Psyc 100 exam 2 learning objectives

What is a behavior description? Give an example.

"You left wet towels on the bathroom floor again." This focuses the discussion on small, correctable problems rather than broad accusations or long-standing habits. Keep your description precise and concrete-"towels" and "wet," rather than "mess."

What is sexual orientation? What percentage of the population identify as LGB? What variables are linked with variation in sexual orientation?

7.8% of men and 6.8% of women in the U.S. identify as something other than heterosexual.

What is an action potential? How does an electric signal travel through a neuron? Describe generally how ions entering and exiting the cell change the electrical charge of the cell and cause an electrical current. How do the different ion channels make this current?

An action potential is when a neuron sends information down an axon. Stimulus opens Sodium channels and rush into cell with concentration gradient until it reaches threshold, then all of sodium channels open, creating a high positive charge inside the cell. Potassium rushes out (as sodium channels close) of the nerve quickly to balance the charge and return it to a negative charge

What is a "normal" or healthy sex drive? Why might people think their sex drive is not normal?

Any sex drive is normal, people think that their sex drive is not normal because of the availability heuristic.

Why are depressants called depressants? What do they depress? What are some examples of depressants? How does alcohol work in the synapse? What neurotransmitters does it affect and how does it affect them?

Depressants decrease CNS arousal and excitability levels, give a feeling of sedation, bind to GABA receptors, block AMPA receptors, cause impaired judgement coordination loss, amnesia some examples are: alcohol, benzos, barbituates, ketamine affects GABA recpetors by binding to them, alcohol prevents cell excitement

What does it mean when a neuron reaches its threshold?

It has reached the level of excitement required to trigger an action potential (-55mV)

How does what we smell influence what we taste?

People who can't smell also can't tasts

What is social support? What is perceived support? What is received support? How are perceived and received support different? Why is it important to have a social network? How many people can you really know? What is the evidence that having perceived support, received support, and a social network are important to your health?

Perceived Support: when things go wrong, you know you have friends/family members that are there to help you. Received support: actual receipt of support or helping behaviors from others

What are some of the key ways in which our personal experience is influenced by our expectations? Proximity Similarity Good continuation Closure

Proximity: things closer together are seen as belonging together Similarity: tendency to see groups that have the same characteristics = belong together Good continuation: preferance for continuos figures Closure: tendency to close simple figures

What is validation? Why is it important? Give an example.

This is not the same as agreement. You're just acknowledging that your partner has a right to his or her opinions, and that you are paying attention

What is a reflex arc and how does it allow the body to respond to important sensory input without the delay of having the brain process it and coordinate a response?

a reflex arc is sensory information processed at spinal cord resulting in action without involvement of brain

What are the 7 basic universal emotions that Paul Ekman identified through cross-cultural research? How did he conduct that research?

anger, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, surprise, contempt. He conducted this research by going to other countries

What does it mean that dreams were "epiphenomena"

attempt to make sense of random neural firing while body restores during sleep.

What are cannabinoids? What are some examples of cannabinoids? How does marijuana work in the synapse? What neurotransmitters does it affect and how does it affect them?

binds to cannabinoid brain receptors, immediate and long term effects, used medically, examples include: weed synapse effect: THC mimics an andamide and binds to cannabinoid receptors. Popamine is allowed to squirt into synapse

Is casual sex unhealthy? What variable affects whether casual sex is good or bad for someone's well-being?

casual sex is not unhealthy

What makes an emotion basic?

expressed the same way and understood by people all over the world

What are opioids/narcotics? What are some examples of opioids/narcotics? How does heroin work in the synapse? What neurotransmitters does it affect and how does it affect them?

highly addictive, strong pleasure response, strong withdrawl effect, long term damage to stress-response and emotion-regulation systems. examples include: opium, heroin, meth

What is Negative Affect Reciprocity (NAR)? Why is it bad for relationships?

the exchange of bad feeling between arguing partners. In unhappy couples, NAR is frequent: scorn, sarcasm, and impatience color many or most of their interactions.

How does your brain use sensory input from two eyes (binocular cues) to perceive depth in even greater detail using binocular disparity?

the two eyes both combine their seperate pictures to form a better picture

What happened to rats deprived of ability to dream?

they could not perform life-saving tasks

Why do we sleep?

to replenish our resources

What does it mean to be self-aware?

to understand that you exist as a separate entity from the rest of the world

How does alcohol consumption influence sleep?

used to treat insomnia -helps to fall asleep, not to stay asleep, fragments 2nd part of REM sleep which can hurt learning and memory, drinking causes bathroom breaks during sleep, best to avoid alc 2-3 hours before bedtime

Why are hallucinogens called hallucinogens? What are some examples of depressants? How does LSD work in the synapse? What neurotransmitter does it affect and how does it affect it?

visual, auditory hallucinations, euphoric and dissociative sensations, primarily affect serotonin neurotransmitters, some are addictive and some are not. examples include: LSD, MDMA, PCP, ketamine, mushrooms

What does "gestalt" mean?

when parts identified individually have different characteristics to the whole (Gestalt means "organised whole") e.g. describing a tree - it's parts are trunk, branches, leaves, perhaps blossoms or fruit But when you look at an entire tree, you are not conscious of the parts, you are aware of the overall object - the tree. Parts are of secondary importance even though they can be clearly seen.

Why are stimulants called stimulants? What do they stimulate? What are some examples of stimulants? How does cocaine work in the synapse? What neurotransmitter does it affect and how does it affect it?

increase CNS activity, prevent certain chemicals from being absorbed so you only get dopamine, norepinephrin, and seratonin, used to increase alertness and productivity or induce a euphoric state, can cause anxiety, highly addictive examples are cocaime, amphetamine, meth, MDMA/ecstasy, PCP, caffeine, nicotine

Describe the two component processes of sexual selection.

intrasexual competition and intersexual selection

What is the electrical charge of a resting potential? How do ions create this charge?

ions...about -70mv due to Na/K pump and K+ leaky channelThe inside of the cell is negative compared to the outside (more Na outside of the neuron and more K inside of the neuron)

How do the eyes of nocturnal animals allow them to see in very low light?

larger pupils

How might another emotion (e.g., jealousy, embarassement) be different than a basic emotion? Why would a species need to have a theory of mind in order to experience these emotions?

might be different because there is no one unique facial expression for jealousy

How is monophasic sleep different from polyphasic sleep?

monophastic = continuos 8 hours of sleep poly-phastic = sleep intervals

Describe the difference between survival (natural) selection and sexual selection

natural selection: all about survival. sexual selection is all about reproduction

Do we live in a "hookup culture"? Why do people think that we do?

no we dont, ppl think we all do it

What is the Need to Belong? Is it really a need? What kind of relationships provide belonging? What is the evidence that humans naturally want belonging? What happens if you don't have enough belonging?

people have a basic psychological need to feel closely connected to others, and that caring, affectionate bonds from close relationships are a major part of human behavior. people throughout the world are born with the ability and motivation to form close relationships, and this universal tendency is adaptive. Children who form close emotional attachments to their parents are less likely to wander off, get picked off by a predator, or fall victim to some other natural danger. Thus, relationships protect us from harm when we are young and vulnerable.

What is a circadian rhythm?

physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle, responding to light and darkness

What is the difference between self-awareness and theory of mind?

self-awareness is realizing that you are not the only person in the world and theory of mind is being able to relate to other people and how they are thinking

What does it mean to say you have a theory of mind?

the ability to attribute mental states to others

What is reuptake?

the absorption by a presynaptic nerve ending of a neurotransmitter that it has secreted.

What is proprioception? How it is distinct from your other senses (especially touch)?

-a human sense that comes from our nervous system. it is like learning any new motor skill

How does your eye allow you to focus on objects at different distances?

-eyelids that close during sleep -transluscent membrane so they can see while it is over the eye

How is an eagle's eye capable of such incredible visual sensation?

-eyelids that close during sleep -transluscent membrane so they can see while it is over the eye -sharper vision (4x) than humans

What are some of the ways we tend to detect the figure as separate from the ground? Area Symmetry

-the smaller of 2 overlapping figures is perceived as figure while the larger is reguarded as ground

How does the nose detect smell?

1. sniff molecules in the air through nose 2. olfactory epifilium -olfactory receptor cells: special neurons that sense smells 3. Bind and send signals through olfactory tract up to brain

What are some myths and misconceptions about sexual orientation?

1.) Homosexuality is contagious through social contact. 2.) You can "pray the gay away." 3.) Most crossdressers are gay men. 4.) Lesbians have a lot less sex than everyone else. 5.) Bisexuals are just gays who haven't come out yet. 6.) Being bisexual means you're equally attracted to men and women. 7.) Anal sex is the most common sexual behavior among gay men. 8.) All lesbians do is "scissor." 9.) In same-sex couples, one partner is always the "husband" and the other is the "wife." 10.) Same-sex parents aren't as good as different-sex parents.

What happens in each of the stages of sleep?

1: drowsiness - eyes begin to close, drowsiness, on-set of sleep, usually 5-10 minutes 2: light sleep - muscles tense and relax, preparing to enter deep sleep, beginning of the sleep cycle, accounts for 45-60% of a good sleeper's night 3&4: deep or 'delta' sleep - stage 4 is more intense, between 10-30 minutes, renew&rest body better than any other stage 5: REM Sleep - dreams occur, twitching eyes, increased heart rate, erratic breathing patterns, muscles tense and contract, 10 minutes, a form of paralysis takes over your body (so you don't act out what you are dreaming)

How do each of the monocular cues help us perceive our three-dimensional world with the sensory input of only one eye? Accommodation Familiar size Interposition Linear perspective Motion parallax Relative height Shadow Texture gradient

Accommodation: muscles adjust the lens to focus Familiar size: an object's smaller size on your retina when it is farther away Interposition: overlap makes objects look at different depths Linear perspective: parallel lines coming together to make it look more realistic Motion parallax: depth cue that results from our motion Relative height: distance goes higher in a landscape painting Shadow: objects that do not let much light pass through Texture gradient: related in a sense to relative size but a depth cue

How does a signal get from one neuron to the next?

Action potentials, brief electrical impulses, are conveyed down the length of the axon. They cannot however cross the synpase to the next neuron, so their 'message' is sent by neurotransmitter. The neurotransmitter molecules are stored in vesicles at the presynaptic terminal; the bulbus end of the neuron, ready for use. When it reaches the end of the neuron, the action potential stimulates the release of neurotransmitter molecules into the synapse; the space between the two neurons. Once released into the synapse, the neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the opposite neuron, causing either excitation or inhibition.

What does each of the following structures do to support the function of a neuron? Be sure that you are prepared to draw a neuron, label its structures and describe their purpose. Axon Axon Hillock Dendrites Schwann Cells Soma Synapse Terminal Terminal Buttons

Axon- the long threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells· Axon Hillock- The axon hillock is a specialized part of the cell body of a neuron that connects to the axon and is the last site in the soma where membrane potentials propagated from synaptic †inputs are summated before being transmitted to the axon.· Dendrites- a short branched extension of a nerve cell, along which impulses received from other cells at synapses are transmitted to the cell body· Schwann Cells- the principle glia of the peripheral nervous system.They help to signal travel more efficiently and amplify it. These form the myelin sheath.· Soma- The cell body of the neuron that contains the neurons organelles and nucleus. The dendrites branch off of the soma. It contains the genetic instructions for the function of the cell. · Synapse- a junction between two nerve cells, consisting of a minute gap across which impulses pass by diffusion of a neurotransmitter· Terminal-the somewhat enlarged, often club-shaped endings by which axons make synaptic contacts with other nerve cells or with effector cells (muscle or gland cells). Axon terminals contain neurotransmitters of various kinds, sometimes more than one. They transmit the signal from the axon to the dendrites of the next nerve cell. Terminal Buttons- Tiny bulblike structures at the end of the terminal, which contain neurotransmitters that carry the neuron's message into the synapse.

How is the brain organized in three general layers? Within those layers, what is the location and function of the following structures? Be prepared to label a blank diagram. Hindbrain Brain stem Thalamus Cerebellum Midbrain (contains the limbic system) Hypothalamus Amygdala Hippocampus Forebrain (referred to in the video as the cerebrum) Corpus collosum Somatosensory cortex Lobes of the Cerebrum Frontal lobes Parietal lobes Temporal lobes Occipital lobes

Function: Hindbrain Brain stem: connects to spinal cord, controls survival (heart rate, breathing, digesting, sleeping) Thalamus: located at the top of the brain stem: sorts, processes, directs signals from spinal cord and mid-brain structures up to the cerebrum Cerebellum: coordination, 2 mounds of folded tissue at the top of the brain stem Midbrain (contains the limbic system) Hypothalamus: located at base of brain, hormonal system, regulates temp, bp, weight, and appetite Amygdala: center of limbic emotional brain, size of an almond, alert to sex, anger, and fear, larger in males Hippocampus: located deep with in brain, transfers new memories into LTM Forebrain (referred to in the video as the cerebrum) Corpus collosum: Somatosensory cortex: Lobes of the Cerebrum Frontal lobes: most recently evolved part, organizes responses to complex problems, plans steps, searches memory, adapts strategies, guides behavior Parietal lobes: receives and processes sensory information from the body including calculating location and speed of objects Temporal lobes: controls memory storage are, emotion, hearing, language (on left side) Occipital lobes: processes visual data and routes it to other parts of the brain for identification and storage

What happened to Phineas Gage and why was his case important in the discovery that function is localized?

Gage got a rod stuck in his head.

What is MRI? How does it create an image of the brain? How are researchers using it to study the brain?

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), also known as nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, is a technique for creating detailed images of the human body. The technique uses a very powerful magnet to align the nuclei of atoms inside the body, and a variable magnetic field that causes the atoms to resonate, a phenomenon called nuclear magnetic resonance. The nuclei produce their own rotating magnetic fields that a scanner detects and uses to create an image. MRI is used to diagnose a variety of disorders, such as strokes, tumors, aneurysms, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis and eye or inner ear problems, according to the Mayo Clinic. It is also widely used in research to measure brain structure and function, among other things.

What happens when we process stimuli in a bottom-up fashion?

No previous cognition. Processing sensory information as it is coming in

What do rods and cones do on the retina?

Rods allow seeing light vs. dark and cones allow seeing coloe

What is the difference between sensing and perceiving?

Sensation: when a stimulus is detected by receptors in your body Perception: when brain receives the sensory input coming in from your body, organizes it, and interprets it

State the six general characteristics that, according to sociobiological theory, a female would seek in a marriage partner.

These include selecting a mate who (1) is able to invest re-sources in her and her children, (2) is willing to in-vest resources in her and her children, (3) is able to physically protect her and her children, (4) is will-ing to physically protect her and her children, (5) will show good parenting skills,and (6) will be suf-ficiently compatible in goals and values to enable strategic alignment without inflicting too many costs on her and her children (Buss, 1994).

What are vesicles and what do they contain?

They release nuerotransmitters from the presynaptic cell towards the synaptic cleft.

What is the synapse?

a junction between two nerve cells, consisting of a minute gap across which impulses pass by diffusion of a neurotransmitter.

What is the location and function of each of the following parts in your eye? Aqueous humor Ciliary muscle Cones Cornea Fovea Iris Lens Optic nerve Optic disk (also called optic nerve head) Pupil Retina Rods Vitreous body

What is the location and function of each of the following parts in your eye? Aqueous humor: the clear fluid filling the space in the front of the eyeball between the lens and the cornea. Ciliary muscle: small muscles that make the lense thicker for nearby objects and thinner for objects in the distance Cones: Cones are responsible for sharp, detailed central vision and color vision and are clustered mainly in the macula Cornea: where light enters; serves as a protective covering for the front of the eye and also helps focus light on the retina at the back of the eye Fovea: a small depression in the retina of the eye where visual acuity is highest. The center of the field of vision is focused in this region, where retinal cones are particularly concentrated. Iris: the circular, colored area of the eye that surrounds the pupil—controls the amount of light that enters the eye Lens: focuses light onto the retina Optic nerve: each of the second pair of cranial nerves, transmitting impulses to the brain from the retina at the back of the eye. Optic disk (also called optic nerve head): the raised disk on the retina at the point of entry of the optic nerve, lacking visual receptors and so creating a blind spot. Pupil: black dot in the middle of the eye; dilates and constricts the amount of light coming in Retina: contains the cells that sense light (photoreceptors) Rods: responsible for night and peripheral (side) vision. Rods are more numerous than cones and much more sensitive to light, but they do not register color or contribute to detailed central vision as the cones do. Rods are grouped mainly in the peripheral areas of the retina. Vitreous body: clear gel that fills the space between the lens and the retina

What is the location and function of each of the following parts of your ear? Outer ear Pinna Auditory canal Tympanic membran Middle ear Malleus Incus Stapes Inner Ear Cochlea Semicircular canals

What is the location and function of each of the following parts of your ear? Outer ear: Pinna: the externally visible cartilaginous structure of the external ear: The part of the ear that you see, also know as the pinna. Funnel shaped, made of skin and cartilage. -conducting airborne vibrations to the tympanic membrane or eardrum. Auditory canal Tympanic membrane Middle ear: Found in the tympanic bulla. A hollow chamber that connects to the pharynx by the eustacian tube. contains the bones of the ear. Malleus: hammer; first of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear. One end is attached to the tympanic membrane; the other is connected to the Incus. Incus: anvil; middle of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear --passes vibrations from the malleus to the stapes --between the malleus and the stapes Stapes: --transmits sound from the incus to the cochlea,( transmitting vibrations to fluid in the inner ear) --the innermost bone in the ossicular chain. One end is attached to the incus; the other end, or footplate, occupies the oval window Inner Ear: Made of two parts. Cochlear part-hearing. Vestibular part-balance. Cochlea: Snail like structure filled with fluid. Its walls have structures projecting outward called Organs of Corti which have cilia on them. Semicircular canals: (Three loops). Have fluid in them with tiny crystals (otoiths). Hair cells also line them. When the head moves, crystals float and contact hair cells.

What is an XYZ statement? Give an example.

You can combine behavior descriptions with I-statements by making XYZ statements: "When you do X in situation Y, I feel Z": "When you mention my diet in front of my friends, I feel self-conscious." "When you leave wet towels on the floor for me to find, I feel taken advantage of." "When I ask you for help but instead you tell me what I did wrong, I feel scolded, not helped."

Similarity Do opposites attract? What kinds of similarities cause attraction? What is the evidence that people are attracted to others who look like them? Describe the study that shows this. What are two different explanations for why couples who have been married for a long time tend to be similar?

similarity is a huge predictor of attraction. race, religion, economic status, education level

What is a stimulus?

sound, light, smell, touch or taste

What is the relationship between people's beliefs about stress and the effect that stress actually has?

stress is only harmful if you believe that it is harmful