WSU Psych 372 Exam 1 questions and answers complete

What is physiology (biological) psychology? The study of behavior has many components: - Neuroanatomy - Neuroendocrine - Neurochemistry - Neuropathology - Neuropharmacology - Neurophysiology What is the difference between monism and dualism? What is the evidence for monism (i.e., how do we know that brain and mind are closely related, if not the same)? Monism is when the brain and mind are one and dualism is when they are separate. We know that the brain and mind are closely related because, when you have have a serious brain injury your thought process and thinking can be non existent. 00:55 01:14 What is the Coolidge Effect, and how did scientists discover that it occurred in both sexes? (i.e., how did they design their experiment to deal with the confounding variable of male sexual fatigue?) The Coolidge effect is male hamsters become fatigued from having sex with the same partner until getting a new partner. In the experiment the the confounding variable was the male sex drive, so in the new experiment they kept the males away at first and observed how excited they were when they were in front of the new partner vs the old partner How do genes yield traits? For example, if two people differ on a particular trait as adults, what are genetic mechanisms that could explain inherited vs. environmental influences on their neuroticism? DNA ~translation~ RNA ~transcription~ Protein ~ trait - If B is risk adverse and E is bold and fearless ( B is higher on neuroticism) - The gene that encodes GABA receptors in the amygdala contributes to neuroticism - This gene is highly expressed in E but less in B - B's amygdalar neurons make some GABA receptors, but E's amygdala neurons make more resulting in lower neural firing in E's amygdala than is B's Describe two mechanisms at the DNA level that can result in increased or decreased gene expression after birth. DNA Methylation: A methyl group is binded to a DNA segment -- resulting in decreased gene expression UNLESS demethylation occurs Histone remodeling: the core around which DNA wraps changes shapes → increase or decrease gene expression (transcription) Can "selective breeding" be used to improve performance on a maze task in rats? Is the performance of "maze-dull" vs. "maze-bright" rats similarly altered: (a) if they are raised by parents who perform differently on this task? (b) if they are raised in an "enriched environment"? YES, breeding maze bright rats together result in a lot less errors than the offspring of the maze dull rats. If they are raise by parents who perform differently it doesn't seem to make much of a difference. but if they are raised in enriched environments the maze dull rats do so much better. While when the maze bright rats are raised in impoverished environments there is not much of a change. What is the genetic basis of PKU (phenylketonuria)? How can environmental (dietary) adjustment compensate for this gene abnormality? PKU is recessive, it is a mutation of the phenylalanine on chromosome 12. When people have PKU they are put on a phenylalanine restricted diet, so decrease the level of phenylalanine in the blood Why were heritability estimates from early twin studies misleading (i.e., why did early twin studies overestimate trait heritability)? How can epigenetic studies of monozygotic twins be used to help us better understand how the environment influences traits/disease as we age? - The first big twin study was the Minnesota Twin study, but they overestimated traits, they didnt use a very diverse population of their twins came for very nice and maintained homes with good support so they all had the same environment. - While when we see epigenetic studies of monozygotic twin we can see that they are only really identical at birth then after that their experiences change a lot of their genes -In epigenetic studies they actually can take tissue and look to see if there is any evidence of histone remodeling Describe the basic divisions of the nervous system (what they're called, where they're located, what they do). Central Nervous System: the brain and the spinal cord peripheral Nervous System: Everything else. Includes Somatic NS (voluntary muscle movement) and Autonomic NS (Involuntary muscles ex. heart) Describe the functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, including some physiological effects of SNS activation (and what types of events activate it). Sympathetic NS is the fight or flight (energy expanding) Parasympathetic NS is the rest and digest (energy conserving) The SNS is indicative of psychological arousal so your digestive system slows, constrict blood vessels, pupil dilation, goose bumps, sweating. All kinds of events can activate this: real danger or test, or public speaking How well protected is the CNS compared to the PNS (describe protective mechanisms)? Can your CNS and PNS neurons repair themselves if they are damaged? If so, how? The CNS is very well protected. First of all it has structural protection with the Skull and CSF. As well as the Blood-Brain Barrier, which prevents large harmful molecules getting into the blood vessels of the brain. In the PNS Schwann cells help regenerate the damaged neurons very quickly, but on the other hand in the CNS the if you damage a part of your brain you are unlikely to recover that area The BBB surrounds most of the blood vessels in the brain and instead having loosely packed junctions like in the PNS the junctions are tightly packed so no large harmful molecules get into the brain. Is made of endothelial cells and astrocytes The BBB surrounds most of the blood vessels in the brain and instead having loosely packed junctions like in the PNS the junctions are tightly packed so no large harmful molecules get into the brain.