Evolution & Genes in Biological Psychology
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of an agonist in biological psychology?

  • To activate receptors and induce a biological response (correct)
  • To enhance withdrawal symptoms
  • To neutralize the effects of neurotransmitters
  • To block receptors and prevent activation

What phenomenon occurs when an individual requires higher doses of a drug over time to achieve the same effects?

  • Craving
  • Tolerance (correct)
  • Dependence
  • Withdrawal

Which neurotransmitter does nicotine mimic at nicotinic receptors?

  • Acetylcholine (correct)
  • Norepinephrine
  • Dopamine
  • Serotonin

What is the role of endocannabinoids in the body?

<p>To act as agonists of cannabinoid receptors (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which therapy focuses on modifying negative thought patterns and beliefs?

<p>Cognitive behavior therapy (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines withdrawal in relation to drug use?

<p>Physical symptoms experienced after stopping the drug (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What effect do amphetamines have in relation to neurotransmitters?

<p>They induce the release of norepinephrine and dopamine (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an antagonist in terms of drug action?

<p>A molecule that blocks receptor activation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the heritability percentage range for late onset Alzheimer's disease?

<p>58%-79% (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of memory involves retaining information over an extended period of time?

<p>Long-term memory (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of PTSD?

<p>Involuntary distressing memories of traumatic events (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a theory that proposes multiple types of intelligences?

<p>Multiple intelligences theory (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors does NOT directly affect IQ according to the content?

<p>Personal ambition (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a method to measure IQ mentioned in the content?

<p>Cognitive skills assessment (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'range of reaction' refer to in relation to IQ?

<p>Dependence of phenotype on genotype and environment (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the expected distribution pattern of IQ scores?

<p>Normal distribution (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of bias involves favoring information that supports one's existing beliefs?

<p>Confirmation bias (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of narrow artificial intelligence?

<p>Is designed for specific tasks only (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main concept behind Hebb's rule in learning?

<p>Cells that fire together, wire together. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of learning is associated with positive reinforcement to increase behavior?

<p>Operant conditioning (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is identified as a primary reinforcer?

<p>Food (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which drug is noted for having the highest potential for addiction?

<p>Heroine (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the brain's ability to form new neurons?

<p>Neurogenesis (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of classical conditioning, what is the unconditioned stimulus?

<p>Food (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of conditioning explains phobias as learned responses?

<p>Classical conditioning (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of operant conditioning?

<p>Rewarding behavior after a fixed time interval (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of memory involves the recollection of personal experiences?

<p>Episodic memory (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of phobia is illustrated by Watson's experiment with Little Albert?

<p>Fear conditioning (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect contributes to long-term memory formation in the hippocampus?

<p>Semantic encoding (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of learning occurs in institutions and follows a structured curriculum?

<p>Formal learning (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is neuroplasticity?

<p>The brain's capacity to rewire itself in response to experiences (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following drugs could potentially lead to neurotoxic effects?

<p>MDMA (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Genome Editing

The ability of scientists to change an organism's DNA using various techniques.

Agonist

A molecule that binds to and activates a receptor, triggering a biological response. It mimics a natural neurotransmitter.

Endocannabinoids

The neurotransmitter released by the brain that is also mimicked by THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

Craving

The strong craving or urge to consume a specific drug or substance.

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Tolerance

A phenomenon where an individual's response to a drug diminishes over time, requiring higher doses for the same effect.

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Withdrawal

The set of physiological and psychological symptoms experienced when a drug-dependent individual stops using or reduces their dosage.

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Antagonist

A molecule that binds to a receptor but does not activate it. Instead, it blocks other molecules from binding.

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

A type of therapy focusing on identifying and modifying negative thought patterns, beliefs, and behavior.

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Schedules of Reinforcement

The use of a schedule to determine when reinforcement is given, manipulating the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated.

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Classical Conditioning

This learning process involves associating two stimuli together. For example, a bell ringing followed by food.

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Neuroplasticity

The ability of the brain to change its structure and function in response to experience.

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Explicit Memory

A type of long-term memory that involves conscious recollection. It includes semantic and episodic memory.

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Memory

The process of transferring information into the memory system, involving encoding, storage, and retrieval.

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Implicit memory

A type of long-term memory that does not involve conscious recollection. It includes procedural memory.

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Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)

A process by which synapses become stronger through repeated stimulation, leading to improved communication between neurons.

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Operant Conditioning

A type of learning that involves rewards and punishments to influence behavior.

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Autism

Characterised by repetitive behaviors and difficulties with social communication and interaction. This can include savant syndrome in some individuals.

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Fear

A basic intense emotion elicited by a perceived threat, promoting adaptive behaviors like avoiding danger.

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Phobia

A disorder characterized by excessive and irrational fear of a specific object or situation, often with avoidance behavior.

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Neurogenesis

The process of creating new neurons. Particularly important during early development but also occurs in adulthood.

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Biological Preparedness

A theory suggesting that we are predisposed to learn certain associations more easily than others, potentially due to evolutionary reasons.

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Episodic Memory

A type of memory related to the recollection of personal experiences and events.

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Semantic Memory

A type of memory related to general knowledge and facts.

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Alzheimer's Disease

A progressive neurocognitive disorder that begins with mild memory loss and can ultimately lead to the loss of the ability to carry out daily tasks. It progresses over time, affecting various cognitive abilities.

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Sensory Memory

A type of memory that holds sensory information for a very short period (milliseconds to seconds) before it is either transferred to short-term memory or lost.

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Short-Term Memory

A type of memory that holds a limited amount of information for a short period (seconds to minutes). It is also involved in active processing of information.

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Long-Term Memory

A type of memory that stores information for longer periods and is responsible for retrieving past experiences and knowledge. It has a large capacity and can hold information for years.

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Recall

A type of retrieval where you recall information without any cues. This is like answering an open-ended question on a test.

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Recognition

A type of retrieval where you identify information from a set of options. This is like choosing the right answer from multiple-choice questions.

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Relearning

A type of retrieval where you learn something faster the second time you encounter it. It demonstrates that previously learned information influences your current learning.

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Anchoring Bias

A type of bias where people tend to overemphasize the first piece of information they receive and anchor their judgment around it, even if conflicting information is presented later.

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Confirmation Bias

A type of bias where people tend to favor information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs and ignore or downplay contradictory evidence.

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Intelligence

The ability to derive information, learn from experience, adapt to the environment, understand, and utilize thought correctly to solve problems and achieve goals.

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Study Notes

Evolution & Genes in Biological Psychology

  • Humans inherit predispositions to certain traits and disorders.
  • Genes interact with the environment to shape observable characteristics and conditions.
  • A simplified model suggests that adverse experiences (e.g., stressful life events), insecure attachment, and negative experiences can increase risk of depression. Secure attachment may buffer against risk.
  • A complex model posits that the interplay of various factors, including secure/insecure attachment and stressors, impacts mental health outcome.

Clinical Applications: Drugs and Their Effects

  • Genome Editing (Gene Editing): Technologies that allow scientists to alter an organism's DNA.
  • Neurotransmitters and Drugs: Drugs can mimic or influence neurotransmitters.
    • Agonists: Molecules that bind to and activate a receptor, producing a biological response.
      • Examples include endocannabinoids (appetite), THC (cannabinoid receptors), nicotine (mimicking acetylcholine at nicotinic receptors), and amphetamines (norepinephrine and dopamine release).
    • Antagonists: Molecules that bind to a receptor but do not activate it. Instead, they block or inhibit agonists from activating the receptor.
      • Example: Naltrexone (opioid receptor antagonist).
  • Drug Terminology:
    • Craving: Strong desire for a drug/substance.
    • Tolerance: Decreased response to a drug requiring higher doses for the same effect.
    • Withdrawal: Physiological/psychological symptoms upon stopping or reducing drug use.
  • Treatment: Combination of medical interventions and psychotherapy (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy).

Drug Dangers and Considerations

  • Heroin and cocaine are considered highly addictive.
  • The ranking of drug danger is based on expert opinion, which might be improved by incorporating various fields.
  • Cannabis, mushrooms, and LSD can induce psychotic episodes (especially in those with a history of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia).
  • MDMA (ecstasy) has potential neurotoxic effects.
  • Research is incomplete; randomized clinical trials with control and placebo groups are often lacking.
  • Issues exist in drug policy and legalization vs. the "war on drugs", drug scheduling, and physical/social harm.

Learning and Memory

  • Learning is a complex process with roots in neuroplasticity and neurogenesis.
  • Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to change in response to experiences.
  • Hebb's rule: Repeated activation of two neurons creates a stronger connection.
  • Classical conditioning: Learning through associating two stimuli (e.g., Pavlov's dogs).
  • Operant conditioning: Learning from consequences of behaviors (e.g., rewards and punishments - Skinner).
    • Types include fixed-interval, fixed-ratio, variable-interval, and variable-ratio schedules of reinforcement.
  • Social learning: Learning through observation and modeling.

Memory & Disorders

  • Memory-related disorders: Include autism, Alzheimer's disease, and PTSD.
  • Autism: Neurodevelopmental disorder with social communication deficits and repetitive behaviors.
  • Alzheimer's disease: Progressive neurocognitive disorder with memory loss.
    • Heritability is higher for early-onset (over 90%) than late-onset (58% to 79%).
  • PTSD: Condition arising from trauma exposure. Includes intrusive memories, avoidance, and altered emotional responses.
  • Memory processes: Encoding, Storage, and Retrieval. Implicit and Explicit memory are also key concepts.

Cognition and Intelligence

  • Cognitive Science: Interdisciplinary study of the mind and mental processes (combining aspects of cognitive psychology, philosophy of mind).
  • Intelligence: The ability to learn, adapt, understand, and use thought appropriately.
    • Single-factor theories: Intelligence is one general ability.
    • Multiple-factor theories: Intelligence is composed of various abilities.
  • Measuring intelligence: IQ tests (e.g., Wechsler, Stanford-Binet).
    • IQ scores and interpretation: Understand that IQ scores are normally distributed.
  • Heritability vs environment: Importance of looking at the interaction of genes and environmental factors in influencing intelligence outcomes (heredity vs. experience), but the exact balance can be challenging to determine.

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Description

Explore the intricate relationships between genetics, environment, and mental health in this quiz on biological psychology. Understand how genes can influence traits, interactions affecting risks for disorders, and the clinical applications of gene editing and drug effects on neurotransmitters.

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