psych mods 12-15, 24, 25
split brain
a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them
sleep apnea
a disorder in which the person stops breathing for brief periods and they have to wake up (but they don't remember) while asleep
mutations
a random error in gene replication that leads to a change
interaction
the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)
cerebral cortex
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center
corpus callosum
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
dual processing
the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks; unconscious processing is faster than conscious
epigenetics
the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change
evolutionary psychology
the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection
behavior genetics
the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
REM rebound
the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation (created by repeated awakenings during REM sleep)
NREM-1
the transition into sleep, marked by slowed breathing and irregular brain waves; hallucinations, light sleep, alpha waves, muscle twitches
neural activation theory
theory that explains dreaming as time for the brain to make sense of random neural activity
chromosomes
threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes
parietal lobes
top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
natural selection
traits contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on
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
narcolepsy
uncontrollable sleep attacks
wernicke's area
usually in the left temporal lobe; controls language reception - involved in language comprehension and expression
why sleep evolved
1) protects (darkness is dangerous) 2) helps us recuperate (restore & repair brain tissue) 3) makes memories 4) feeds creativity 5) may play a role in the growth process
prefrontal cortex
In the forward part of the frontal lobes enables judgement, planning, and processing of new memories
temporal lobes
above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving the information primarily from the opposite ear
motor cortex
an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls bigger, voluntary movements
somatosensory cortex
area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
broca's area
area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements (tongue, throat) involved in speech (speech production)
association areas
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking; newer discoveries
NREM-2
around 20 minutes; stable transitional stage; harder to awaken; sleep spindles; theta waves
occipital lobe
back of head; receives info from visual fields; where visual cortex is
glial cells
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; garbage collectors
DNA
complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes
right hemisphere
controls the left side of the body; metaphorical meanings, sense of self, visual-spacial tasks, modulating tone, facial recognition
left hemisphere
controls the right side of the body; literal interpretations, speaking, reading, writing, arithmetic, logic
NREM-3
deepest sleep and most hard to wake; gets shorter throughout the night; night terrors; delta waves
cognitive development theory
dream content reflects dreamers' cognitive development- their knowledge and understanding
information processing theory
dreams help us sort out the day's events and consolidate our memories
freud's wish-fulfillment theory (psychodynamic)
dreams provide a "psychic safety valve"—expressing otherwise unacceptable feelings; contain manifest (remembered) content and a deeper layer of latent content—a hidden meaning
to note: environment on personalities
environment shared by a families children has virtually no discernible impact on their personalities
NREM sleep
essential for the body
frontal lobes
just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and making plans and judgements
split brain tests
left side speaks about what is on right side and points to right side with right hand; right side controls left hand to point to what's on the left side
people who are morning lovers
older people; performance decreases as the day goes on
consciousness
our awareness of ourselves and our environment; conscious attention can only be in one place at one time
night terrors
panic and terror but people don't remember them
insomnia
problems falling asleep and/or staying asleep
heritability
proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes; extent to which differences among people are attributable to genes
REM sleep
rapid eye movement sleep, a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur; also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active; top of the wave; not super deep; gets longer throughout the night; nightmares; essential for the mind heart rate rises, rapid and irregular breathing, eyes dart
physiological function theory
regular brain stimulation from REM sleep may help develop and preserve neural pathways
molecular genetics
studies the molecular structure and function of genes
people who are evening energized
teens and young adults; performance improves as the day goes on
neural plasticity
the ability of the brain to change in response to experience
genes
the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein
circadian rhythm
the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24 hour cycle
hollow face illision
the face in a mask looked like it was popping out but the participants were able to accurately brush a fly off
neurogenesis
the formation of new neurons