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Introduction to Psychology: FULL Book Summary

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Complete and comprehensive summary of Psychological Science (6th ED) covering all chapters that were exam material. Note: specifically for International/National 1st year Psychology Students (Bachelor) studying at the VU University Amsterdam. Therefore, not the entire book is summarized.

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  • Only the parts that were explicitly stated to be exam material in the syllabus.
  • June 30, 2020
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  • 2019/2020
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Introduction to Psychology
Psychological Science
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Semester 1, Period 1
Chapter 3 (p. 69-101)
Neural networks: develop through genetic influence, maturation, experience and
repeated firing
Somatosensory nerves: nerves that provide information from the skin and muscles
Motor neurons: direct muscles to contract or relax
Action potential: the electrical signal that passes along the axon and subsequently
causes the release of chemicals from the terminal buttons
 Resting membrane potential: the electrical charge of a neuron when it’s not
active
 There are more potassium than sodium ions inside the neuron

Nodes of Ranvier: small gaps of exposed axon, between segments of myelin sheath,
where action potentials take place
All-or-none principle: the principle that when a neuron fires, it fires with the same
potency each time; a neuron either fires or not – it cannot partially fire, although
firing frequency can vary

The binding of a neurotransmitter with a receptor can cause ion channels to open or
close more tightly, producing an excitatory or inhibitory signal in the postsynaptic
neuron
 Reuptake: process whereby a neurotransmitter is taken back into the
presynaptic terminal buttons, thereby stopping its activity
 Enzyme deactivation: occurs when an enzyme destroys the neurotransmitter
in the synapse
 Autoreception: neurotransmitters binding with receptors on the presynaptic
neuron

The effects of a neurotransmitter are not a property of the chemical, but rather a
function of the receptor to which it binds

Agonists: drugs and toxins that enhance the actions of neurotransmitters
Antagonists: inhibit the actions of neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitter Psychological functions
Acetylcholine Motor control over muscles, learning,
memory, sleep
Norepinephrine Arousal, attention, vigilance
Serotonin Emotional state, impulsiveness
Dopamine Reward, motivation, motor control over
voluntary movement
GABA Inhibition of action potentials, anxiety
reduction
Glutamate Enhancement of action potentials,
learning and memory
Endorphins Pain reduction, reward


1

,Broca’s Area: small portion of the left frontal region of the brain crucial for the
production of language
Wernickes area:

Psychophysiological assessment: examination of how bodily functions change in
association with behaviors or mental states
 EEG: measures electrical activity in the brain > imprecise to inspect specific
responses to particular stimuli
 ERP: provides information about the speed at which the brain processes
events but not about where in the brain these processes take place

Brain imaging methods
 Positron emission tomography (PET): assesses metabolic activity by using a
radioactive substance injected into the bloodstream
 Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): uses a powerful magnetic field to produce
high-quality images of the brain > detection of brain damage and tumors
 Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI): used to examine changes in
the activity of the working brain by measuring changes in the blood’s oxygen
levels
 Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): use of strong magnets to briefly
interrupt normal brain activity as a way to study brain regions




Brain stem: houses structures that control functions associated with survival, such
as heart rate, breathing, swallowing, vomiting, orgasm
Reticular formation: projects up into the cerebral cortex and affects general
alertness and sleep
Cerebellum: large protuberance at the back of the brain stem important for motor
learning and motor memory




2

, Subcortical regions – some of which belong to the limbic system
 Brain structures in this system are especially important for controlling
appetitive behavior and emotions
 Thalamus: gateway to the brain which receives incoming sensory information
before it reaches the cortex
 Hypothalamus: regulation of bodily functions; temperature, blood pressure,
glucose and basic motivation
 Hippocampus: associated with formation of memories
 Amygdala: serves a vital role in learning to associate things with emotional
responses and in processing emotional information
 Basal ganglia: system of structures that are important for the planning and
production of movement and experiencing reward

Cerebral cortex: outer layer of brain tissue and brain surface; site of thoughts,
perceptions and complex behaviors
Corpus callosum: bridge of millions of axons which connects the hemispheres and
allows information flow between them




Occipital lobes: devoted to vision
 Primary visual cortex: major destination for visual information
Parietal lobes: important for the sense of touch and for the attention to the
environment
 In each lobe, information is directed to the primary somatosensory cortex


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