Biol Psy Ch 1 The Major Issues From Biological Psychology

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Biological Psychology

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Is the study of the physiological, evolutionary, and development mechanisms of behavior and experience

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physiological explanation

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relates a behavior to the activity of the brain and other organs

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Ontogenetic Explanation

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describes the development of a structure or a behavior. (ex. to inhibit an impulse as get older)

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Evolutionary Explanation

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reconstructs the evolutionary history of a structure or behavior

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functional explanation

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describes why a structure or evolved as it did.

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Mind-Body aka Mind-Brain Problem

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what is the relationship between the mind and the brain?

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dualism

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the belief that mind and body are different kinds of substance- mental substance and physical substance- that exist independently

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monism

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the belief that the universe consists of only one kind of substance

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Materialism

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the view that everything that exists is material, or physical.

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Mentalism

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the view that only the mind really exists

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Identity Position

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the view that mental processes are the same thing as certain kinds of brain processes but are described in different terms

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Solipsism

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based on latin "alone"and "self." I alone exist, or I alone am conscious

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Problem of Other Minds

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the difficulty of knowing whether other people or animals have conscious experiences

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Easy Problems

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pertain to many phenomena that we call consciousness, such as the difference between wakefulness and sleep and the mechanisms that enable us to focus our attention.

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Hard Problems

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concerns why and how any kind of brain activity is associated with consciousness.

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Binocular Rivalry

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Bc your brain can't perceive both patterns in teh same location, your perception alternates. For a while, you see the red and black lines, and then gradually the green and black invade your consciousness. Then back to black and red. It is these shifts. Is slow and gradual.

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Genes

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units of heredity that maintain their structural identity from one generation to another.

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Chromosomes

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strands of genes

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deoxyribonucleic acid

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is double stranded; DNA. Serves as template for RNA synthesis

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Ribonucleic acid

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is a single stranded chemical; one type of RNA molecule serves as a template for teh synthesis of protein molecules.

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Enzymes

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biological catalysts that regulate chemical reactions in the body.

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Homozygous

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identical pair of genes on the two chromosomes

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heterozygous

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individual has an unmatched pair of genes on their two chromosomes

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Dominant Gene

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shows a strong effect in either the homozygous or heterozygous condition

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Recessive Genes

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show their effect only in the homozygous condition

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Crossing Over

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a pair of chromosomes may break apart during reproduction and reconnect such that part of one chromosome attaches to the other part of the second chromosome.

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Sex-linked Genes

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the genes located on the sex chromosomes

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Autosomal Genes

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all other genes on all the other chromosomes (which are called autosomal chromosomes if not X or Y)

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Sex-Limited Genes

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are present in both sexes but have effects mainly or exclusively for one sex. (both sexes have the genes, but the sex hormones activate them)

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Recombination

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a new combination of genes, some from one parent and some from the other, that yelds characteristics not found in either parent. ex:blonde curly mom and black straight dad have curly black hair child

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Mutation

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a change in a single gene. Is a powerful source of variation.

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Monozygotic

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from one egg; identical twins

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Dizygotic

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from two eggs; fraternal twins.

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Heritability

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if the variations in some characteristic depend largely on hereditary influences, the characteristic has high "......."

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Multiplier Effect

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If genetic or prenatal influences produce even a small increase in some activity, the early tendency will change the environment in a way that magnifies that tendency. Ex: kid born tall with good running skill. pushed to do bball, is good, ends up with scholarship

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Phenylketonuria

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Is a genetic inability to metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine

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Evolution

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a change over generations in the frequencies of various genes in a population

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Artificial Selection

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when you choose individuals with a desired trait and make them the parents of the next generation.

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Lamarck-ian Evolution

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is evolution through the inheritance of acquired characteristics.

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ex is giraffes stretching necks and offspring inheriting longer necks.

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Fitness

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the number of copies of one's genes that endure in later generations

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Evolutionary Psychology

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aka sociobiology, deals with how behavior have evolved, especially social behaviors.

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Altruistic Behavior

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An action that benefits someone other than the actor

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Reciprocal altruism

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the idea that animals help those who help them in return.

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kin selection

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selection for a gene because it benefits the individual's relatives.