AP Psychology: Unit 1 Summary - Biological Basis of Behavior

Welcome to the unit one summary of AP Psychology with Mr. Sin. This unit explores how biological systems influence our physical and mental actions.

Key Concepts

• Nature vs. Nurture
  • Outdated as "nature or nurture," now considered as "nature and nurture."
  • Nature: Heredity and inherited traits.
  • Nurture: Environmental influences like family, education, and society.
  • Evolutionary Approach: Uses Darwin's theory of evolution, focusing on heredity and natural selection.
  • Epigenetics: Studies how environment influences gene expression without changing DNA.

Nervous System

• Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain and spinal cord; sends orders.
• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Nerves branching from CNS.
  • Afferent neurons: Sensory neurons approaching the brain.
  • Efferent neurons: Motor neurons exiting the brain.
  • Somatic Nervous System: Voluntary movements (senses and skeletal muscle).
  • Autonomic Nervous System: Involuntary actions (heartbeat, breathing).
    • Sympathetic Division: Prepares body for action (fight or flight).
    • Parasympathetic Division: Relaxes body (rest and digest).

Neurons and Neural Communication

• Neuron Types: Glial cells and neurons.
• Reflex Arc: Sensory, motor, and interneurons create rapid responses.
• Neural Transmission:
  • Action Potential: Neuron fires when threshold met.
  • Repolarization and Refractory Period: Neuron returns to resting state.
  • Synapse: Space where neurotransmitters pass signals.
  • Neurotransmitters:
    • Excitatory: Increase likelihood of action potential.
    • Inhibitory: Decrease likelihood of action potential.
• Neurotransmitter Types: Acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, etc.

Brain Structures

• Brain Regions:
  • Hindbrain: Spinal cord, brainstem, medulla, cerebellum.
  • Midbrain: Processes visual and auditory information.
  • Forebrain: Cerebrum, cortex, thalamus.
• Hemispheric Specialization:
  • Left Hemisphere: Language and logic.
  • Right Hemisphere: Spatial and creative tasks.

Consciousness and Sleep

• Circadian Rhythms: Biological clock governing sleep-wake cycles.
• Sleep Stages:
  • Non-REM: Stages 1-3, light to deep sleep.
  • REM: Rapid eye movement, dreaming stage.
• Sleep Disorders: Insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, REM behavior disorders.

Sensation and Perception

• Sensory Systems:
  • Visual: Retina, rods, cones, color theories (Trichromatic, Opponent-Processing).
  • Auditory: Sound waves, cochlea, theories of pitch (Place, Frequency).
  • Chemical: Smell (olfactory), taste (gustatory).
  • Touch and Pain: Mechanoreceptors, thermoreceptors, nociceptors.
  • Balance: Vestibular sense, kinesthesis.

Neuroimaging Techniques

• EEG: Measures electrical signals in the brain, used for sleep and seizures.
• fMRI: Shows brain activity by measuring metabolic functions.

Historical Cases and Studies

• Phineas Gage: Personality changes from brain injury.
• Split-Brain Research: Insights from severed corpus callosum.

This unit is packed with an incredible array of terms and concepts essential for understanding the biological bases of behavior. Make sure to use available resources to reinforce learning and prepare for exams.