Biological Approach

Question 1

key assumptions

Answer 1

1. behaviour is influenced by the central nervous system, genes and neurochemistry
2. behaviour is a product of evolution

Question 2

extraversion

Answer 2

one end of a personality dimension
traits :: outgoing, sociable

Question 3

intraversion

Answer 3

one end of a personality dimension
traits :: shyness, being withdrawn

Question 4

genes

Answer 4

individual units of inheritance that programme cell development in the body

Question 5

genotype

Answer 5

all of the genes inherited from both parents, which are present from conception

Question 6

phenotype

Answer 6

physical appearance and the physiological results of our genes and how they interact with out environment

Question 7

twins

Answer 7

SAME genotype
DIFFERENT phenotype

Question 8

the SRY gene

Answer 8

sex determining region Y gene which triggers the appearance of testes in an embryo and the development of that individual into a biological male

Question 9

neuroanatomy

Answer 9

structure of the brain and the nervous system

Question 10

localisation of brain function

Answer 10

specific brain areas control and regulate specific physical and psychological activities

Question 11

motor area

Answer 11

• controls the voluntary movements of the opposite side of the body
• damage can cause a loss of control over fine movements

Question 12

somatosensory area

Answer 12

• sensory information (heat, touch) from the skin on opposite side
• damage causes sensory problems

Question 13

visual area

Answer 13

eyes

Question 14

lateralisation of brain function

Answer 14

• the two brain hemispheres are specialised to perform different functions

Question 15

plasticity of the brain

Answer 15

the brain is flexible enough to change and adapt as a result of experience and new learning

Question 16

synaptic pruning

Answer 16

• 3 year olds have 15,000 synapses in their brains which is twice as many as an adult
• as we develop, these are pruned to allow the brain to prioritise certain connections

Question 17

functional recovery

Answer 17

when areas of the brain are damaged, other areas of the brain can often adapt and create new synaptic connections to take other the functions of the damaged area

Question 18

central nervous system

Answer 18

• brain and spinal cord
• origin of all complex commands and decisions

Question 19

autonomic nervous system

Answer 19

• communicates signals between the spinal cord and organs
• it controls things that happen automatically (breathing, heart beats)

Question 20

sympathetic division

Answer 20

• part of ANS responsible for REDUCING physiological arousal
• flight or fight

Question 21

parasympathetic division

Answer 21

• part of ANS responsible for INCREASING physiological arousal
• rest and digest

Question 22

neurochemistry

Answer 22

relating to substances in the nervous system that regulate psychological functioning

Question 23

hormone

Answer 23

chemical substances that circulate the bloodstream and affect target organs

Question 24

adrenaline - stress hormone

Answer 24

• produced by the adrenal glands
• increased heart rate and breathing rate

Question 25

cortisol - stress hormone

Answer 25

• produced by the adrenal glands
• when experiencing long term stress, cortisol maintains the stress response

Question 26

neurotransmitters

Answer 26

the chemical messengers that transmit signals from one neurone to another across synapses

Question 27

environment of evolutionary adaptation

Answer 27

the habitat in which a species evolved its most recent adaptations

Question 28

genome lag

Answer 28

changes to the environment occur much more rapidly than changes to our genes

Question 29

sexaul selection

Answer 29

attributes or behaviours that increase reproductive success are more likely to be passed on and may become exaggerated over succeeding generations of offspring