main systems in the overall nervous system?
Peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS)
- PNS: transmits information to and from the central nervous system
- CNS: the brain and spinal cord
Who was Patient H.M.?
His hippocampus was removed and he could no longer form new memories. The star tracing task demonstrated that his procedural memory was still intact, even if he wasn't aware of it.
Stress is...
a psychological and physiological reaction that occurs when perceived demands exceed existing resources to meet those demands.
What is coping?
Coping refers to the processes used to manage demands, stress, and conflict.
What are Broca's area and Wernicke's area?
- Broca's area: articulating spoken words
- Wernicke's area: comprehension of spoken and written language
What are the two subsystems of the peripheral nervous system?
- Autonomic nervous system: regulates activity of the organs, glands, and other physiological processes
- Somatic nervous system: transmits sensory info and controls movement of the skeletal muscles
Brain regions are...
interconnected
What was Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome? What's wrong with it?
GAS is a theory of stress responses with three stages.
1. Alarm
2. Resistance
3. Exhaustion
- exhaustion might not be an accurate description of what is happening, and it generalizes all stress responses
What are the approaches to coping and what are some examples of each?
- Emotion focused: meditation, relaxation strategies
- Problem focused: seeking out help, time management, establishing boundaries
What brain structures aid in memory?
Hippocampus, forebrain, and limbic system.
What are the two subsystems of the central nervous system?
- Brain: interprets and stores info and communicates with muscles, glands, and organs
- Spinal cord: pathway connecting the brain and the peripheral nervous system
Biology and behavior relationship is...
bidirectional
What is the fight-or-flight response?
A set of physiological changes that occur in response to psychological or physical threats.
What psychological factors moderate the strength of our response to stress?
social support, predictability, and control
What is neuroplasticity?
The reorganization of connections in the brain to accommodate for some change in behavior (could also be from injury).
What is the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system?
prepares the body to react and expend energy in times of stress.
....can influence the relationship between biology and behavior?
Individual differences, social relationships, culture, context/ the environment, hormones, genetics
What is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis?
A neural and endocrine circuit that provides communication between the nervous system (the hypothalamus) and the endocrine system (pituitary and adrenal glands).
psychological strategies people use to preserve a sense of nonrandom order when personal control is compromised.
Behavioral genetics is...
the study of how genes and environment influence behavior.
What is the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system?
maintains body functions and conserves resources.
Gene by environment interactions occur when...
the effect of the environment on a person's behavior or health is conditional upon his or her genotype.
What is cortisol?
Whitson & Galinsky (2008) showed...
Individuals who feel a lack of control are more likely to detect patterns in ambiguous images than people who feel a greater sense of control.