Biological Level Of Analysis Concepts

Question 1

What does the biological level of analysis argue (what’s its main idea)?

Answer 1

There are physiological origins of many behaviors, and that human beings should be studied as biological systems.

Question 2

How is the biological level of analysis bidirectional?

Answer 2

The environment and cognition may interact with biological systems and affect physiology (i.e. biology can affect cognition and cognition can affect biology).

Question 3

What is the nature versus nurture debate?

Answer 3

A debate over whether human behavior is the result of biological or environmental factors.

Question 4

What is the interactionist approach?

Answer 4

An approach used by modern psychologists that does not rely solely on either nature (biological) or nurture (environment), but adopts a more holistic picture of human behavior. This is also the goal of IB psychology.

Question 5

What are three principles of the biological level of analysis?

Answer 5

1. Behavior can be innate because it is genetically based (If this principle is accepted it is logical to believe that evolution may play a key role in behavior).
2. Animal research can provide insight into human behavior.
3. There are biological correlates of behavior.

Question 6

What is the aim of researchers working at the biological level of analysis?

Answer 6

To find a link between a specific biological factor and a specific behavior (find biological correlates of behavior).

Question 7

What is the reductionist approach to the study of human behavior?

Answer 7

A micro-level research which breaks down complex human behavior into its smallest parts (for example, focusing on the role of a gene, a neurotransmitter, or a protein).

Question 8

What are neurons?

Answer 8

Neurons are nerve cells that send electrochemical messages to the brain so that people can respond to stimuli – either from the environment or from internal changes in the body.

Question 9

What are neurons?

Answer 9

Neurons, one of the building blocks of behavior, are nerve cells that send electrochemical messages to the brain so that people can respond to stimuli – either from the environment or from internal changes in the body.

Question 10

What is neurotransmission?

Answer 10

The method by which electrochemical messages from neurons are sent. An electrical impulse travels down the axon of the neuron, releasing neurotransmitters which then cross the synapse between two neurons. After crossing the synapse, the neurotransmitters fit into receptor sites on the post-synaptic membrane. Once the message is passed on, the neurotransmitters rare either broken down or reabsorbed by the terminal buttons.

Question 11

What is the body of a neuron called?

Answer 11

The axon

Question 12

What is the gab between two neurons called?

Answer 12

A synapse

Question 13

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 13

The body’s natural chemical messengers which transmit information from one neuron to another.

Question 14

What is stored in neurons’ terminal buttons?

Answer 14

Neurotransmitters.

Question 15

What is reuptake?

Answer 15

When neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the terminal buttons.

Question 16

Neurotransmission underlies behavior such as what?

Answer 16

Mood, memory, sexual arousal, and mental illness.

Question 17

What effect does the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine cause?

Answer 17

Muscle contraction, and a role in the development of memory in the hippocampus.

Question 18

What effect does the neurotransmitter Dopamine cause?

Answer 18

Voluntary movement, learning and feelings of pleasure.

Question 19

What effect does the neurotransmitter Norepinephrine (nonadrenaline) cause?

Answer 19

Arousal, alertness, and stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system.

Question 20

What effect does the neurotransmitter Serotonin cause?

Answer 20

Sleep, arousal levels, and emotion.

Question 21

Sensory deprivation triggered the release of what neurotransmitter?

Answer 21

Serotonin

Question 22

Higher levels of serotonin activated which parts of the brain?

Answer 22

The hypothalamus and the frontal cortex.

Question 23

Prior to the development of modern scanning technology, what was one of the most common ways to study the brain?

Answer 23

Through the use of case studies of brain damage.

Question 24

Case studies of brain-damaged patients are often carried out how?

Answer 24

Longitudinally – that is, over a long period of time – in order to observe both the short-term and long-term effects of damage.

Question 25

The condition of having problems producing speech, but having the ability to understand it is called what?

Answer 25

Broca’s aphasia

Question 26

The condition of being able to produce speech but not having the ability to understand it is called what?

Answer 26

Wernicke’s aphasia.

Question 27

What does it mean when a behavior is localized?

Answer 27

It is possible to trace the origin of the behavior to a specific part of the brain.

Question 28

What is the nucleus accumbens?

Answer 28

the “pleasure centre” of the brain

Question 29

Dopamine promotes what?

Answer 29

Desire

Question 30

Serotonin promotes what?

Answer 30

Satiety and inhibition

Question 31

Drugs increase what and decrease what?

Answer 31

Drugs increase the production of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and reduce the production of serotonin.

Question 32

What is brain plasticity?

Answer 32

The brain’s ability to rearrange the connections between its neurons – that is, the changes that occur in the structure of the brain as a result of learning or experience.

Question 33

What is dendritic branching?

Answer 33

When we learn something new, the neurons connect to create a new trace in the brain. The dendrites of the neurons grow in numbers and connect with neurons.

Question 34

What is a mirror neuron?

Answer 34

A neuron that fires when an animal (or a person) performs an action or when the animal observes somebody else perform the same action. The mirror neuron is so called because it “mirrors” the behavior of another.

Question 35

What are hormones?

Answer 35

Another class of chemicals that affect behavior. They are produced by the glands that make up the endocrine system.

Question 36

Which gland does adrenaline come from and what is its function?

Answer 36

Adrenals gland and its function is the flight or fight response, and arousal

Question 37

Which gland does cortisol come from and what is its function?

Answer 37

Adrenals gland and its function is arousal, stress hormone, and memory

Question 38

Which gland does melatonin come from and what is its function?

Answer 38

Pineal gland and its function is the regulation of sleep

Question 39

Which gland does oxytocin come from and what is its function?

Answer 39

PItuitary gland and the hypothalamus and its function is mother-child attachment

Question 40

Which gland does Testosterone and oestrogen come from and what is its function?

Answer 40

Gonads and its function is development and emotion

Question 41

Why do hormones take longer to produce changes in behavior that neurotransmitters?

Answer 41

Because they enter directly into the bloodstream.

Question 42

What is oxytocin?

Answer 42

A hormone that is produced by the hypothalamus after being stimulated by the pituitary gland. As a hormone, it plays a role in inducing labor contractions and lactation. It is released with touches and hugs. Has been called the “love hormone”