Samenvatting psychological science.
Vervolg Hoofdstuk 3: biology and behaviour
3,2; what are the basic brain structures and their functions?
Specific brain areas subcortical structures
Parietal lobes: regions of the cerebral cortex- in front of the occipital lobes and behind
the frontal lobes- important for the sense of touch and for conceptualizing the spatial
layout of an environment
- In each partial lobe, information about touch is directed to the primary
somatosensory cortex.
Temporal lobes: regions of the cerebral cortex- below the parietal lobes and in front
of the occipital lobes- important for hearing, face and object perception and for
memory.
Frontal lobes: regions of the cerebral cortex- at the front of the brain- important for
movement and higher level psychological processes associated with the prefrontal
cortex.
- Primary motor cortex: at the rearmost section of the frontal lobes. Includes neurons
that project directly to the spinal cord to move the body‟s muscles.
- Prefrontal cortex: the frontmost portion of the frontal lobes, especially prominent
in humans; important for attention, decision making, appropriate social
behaviour and personality.
3,3; how does the brain communicate with the body?
Learning objectives:
- Differentiate between the divisions of the nervous system.
- Identify the primary structures of the endocrine system.
- Explain how the nervous system and endocrine system communicate to control
thought, feeling and behaviour.
The peripheral (perifeer) nervous system had 2 primary components:
Somatic nervous system: it transmits sensory signals and motor signals between the
central nervous system and the skin, muscles and joints
Automatic nervous system (ANS): it transmits sensory signals and motor signals
between the central nervous system and the body‟s glands (klieren) and organs.
Automatic nervous system regulates internal environment.
Two types of signals (sympathetic and parasympathetic) travel from the central nervous
system to organs and glands, controlling their activity.
Sympathetic division: a division of the automatic nervous system; it prepares the
body for action.
Parasympathetic division: a division of the automatic nervous system; it returns the
body to its resting state.
Endocrine system: a communication system that uses hormones to influence thoughts,
behaviours and actions.
Hormones: chemical substances, released from endocrine glands, that travel through
the bloodstream to targeted tissues; the tissues are subsequently influenced by the
hormones.
Gonads: the main endocrine glands involved in sexual behaviour; in males the testes, in
females the ovaries.
Gonads produce androgen(testosteron) and estrogen(oestradiol, progestosteron) which
affect sexual behaviour.
Actions of the nervous system and endocrine system are coordinated.
1
, The pituitary gland is the „master gland‟ in de body, it triggers endocrine glands to release
hormones.
The hypothalamus of the nervous system signals the pituitary gland to send signals to other
endocrine glands. This way the 2 systems work together.
Pituitary gland (hypofyse) : a gland located at the base of the hypothalamus; it sends
hormonal signals to other endocrine glands, controlling their release of hormones.
3,4; what is the genetic basis of psychological science?
Learning objectives:
- Explain how genes are transmitted from parents to offspring.
- Discuss the goals and methods of behavioural genetics.
- Explain how both environmental factors and experience influence genetic
expression.
Human behaviour: influenced by genes
Chromosomes: structures within the cell body that are made up of DNA. DNA consists of
genes. (normal humans > each cell contains 23 chromosomes)
Genes: the units of heredity that help determine the characteristics of an organ.
Through genes people inherit the predisposition for both physical attributes and
personality traits from their parents.
The genome provides the option, the environment determines which option is taken.
Heredity involves passing along genes through reproduction;
Genes can be dominant or recessive;
Dominant genes: a gene that is expressed in the offspring whenever it‟s present.
Recessive genes: a gene that is expressed only when it is matched with a similar gene from
the other parent.
Because there are dominant and recessive genes, not all genes are expressed:
Genotype: (genetic code); the genetic constitution of an organism, determined at the moment
of conception never changes.
Fhenotype: observable physical characteristics, which result from both genetic and
environmental influences. is always changing.
Polygenic effect: results of multiple genes; trait is influenced by many genes
Genotypic variation is created by sexual reproduction;
Variations in traits result from combinations in genetic material at conception.
(reproductive cells divide and produce gametes containing each half of every chromosome
pair they combine becoming an zygote this cell grows through cell division first the
chromosomes duplicate, then the cell divides into 2 new cells with identical chromosome
structure. Errors is this process are called mutations
Genes affect behaviour;
Behavioural genetics studies interaction of genes and environment and how they influence
psychological behaviour.
Behavioural genetics methods include twin studies and adoption studies.
Monozygotic twins: also called identical twins; twin siblings that result from 1 zygote
splitting into two and therefore share the same genes
Dizygotic twins: also called fraternal twins; twin siblings that result from two separately
fertilized eggs, and therefore are no more similar then non twin siblings.
Heritability: a statistical estimate of the extent to which variation in a trait within a
population is due to genetic factors.
Social and environmental contexts;
2
, Genetics and environment interact to produce unique behavioural manifestations.
Genetics can be modified;
Altering or changing even one gene can dramatically change behaviour.
3,5; how does the brain change?
Learning objectives:
- Explain how environmental factors and experience influence brain organization.
- Describe sex differences in brain structure and function.
The brain can reorganize itself based on which parts of it are used lightly and which are used
heavily.
Plasticity: a property of the brain that allows it to change as result of experience, drugs or
injury.
Interplay of genes & environment wires the brain;
Plasticity reflects interactive nature of biological and environmental influences.
Cell identity becomes fixed, but foetal cells can be transplanted to take over roles of
dysfunctioning parts of the brain.
Experience fine-tunes neural connections: specific stimulation helps the brain develop.
Culture affects the brain;
Culture determines specific responses of the brain.
The brain rewires itself throughout life;
Plasticity decreases with age, but neural connections are made throughout lifespan.
Learning results in:
*neurogenesis: the production of new neurons. (happens most in hippocampus)
*formation of neural networks that fire together.
Neural networks: affected by the amount of use.
Synaesthesia: is cross-sensory experience.
*useful in research on brain organization and heredity.
Gender difference;
Female and male brain have differences that are reflected in psychological functioning.
The brain can recover from injury;
Recovery and reorganization can occur most easily in the brains of children.
Hoofdstuk 4: sensation and perception
4.1; How do we sense our worlds?
Learning objectives:
Distinguish between sensation and perception
Describe the process of transduction
Distinguish between an absolute threshold and a difference threshold.
Discuss sensory detection theory
Define sensory adaption.
The way we experience the world are divided in 2 phases:
Sensation: The sense organ‟s detection of external stimuli, their responses to the
stimuli, and the transmission of these responses to the brain.
3
Vervolg Hoofdstuk 3: biology and behaviour
3,2; what are the basic brain structures and their functions?
Specific brain areas subcortical structures
Parietal lobes: regions of the cerebral cortex- in front of the occipital lobes and behind
the frontal lobes- important for the sense of touch and for conceptualizing the spatial
layout of an environment
- In each partial lobe, information about touch is directed to the primary
somatosensory cortex.
Temporal lobes: regions of the cerebral cortex- below the parietal lobes and in front
of the occipital lobes- important for hearing, face and object perception and for
memory.
Frontal lobes: regions of the cerebral cortex- at the front of the brain- important for
movement and higher level psychological processes associated with the prefrontal
cortex.
- Primary motor cortex: at the rearmost section of the frontal lobes. Includes neurons
that project directly to the spinal cord to move the body‟s muscles.
- Prefrontal cortex: the frontmost portion of the frontal lobes, especially prominent
in humans; important for attention, decision making, appropriate social
behaviour and personality.
3,3; how does the brain communicate with the body?
Learning objectives:
- Differentiate between the divisions of the nervous system.
- Identify the primary structures of the endocrine system.
- Explain how the nervous system and endocrine system communicate to control
thought, feeling and behaviour.
The peripheral (perifeer) nervous system had 2 primary components:
Somatic nervous system: it transmits sensory signals and motor signals between the
central nervous system and the skin, muscles and joints
Automatic nervous system (ANS): it transmits sensory signals and motor signals
between the central nervous system and the body‟s glands (klieren) and organs.
Automatic nervous system regulates internal environment.
Two types of signals (sympathetic and parasympathetic) travel from the central nervous
system to organs and glands, controlling their activity.
Sympathetic division: a division of the automatic nervous system; it prepares the
body for action.
Parasympathetic division: a division of the automatic nervous system; it returns the
body to its resting state.
Endocrine system: a communication system that uses hormones to influence thoughts,
behaviours and actions.
Hormones: chemical substances, released from endocrine glands, that travel through
the bloodstream to targeted tissues; the tissues are subsequently influenced by the
hormones.
Gonads: the main endocrine glands involved in sexual behaviour; in males the testes, in
females the ovaries.
Gonads produce androgen(testosteron) and estrogen(oestradiol, progestosteron) which
affect sexual behaviour.
Actions of the nervous system and endocrine system are coordinated.
1
, The pituitary gland is the „master gland‟ in de body, it triggers endocrine glands to release
hormones.
The hypothalamus of the nervous system signals the pituitary gland to send signals to other
endocrine glands. This way the 2 systems work together.
Pituitary gland (hypofyse) : a gland located at the base of the hypothalamus; it sends
hormonal signals to other endocrine glands, controlling their release of hormones.
3,4; what is the genetic basis of psychological science?
Learning objectives:
- Explain how genes are transmitted from parents to offspring.
- Discuss the goals and methods of behavioural genetics.
- Explain how both environmental factors and experience influence genetic
expression.
Human behaviour: influenced by genes
Chromosomes: structures within the cell body that are made up of DNA. DNA consists of
genes. (normal humans > each cell contains 23 chromosomes)
Genes: the units of heredity that help determine the characteristics of an organ.
Through genes people inherit the predisposition for both physical attributes and
personality traits from their parents.
The genome provides the option, the environment determines which option is taken.
Heredity involves passing along genes through reproduction;
Genes can be dominant or recessive;
Dominant genes: a gene that is expressed in the offspring whenever it‟s present.
Recessive genes: a gene that is expressed only when it is matched with a similar gene from
the other parent.
Because there are dominant and recessive genes, not all genes are expressed:
Genotype: (genetic code); the genetic constitution of an organism, determined at the moment
of conception never changes.
Fhenotype: observable physical characteristics, which result from both genetic and
environmental influences. is always changing.
Polygenic effect: results of multiple genes; trait is influenced by many genes
Genotypic variation is created by sexual reproduction;
Variations in traits result from combinations in genetic material at conception.
(reproductive cells divide and produce gametes containing each half of every chromosome
pair they combine becoming an zygote this cell grows through cell division first the
chromosomes duplicate, then the cell divides into 2 new cells with identical chromosome
structure. Errors is this process are called mutations
Genes affect behaviour;
Behavioural genetics studies interaction of genes and environment and how they influence
psychological behaviour.
Behavioural genetics methods include twin studies and adoption studies.
Monozygotic twins: also called identical twins; twin siblings that result from 1 zygote
splitting into two and therefore share the same genes
Dizygotic twins: also called fraternal twins; twin siblings that result from two separately
fertilized eggs, and therefore are no more similar then non twin siblings.
Heritability: a statistical estimate of the extent to which variation in a trait within a
population is due to genetic factors.
Social and environmental contexts;
2
, Genetics and environment interact to produce unique behavioural manifestations.
Genetics can be modified;
Altering or changing even one gene can dramatically change behaviour.
3,5; how does the brain change?
Learning objectives:
- Explain how environmental factors and experience influence brain organization.
- Describe sex differences in brain structure and function.
The brain can reorganize itself based on which parts of it are used lightly and which are used
heavily.
Plasticity: a property of the brain that allows it to change as result of experience, drugs or
injury.
Interplay of genes & environment wires the brain;
Plasticity reflects interactive nature of biological and environmental influences.
Cell identity becomes fixed, but foetal cells can be transplanted to take over roles of
dysfunctioning parts of the brain.
Experience fine-tunes neural connections: specific stimulation helps the brain develop.
Culture affects the brain;
Culture determines specific responses of the brain.
The brain rewires itself throughout life;
Plasticity decreases with age, but neural connections are made throughout lifespan.
Learning results in:
*neurogenesis: the production of new neurons. (happens most in hippocampus)
*formation of neural networks that fire together.
Neural networks: affected by the amount of use.
Synaesthesia: is cross-sensory experience.
*useful in research on brain organization and heredity.
Gender difference;
Female and male brain have differences that are reflected in psychological functioning.
The brain can recover from injury;
Recovery and reorganization can occur most easily in the brains of children.
Hoofdstuk 4: sensation and perception
4.1; How do we sense our worlds?
Learning objectives:
Distinguish between sensation and perception
Describe the process of transduction
Distinguish between an absolute threshold and a difference threshold.
Discuss sensory detection theory
Define sensory adaption.
The way we experience the world are divided in 2 phases:
Sensation: The sense organ‟s detection of external stimuli, their responses to the
stimuli, and the transmission of these responses to the brain.
3
