Psychology Overview: Mind and Behaviour

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary role of GABA in the central nervous system?

To promote the release of endorphins

To transmit messages between the brain and body

To calm firing of nerves (correct)

To facilitate excitement and euphoria

What function does acetylcholine primarily serve in the nervous system?

Involved in physical coordination

Involved in thought, learning, and memory (correct)

Processing visual information

Transmitting sensory signals to the brain

What is the main function of the spinal cord?

Storing memories from experiences

Transforming sensory signals from the body

Relaying messages between the brain and the body (correct)

Controlling emotional responses

Which neurotransmitter is most commonly associated with cognitive functions?

Glutamate Signup and view all the answers

What type of neurons are responsible for transmitting messages from the body to the central nervous system?

Afferent neurons Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for 'fight or flight' responses?

Sympathetic nervous system Signup and view all the answers

How are endorphins primarily released in the brain?

During exercise and excitement Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the function of efferent neurons?

They transmit messages from the CNS to the body Signup and view all the answers

What does the Black Box Approach in psychology emphasize?

Behavior as a response to environmental stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

Which school of thought is associated with the structures of the mind and introspection?

Structuralism Signup and view all the answers

According to Freud, which two instincts are central to human behavior?

Life and Death Signup and view all the answers

What is the main concept behind Gestalt Psychology?

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes behavior according to the provided content?

Any observable action individuals engage in. Signup and view all the answers

In Psychoanalysis, which structures are proposed by Freud to explain personality?

ID, Ego, and Superego Signup and view all the answers

How do societal norms influence behavior according to the content?

They create expectations that individuals tend to follow. Signup and view all the answers

What process does introspection involve?

Looking inward to reflect on one's own experiences. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the axon during depolarization?

Sodium ions rush into the axon, causing a positive shift. Signup and view all the answers

What role do potassium ions play in the resting state of a neuron?

They help maintain the negative charge inside the neuron. Signup and view all the answers

How does the membrane regain semi-permeability after an action potential?

By pumping sodium ions back outside. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the resting state of a neuron?

There is a balance between positive and negative ion concentrations. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'all-or-none principle' in neural transmission?

The membrane fully depolarizes or does not depolarize at all. Signup and view all the answers

What initiates the depolarization process in a neuron?

An external stimulus that leads to sodium ion influx. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does the disturbance in the adjacent section of the membrane have?

It leads to further depolarization down the axon. Signup and view all the answers

How do neurons communicate with each other?

By forming complex chains through synaptic transmission. Signup and view all the answers

What determines the pitch we hear according to the temporal theory?

The time variation of the sound Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the cochlea is responsible for perceiving high-frequency sounds?

The base of the basilar membrane Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary sensation involved in olfaction?

Smell Signup and view all the answers

What role do endorphins play in pain perception?

They act as natural painkillers Signup and view all the answers

What does visual acuity refer to?

The sharpness of vision Signup and view all the answers

Which wavelengths correspond to the color green?

500 - 570 nanometers Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea behind the Gate Control Theory?

Mental state can influence pain perception Signup and view all the answers

What do pheromones primarily communicate?

Chemical signals Signup and view all the answers

What role does the olfactory bulb play in the sense of smell?

It is where the olfactory nerve synapses. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'higher level of consciousness'?

Controlled processes with focused goals. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the sense of smell is NOT correct?

It is solely dependent on the olfactory cortex. Signup and view all the answers

Which example best illustrates a lower level of consciousness?

Daydreaming during a meeting. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary stimulus for the sense of taste?

Chemicals. Signup and view all the answers

Freud described unconscious thought as primarily consisting of what?

Reservoirs of unacceptable wishes and thoughts. Signup and view all the answers

Why is there limited literature on olfaction?

The sense of smell quickly adapts and changes. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of selective attention?

Ignoring background noise while focusing on a child. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Psychology

Psychology combines the study of the mind and behaviour.
It examines how and what people think.
The field of psychology includes behaviour.
Psychology studies human behaviour and mental processes.

Behaviour

Behaviour is any observable and measurable action.
Behaviour can be voluntary and used to understand mental processes.
Mental processes and behaviour are not always consistent due to societal norms.
Norms are expectations for behaviour within a society.
Different situations have different behavioural expectations.

Schools of Thought

Structuralism focuses on the structures of the mind through introspective analysis of sensations.
Functionalism examines how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environment.
Gestalt Psychology emphasizes that the whole experience is greater than the sum of its parts, meaning is derived from context.
Psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud emphasizes the influence of unconscious drives and instincts on behaviour, particularly the life and death instincts.
Freud's Psychosexual Stages suggest that personality development occurs through stages focused on different erogenous zones.
Freud's Personality Structures consist of the Id, Ego, and Superego, representing the unconscious, preconscious, and conscious parts of the mind, respectively.
- Id: The most primitive part of the mind, driven by immediate gratification and the pleasure principle.
- Ego: The mediator between the Id and Superego, striving for balance and reality-based decisions.
- Superego: The moral conscience, internalizing societal values and rules.

Action Potential & Neural Transmission

Neurons have an inner and outer fluid with different charge distributions, typically with a negative charge inside.
In its resting state, the neuron's membrane is semipermeable, maintaining a balance between positive and negative ions.
When stimulated, the membrane becomes temporarily permeable, allowing positive sodium ions to rush in and depolarize the neuron.
The membrane regains its semipermeability and pumps out sodium ions, restoring polarization.
This depolarization process is repeated along the axon, creating an electrical impulse that travels down the neuron.
Neural transmission follows an "all-or-none" principle, meaning the signal is either fully transmitted or not at all.

Synaptic Transmission

Neurons connect with each other at synapses.
Neurotransmitters like GABA, acetylcholine, glutamate, and endorphins play crucial roles in transmitting signals across synapses.
GABA is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS).
Acetylcholine is essential for thought, learning, and memory processes.
Glutamate is the most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, involved in cognitive functions.
Endorphins are released during exercise or excitement, promoting well-being and euphoria.

Central Nervous System

The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord, managing the functions of the nervous system.
The brain controls the functions of the nervous system.
The spinal cord relays messages between the brain and body, performing some basic information processing.
Reflexes operate through a simple neural pathway involving interneurons in the spinal cord, allowing for quick responses to stimuli.

Peripheral Nervous System

The PNS consists of nerves branching from the CNS to the body.
Afferent neurons transmit messages from the body to the CNS.
Efferent neurons transmit messages from the CNS to the body.

Autonomic Nervous System

The ANS controls involuntary body functions.
Sympathetic Nervous System: prepares the body for stress responses ("fight-or-flight").
Parasympathetic Nervous System: promotes relaxation and balance ("rest-and-digest").

Pitch Perception

Pitch is a subjective quality of a sound based on its frequency.
Temporal Theory: proposes that pitch perception is based on the timing of vibrations in the basilar membrane.
Place Theory: suggests that the specific location of vibration on the basilar membrane determines the pitch.

Olfaction

Olfaction is the sense of smell.
Pheromones are chemical signals used for communication, especially in animals.
Limited research on olfaction in humans is due to their upright posture (reducing exposure to airborne molecules) and susceptibility to nasal conditions.
Smell provides a sense of danger and allows for survival.
Olfactory receptors in the nose send signals through the olfactory nerve to the olfactory bulb.
The olfactory bulb synapses with the olfactory cortex, which is connected to the hippocampus (involved in memory).

Gustation

Gustation is the sense of taste.
Chemicals stimulate taste receptors on the tongue, initiating the sense of taste.
The skin also has receptors for pressure (including pain) and temperature.

Gate Control Theory

This theory proposes that the brain can override pain sensations by modulating the gate controlling pain transmission.
Endorphins act as natural painkillers, reducing pain perception.

Consciousness

Consciousness refers to awareness of external events, internal sensations, the self, and thoughts about experiences.
The content of consciousness is constantly changing, forming a continuous "stream of consciousness."

Levels of Consciousness

Higher Level Consciousness:
- Controlled processes involve focused attention on specific goals.
- Example: writing a paper, preparing a meal, studying for an exam.
Lower Level Consciousness:
- Automatic processes require minimal attention
- Example: tying shoelaces, driving a car.
Daydreaming: Occurs between wakeful consciousness and dreaming, characterized by mind wandering.
Unconscious Thought: According to Freud, thoughts, feelings, and desires that are hidden from awareness but can influence behaviour.

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Description

This quiz explores the fundamental concepts in psychology, including the study of mind and behavior, and various schools of thought. It examines how people think and behave in different societal contexts, as well as the significance of mental processes. Test your knowledge on the major theories and principles that shape the field of psychology.