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