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Summary Psychology 2e - PSY 155
Chapter 3 fully covered
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Chapter 3: Biopsychology-Evolutionary Psychology: focuses on universal patterns that evolved over millions of years,
focusing mostly on what makes us so much alike as humans.
-Behavioral genetics: focuses on how individual differences arise, in the present, through the
interaction of genes & the environment, exploring the genetic and environmental roots of human
differences.
Genetics Variation
-Chromosomes: long strips of genetic material known as DNA.
-Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA): complex molecule containing genetic information that makes up
the chromosomes
-Genes: the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes (segments of DNA) In
each chromosome, sequences of DNA make up genes that control or partially control a number
of visible characteristics (e.g., eye color, hair color, height, etc.) A single gene may have multiple
variations.
-Allele: is a specific version of a gene.
-Mutation: is a sudden, permanent change in a gene.
-E.g., a gene may code for the trait of hair color & different alleles of that gene affect which hair
color an individual has.
-Egg & sperm each contain 23 chromosomes
-Sickle-cell anemia: Genetic condition in which red blood cells, which are normally round, take
on crescent shape.
Changed shape affects how the cells function-can lead to clogged blood vessels, blocked blood.
Flow, high fever, severe pain, swelling & tissue damage.
Relatively common in people of African descent.
Carriers of the gene: have one copy but not full blown sickle-cell anemia.
- Genotype: refers to an individual's genetic makeup.
- Phenotype: is the observable expression of the genotype, influenced by the environment.
-Homozygous: two copies of the same allele.
-Heterozygous: combination of alleles for a given gene.
Genetic environmental correlation: our genes influence our environment & our environment
influences the expression of our genes.
-Epigenetics: studies how the same genotype can be expressed in different ways.
-Genes affect more than our physical characteristics, also links have been found to personality
traits, sexual orientation, spirituality, depression, & schizophrenia.
, -Range of reaction: asserts that our genes set the boundaries within which we can operate, and
our environment interacts with the genes to determine where in that range we will fall. For
example, if an individual’s genetic makeup predisposes them to high levels of intellectual
potential and they are reared in a rich, stimulating environment, then they will be more likely to
achieve full potential than if they were raised under conditions of significant deprivation.
Cells of the Nervous System
-Learning how the cells & organs function helps us understand the biological basis behind
human behavior.
Nervous system has two basic cell types;
-Glial: support neurons, transport nutrients & waste, & mediate immune responses.
-Neurons: interconnected information processors that are essential for all of the tasks of the
nervous system. Also have different parts; each with a function
-Soma: cell body
-Dendrites: branching extensions that serve as input sites when signals are received from other -
neurons. Signals are transmitted electrically across soma and down axon which ends at terminal
buttons.
-Synaptic vesicles house neurotransmitters: chemical messengers of the nervous system.
-Myelin sheath: coats axon & acts as insulator, increasing speed at which signal travels.
-Synapse: very small space (less than one millionth of an inch) between two neurons where
communication between neurons occurs.
-Reuptake: The process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed into the presynaptic neuron
after transmitting a signal.
-Action potential: (electrical signal) moves down axon to terminal buttons.
Neurotransmitters & Drugs
Several different types of neurotransmitters are released by different neurons; much of what we
know about functions of neurotransmitters comes from research on the effects of drugs in
psychological disorders.
Psychotropic medications: drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter
balance.
Biological perspective: focuses on physiological causes of behavior, asserts that psychological
disorders like depression & schizophrenia are associated with imbalances in one or more
neurotransmitter systems.
Neurotransmitter
1. Dopamine
2. Gamma-aminobutyric acid
(GABA)
3. Norepinephrine
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