Plasticity

capacity of the brain to be affected by experience the younger the person, the more plasticity for certain things, there is a prime age of plasticity

Experience expectant plasticity

normal development depends upon "typical experiences" ex. kittens who only saw horizontal lines due to blockage will never see vertical lines, since their neural system didn't develop a certain way

Experience dependent plasticity

development depends upon "special experiences" - some who were exposed to something when they were young may be better at it (skills like musical or golf (Tiger Woods) ability)

Conradt et al (2013)

why do some low SES children thrive and others don't? differential susceptibility hypothesis- studied had different genetics longitudinal study where RSA (respiratory science arrhythmia) at 5 months old high/low RSA told how easily their fight/flight activates measures problem behavior (social/emotional competence) at 17 months they also looked at environmental support, considering it "good", if they have at least 1 consistent, caring adult results: low RSA kids were like dandelions, with acceptable social/emotional wellbeing, and environmental support didn't matter high RSA kids are like orchids, with good environmental support, they tended to have a better social/emotional competence

Heritability

measures how strongly differences within a group of people for a trait are related to differences among their genes

Example of low heritability

Number of arms Americans have- this has a low heritability, as it tends to be more related to environmental experiences

Why are genes important?

It is a relatively recent conclusion in psychology. Behaviorism minimalized genes and empathized reinforcement, and psychoanalysis minimized genes and empathized early childhood experiences but ultimately, everything has a genetic foundation

Why does environment matter?

for any behavior there are multiple genes and environmental factors

multicausality environment

people can end up at the same place from different pathways between environmental and genetic factors

multifinality environment

people can experience similar inputs and end up in different places based on environmental and genetic factors

Epigenetics

means that the environment influences which genes are shown

young brains are _____

undifferentiated; meaning there is a lot of room for them to be shaped by experiences

constrained neural system

a system that cannot change a whole lot

modifiable neural system

can change, but it best changes during certain times

sensitive period

the period of time in which something can develop and change through neural pruning

genome

a complete set of an organism's genes (inherited genetic material)

phenotype

observable expression of the gene (both physically and behaviorally)

parent's genotype and child's genotype

- transmission of genetic info from parent to offspring - children have differences due to random assignment of the parent's chromosomes

child's genotype and child's phenotype

endophenotypes: intermediate phenotypes that mediate the pathways between genes and behavior every cell contains copies of genes from both parents, though only certain cells aren't always "turned on" in every cell

regulator genes

genes which control the turning off/on of genes

Child's environment and child's phenotype

a genotype may develop differently based on environment

Example of child's development & phenotype

phenylketonuria (PKU), a genetic disorder that causes blockage to amino acids which can cause disabilities if it can be identified at birth, infants can be placed on a diet which avoids the effects of PKU

gene- envirionment correlations

how parent's genetic makeup influences the environment parents provide for children - parental interests can impact the environment children are raised in

child's phenotype and child's environment

children play a role in their own behavior as they select their interests and therefor environments that reflect those interests

Child's environment and child's genotype

gene expression can change as environment changes (epigenetics)

methylation

epigenetic mechanism that silences gene expression

Behavior genetics

assume that all behavior traits to some extent are heritable

quantitative genetics research designs

use statistical methods to study "naturally occurring genetic and environmental variation" - family is generally studied, so that correlations between phenotypic traits can be studies

twin-study design

used to study identical twins using the equal environments assumption

equal environments assumption

says identical twins have so much environment in common, therefore behavior and genes can deeply study

adoption study

studies test scores, comparing them to biological and adoptive family members - these studies infer that children resemble their biological relatives more than their adoptive families

molecular genetics research design

examines specific DNA sequences identify how genes and behavior are linked

GAWS

Genome wide association studies; used to link multiple DNA segments to certain traits, and it's found that a combination of genes to get a trait

GCTA

genome-wide complex trait analysis; takes genetic similarities across groups and analyzes small differences within families

Shared homes don't always mean same environment ________

due to family structure, and things like birth order, and life events play roles in this

Neuron

made up of cell body, dendrites, and axons

Dendrites

long, tree-like extensions that receive cell input

Axons

conducts electrical signals away from neurons

Synapses

signal neuron communicaiton

Glial cells

form myelin

Myelin

Increases the speed of transmission

occipital lobe

visual input

temporal lobe

speech/language

parietal lobe

controls spatial awareness

frontal lobe

memory/decision making

association areas

parts between major sensory areas; used to relay information

Hemispheres of the brain communicate through the ______

corpus collosum

Neurogenesis

neurons multiplying through cell division; starts 42 days after conception during this time, neurons are guided through the brain by the glial cells

myelination

the formation of myelin around the axons

synaptogenesis

neurons form synapses with other neurons, very quickly, then the unnecessary connections are pruned