Introduction to Psychology Quiz

Introduction to Psychology

• Structuralism focused on identifying the basic elements of consciousness, using introspection as a method.
• Functionalism explored the functions of mental processes, influenced by Darwin's theory of evolution.
• Five major perspectives in psychology:
  • Neuroscience Perspective: Explores the biological underpinnings of behavior, including brain structure and function, genetics, and the relationship between the brain and body.
  • Psychodynamic Perspective: Emphasizes the role of unconscious forces and early childhood experiences in shaping behavior, a concept introduced by Sigmund Freud.
  • Behavioral Perspective: Focuses on observable behavior, emphasizing how external stimuli shape actions, aiming to predict and control behavior.
  • Cognitive Perspective: Studies mental processes, such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving, considering how information is processed and understood.
  • Humanistic Perspective: Emphasizes free will, personal growth, and experiences like love and grief.

Founding Women in Psychology

• Margaret Floy Washburn: First woman to earn a PhD in psychology, known for her work on animal cognition.
• Mary Whiton Calkins: First female president of the American Psychological Association (APA), who researched memory processes.
• Mamie Phipps Clark: Studied the impact of social and cultural factors on personality, providing evidence to challenge Freud's sexist theories.

Neurotransmitters

• Excitatory Neurotransmitters: Increase the likelihood of a neuron firing.
• Inhibitory Neurotransmitters: Decrease the likelihood of a neuron firing.
• Types of Neurotransmitters:
  • Acetylcholine: Involved in muscle movement and communication.
  • Glutamate: Plays a significant role in memory formation.
  • GABA: The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, regulating behaviors like eating and aggression.
  • Dopamine: Involved in reward, motivation, and motor control.
  • Serotonin: Regulates sleep, eating, mood, and pain. SSRIs work by increasing serotonin activity in the brain.
  • Endorphins: Naturally occurring painkillers produced by the brain.
  • Opiates: Drugs that mimic the effects of endorphins, relieving pain and inducing euphoria.

Brain Imaging Techniques

• Electroencephalogram (EEG): Records electrical activity in the brain, allowing for the visualization of brain activity.
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI): Uses magnetic fields to measure brain activity on a moment-to-moment basis, providing detailed images of brain function.
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): Temporarily disrupts brain activity in specific regions, used to study the function of different brain areas.
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET): Allows for the visualization of brain activity by injecting a radioactive tracer, which is then absorbed by active brain regions.

The Forebrain: Subcortical Structures

• Thalamus: Acts as a relay center, transmitting sensory information to the appropriate parts of the brain.
• Hypothalamus: Regulates vital behaviors like eating, drinking, and temperature control.
• Limbic System: Involved in emotions, motivation, and memory.
  • Amygdala: Primarily processes emotions, especially fear.
  • Hippocampus: Plays a crucial role in memory formation.

The Cerebral Cortex: The "New Brain"

• Responsible for complex cognitive functions like reasoning, language, and decision-making.
• Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex:
  • Frontal Lobe: Controls motor function, executive functions, and decision-making.
  • Parietal Lobe: Processes sensory information, including touch, pain, and temperature, and spatial awareness.
  • Temporal Lobe: Involved in auditory processing, language comprehension, and memory.
  • Occipital Lobe: Responsible for visual processing, interpreting visual stimuli.

Brain Lateralization

• Hemisphere: Two halves of the brain that control the opposite sides of the body.
• Lateralization: Specialization of functions within each hemisphere.
  • Left Hemisphere: Dominant for language, verbal abilities, and analytical thinking.
  • Right Hemisphere: More adept at nonverbal tasks, such as spatial processing, music, and facial recognition.

Central Nervous System

• Brain and Spinal Cord: The core of the nervous system, responsible for processing and transmitting information throughout the body.

Peripheral Nervous System

• Sensory Neurons: Carry information from sensory receptors to the CNS.
• Motor Neurons: Carry information from the CNS to muscles and glands.
• Interneurons: Connect sensory and motor neurons, facilitating communication between them.
• Somatic Nervous System: Controls voluntary movements.
• Autonomic Nervous System: Controls involuntary functions.
  • Sympathetic Nervous System: Prepares the body for "fight-or-flight" responses.
  • Parasympathetic Nervous System: Calms the body and restores homeostasis.

Reflexes

• Sensory Neurons (Afferent): Receive sensory information.
• Motor Neurons (Efferent): Send signals to muscles and glands.
• Interneurons: Connect sensory and motor neurons.
• Reflex: An automatic, involuntary response to stimuli.

Split-Brain Surgery

• Corpus Callosum: Bundle of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres.
• Severing the Corpus Callosum: Results in impaired communication between hemispheres.
• Effects of Split-Brain Surgery:
  • Left hemisphere dominance for language processing.
  • Stimuli presented to the right visual field are processed by the left hemisphere, leading to verbal responses.

The Nature of Dreams

• Manifest Content: The storyline of a dream.
• Latent Content: The underlying meaning of a dream, which is often disguised in a symbolic way.
• Dream Theories:
  • Dreams for Survival Theory: Dreams allow for the processing and consolidation of important information, particularly procedural memories and skills.
  • Activation-Synthesis Theory: Random neural activity during REM sleep is interpreted by the brain to create a dream narrative.

Addiction

• Addiction: A behavior that is out of control, characterized by cravings, compulsive use, and continued use despite negative consequences.
• Dependence: Physical symptoms experienced when a substance or behavior is stopped.
• Four C's of Addiction: Craving, Compulsion, Loss of Control, Use Despite Consequences.
• The Brain and Addiction: Repeated exposure to addictive substances or behaviors can alter brain chemistry, leading to changes in pleasure and pain perception, making it harder to abstain from the addictive behavior.
• Recovery: Abstinence and restoration of brain balance.

Drugs and their Effects

• Stimulants: Increase central nervous system activity, leading to feelings of excitement, alertness, and increased energy. Prolonged exposure can lead to heightened pain sensitivity and reinforce addictive behaviors.
• Addiction to Stimulants: Changes in brain chemistry, resulting in a dopamine deficiency, leading to substance use simply to feel "normal."
• Recovery from Substance Abuse: A period of abstinence (around four weeks) is essential for the brain to restore equilibrium. Withdrawal symptoms like anxiety and insomnia are common during this time.

Modern Challenges and Addiction

• Behavioral Addictions: Activities like food, gambling, or social media engagement can trigger similar brain responses as substance addictions.
• Excessive Dopamine Exposure: Constant access to pleasure-inducing activities in modern life can contribute to addiction issues.
• The Evolution of the Brain: Our brains evolved to seek pleasure in a world of scarcity, but modern life presents new challenges for managing pleasure and preventing excessive consumption.

Test your knowledge on the foundations of psychology, including structuralism and functionalism. Explore the five major perspectives that shape our understanding of the human mind and behavior. Assess your grasp of concepts from neuroscience to humanistic viewpoints in this engaging quiz.