Biological approach Flashcards
what are genes?
made up of stands of DNA inherited from parents
what is neuroanatomy?
the structure of the nervous system including the brain
what is neurochemistry?
the chemical process within the brain and nervous system
what is evolution?
the way animals change over millions of years
what are traits?
characteristics that make up a personality
what is an extrovert?
someone whose outgoing and sociable
what is an introvert?
someone whose withdrawn and shy
what is a genotype?
an individuals genetic makeup
what is a phenotype?
an individuals observable traits such as height
what is the SRY gene?
the sex determine region located on the Y chromosome
what is localisation?
the view that different brain areas perform certain specific functions
what is lateralisation?
the idea that the two halves of the brain are functionally different
what is neuroplasticity?
the capacity for the brain to recognise its structure and function
what is the function of the brain?
where decision making takes place
what is the function of the spinal cord?
controls reflex actions
what is adrenaline?
causes the heart to beat faster and triggers the production of glucose to fuel energy for the fight or flight response
what is cortisol?
suppresses the immune system
what are neurotransmitters?
allows communication between neurons in the brain and nervous system
what are sex hormones?
chemicals produced by testes in males and ovaries in females
what is survival of the fittest?
when life is hard, those individuals who possess characteristics that help them stay alive
what is environmental of evolutionary adaptedness?
the habitat in which a species evolved in most recent adaptations
what is genome lag?
the idea that some behaviour is no longer adaptive because genetic changes over thousands of generations have proceeded much slower than changes in our environment
what is sexual selection?
the idea that characteristics must have an advantage to make them attractive to potential males e.g. a peacock tail
