Neurotransmitters
dendritic branching
the process by which the part of one neuron establishes a connection with other neurons
Maguire et al. (2000)
To find out if the brains of London taxi drivers were altered due to the extensive training they had to accomplish to become taxi drivers.
London cab drivers showed an increase in the posterior of the hippocampus as a result of their day to day lives.
Frontal lobe
located in the front of the cerebral cortex. Functions: planning and decision making.
adrenaline/epinephrine
secreted by the adrenal glands; responsible for arousal and the “fight or flight response
What is a phenotype
the observable characteristics of an organism resulting from the interaction between the organism's genotype and its environment
neural network
sum total of all your brain's neurons, and the connections between them. The stronger the pathway becomes, the more likely this pathway will become activated in the future.
Milner (1966)
To determine the role of the hippocampus on memory. an experimental surgery removed tissue from the medial temporal lobe (including the hippocampus) on both sides of HM’s brain. HM could not acquire new episodic knowledge and he could not acquire new semantic knowledge. This study proves the theory of localization specifically when it comes to the hippocampus.
Occipital lobe
located in the back of the cerebral cortex. Function: visuals.
What is testosterone
Produced by the testes, plays a role in aggressive behavior
epigenetics
the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change
Define Neuroplasticity
the brain's ability to adapt by forming new connections as a result of experience, learning, or following an injury.
Martinez & Kesner (1991)
To determine the role of acetylcholine in memory function. Mice were placed in a maze with food at one end of the arms and after they ran the maze they were injected with different chemicals.
They have found that the scopolamine group took longer and made more mistakes, while the group that was injected with physostigmine learned at a faster rate with few mistakes.
Amygdala
closely associated with fear, emotions, and motivation. An “almond” shape.
What is Oxytocin
Produced by the hypothalamus and secreted by the pituitary gland. Plays a role in social bonding and trust.
Prospective studies
used when a psychologist suspects that a behavior is genetic within a family, the sample is selected and observed before behaviors are observed.
inhibitory neurotransmitters vs excitatory neurotransmitters
Inhibitory: stops the impulse, preventing it from crossing and produces a calming effect on the brain.
Excitatory: allows the impulse to cross the synapse and produce a stimulating effect on the brain.
Cases et al (1995)
To learn if there is a human gene mutation leads to impulsive, aggressive, violent criminal behavior.
They used a transgenic mouse where MAOA was removed. When the 'intruder' was introduced to the control mice, they would just sniff and engage with it. When the 'intruder' was introduced to the transgenic mice, they would adopt a threatening hunched position and engage in aggressive behavior.
The genetic variation led to MAOA deficient mice that exhibited strong aggressive behavior
Temporal lobe
“emotional brain” located in the center of the brains and includes the hypothalamus and the hippocampus.
What is Cortisol
Secreted by adrenal glands; helps control blood sugar levels, regulates metabolism, and reduces inflammation.
localization of function
specialization of particular brain areas for particular functions
Agonists vs antagonists
Agonists: chemical substances that mimic or enhance the effects of a neurotransmitter on the receptor sites of the next cell, increasing or decreasing the activity of that cell.
Antagonists: drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter
Bailey & Pillard (1991)
The aim was to investigate the role genetics may play in sexuality. The researchers recruited monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins as well as adoptive brothers through gay publications. Sexual orientation of relatives was assessed either by asking relatives directly. Researchers also used questionnaires to assess the participants' level of Childhood Gender Nonconformity (CGN)
This evidence shows that the more closely genetically linked a pair is, the more likely they both are to exhibit gay or straight tendencies.
Limbic system
“emotional brain” is located in the center of the brain and includes the hypothalamus and the hippocampus.
What is Glucocorticoids
Stress hormones that help with the metabolism of glucose. Released during stress to assist with the fight or flight response.
Human Genome Project
a worldwide research initiative in which researchers successfully mapped and sequenced the human genome.