Deck 3: C: Biological Psychology

Question 1

Describe the electrical and chemical communication within and between neurons.

Answer 1

When a neuron is positively stimulated,there is a surge of positive ions into the cell that changes the potential of the neuron (e.g. ,changing from -70 mV to -68 mV).These charges flow down the dendrites and cross the cell body to the axon hillock,where the cell body meets the axon.If enough positively charged ions reach the axon hillock to push its charge past that cell's firing threshold (e.g. ,-55 mV),the neuron will then initiate an action potential,a wave of electrical activity that originates at the base of the axon and rapidly travels down its length.When an action potential occurs,the charge of that part of the axon changes from approximately -70 mV to approximately +35 mV;in other words,the cell changes from being negatively to positively charged.When the action potential reaches the axon terminal,it triggers the release of that cell's neurotransmitters into the synapses,the microscopically small spaces that separate individual nerve cells.The cell that releases these chemicals is known as the presynaptic cell ("before the synapse")whereas the cell that receives this input is known as the postsynaptic cell (or "after the synapse").The dendrites of the postsynaptic cell contain specialized receptors that are designed to hold specific molecules,including neurotransmitters.Then,this process of neural communication will begin again.

Question 2

What are genes? Explain how they influence our physical and psychological traits.

Answer 2

Genes are the basic units of heredity.Genes are responsible for regulating the process of creating the proteins that make up our physical structure and regulate development and physiological processes throughout the lifespan.Some of these physiological processes in turn influence behaviour.