PSY 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Reticular Formation, Cerebellum, Midbrain
Document Summary
Behavioral genetics: have 23 chromosomes pairs. 1/2 from mom, 1/2 from dad: chromosomes made of dna, genes are segments of dna. Most are polygenetic: also impacted by environment! Evolutionary psychology: natural selection = survival of the fittest, examples: Women better at language and memory for locating objects. Communication within a neuron: neuron is at resting potential, receives signals from dendrites. Excitatory or inhibitory: triggers neural impulse/action potential/firing. On or off, no in between (either you had an action potential or you didn"t) Intense vs. weak stimuli: # of neurons, how often they fire. Chemical signal to go from 1 neuron to another. 2) travels to axon terminals and bursts synaptic vesicles. 3) neurotransmitters travel across the synapse to the receiving neuron. 4) neurotransmitters attach and send a signal (excitatory or inhibitory) Clean up: 1) enzymes 2) synaptic reuptake. Hormones: work like neurotransmitters, in the bloodstream.
