Psych15 - Biological Psychology - Chpt 1

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Biological Psychology

Back 1

The study of hte physiological, evolutionary, and developmental mechanisms of behavior and experience.

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Physiological Explanation

Back 2

Relates a behavior to the activity of the brain and other organs.

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Ontogenic Explanation

Back 3

Describes the development of a sturcture or a behavior.

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Evolutionary Explanation

Back 4

Reconstructs the evolutionary history of a structure or behavior.

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Functional Explanation

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Describes WHY a structure or behavior evolved as it did.

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Mind-Body or Mind-Brain Problem

Back 6

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 and that the physcal world could not exist unless some mind were aware of it.

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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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I alone exist, or I alone am conscious.

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Easy Problems

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The easy problems pertain to many phenomena that we call CONSCIOUSNESS, such as the difference between wakefulness nad sleep and the mechanisms that enable us to focus our attention.

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Hard Problem

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

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Binocular Activity

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Shifts in vision that are slow and gradual, sweeping from one side to another.

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Genes

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

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Chromosomes

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Chromosomes are strands of genes, which also come in pairs.

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Deoxyribonucleic Acid

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A gene is a portion of a chromosome, which is composed of the double-stranded molecule deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

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Ribonucleic Acid

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A strand of DNA serves as a template (model) for the synthesis of ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules. RNA is a single strand chemical: one type of RNA molecule serves as a template for the synthesis of protein molecules.

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Enzymes

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Some proteins form part of the structure of the body; other serve as enzymes: biological catalysts that regulate chemical reactions in the body.

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Homozygous

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Anyone with an identical pair of genes on the two chromosomes is homozygous for that gene.

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Heterozygous

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An individual with an unmatched pair of genes is heterozygous for that gene.

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Dominant Gene

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A dominant gene shows a strong effect in either the homozygous or heterozygous condition.

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Recessive Gene

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A recessive gene shows its effects 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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Genes not located on the sex chromosomes.

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X and Y

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A female mammal has two X chromosomes; a male has an X and Y.

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Sex Limited Genes

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Distinct from sex-linked genes are the sex-limited genes, which are present in both sexes but have effects mainly or exclusively for one sex.

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Recombination

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A new combination of genes, some from one parent and some from the other, that yields characteristics not found in either parent.

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Mutation

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A change in a single gene.

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Monozygotic

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From one egg.

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Dizygotic

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From two eggs.

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Heritability

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If the variations in some characteristic depend largely on hereditary influences, the characteristic has high heritability.

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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 hte environment in a way that magnifies that tendency.

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Phenylketonuria or PKU

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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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Choosing an individual with a desired trait and making them the parents of the next generation.

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Lamarckian Evolution

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Jean Lamarck's theory of evolution through the inheritance of acquired characteristics.

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Fitness of __

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The number of copies of one's enes that endure in later generations.

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Evolutionary Psychology or Sociobiology

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Evolutionary Psychology or Sociobiology deals with how behaviors 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 gnee because it benefits the individual's relatives.