chapter 1

Question 1

plasticity

Answer 1

in the nervous system, this refers to change, flexibility, or adaptation, usually in response to an experience or learning.

Question 2

neurons

Answer 2

nerve cell; the information processing and information transmitting cells of the nervous system

Question 3

neurogenesis

Answer 3

production of new neurons the division of neural stem cells; occurs in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb and appears to play a role in learning

Question 4

generalization

Answer 4

a type of scientific explanation; a general conclusion based on many observations of similar phenomena

Question 5

reduction

Answer 5

a type of scientific explanation; a phenomenon is described in terms of the more elementary processes that underlie it

Question 6

dualism

Answer 6

the belief that the body is physical but the mind is not

Question 7

monism

Answer 7

the belief that the world consists only of matter and energy and that the mind is a phenomenon produced by the workings of the nervous system

Question 8

reflex

Answer 8

an automatic stereotyped movement that is produced as the direct result of a stimulus

Question 9

doctrine of specific nerve energies

Answer 9

muller’s conclusion that, because all nerve fibers carry the same type of message, sensory information must be specified by the particular nerve fibers that are active

Question 10

epigenetics

Answer 10

changes to gene expression induced by environmental factors

Question 11

functionalism

Answer 11

the principle that the best way to understand a biological phenomenon is to try to understand its useful functions for the organism

Question 12

natural selection

Answer 12

the process by which inherited traits that confer a selective advantage become more prevalent in a population

Question 13

mutation

Answer 13

a change in the genetic information contained in the chromosomes of sperm or eggs, which can be passed on to an organisms offspring; provides genetic variability

Question 14

selective advantage

Answer 14

a characteristic of an organism that permits it to produce more than the average number of offspring of its species

Question 15

evolution

Answer 15

a gradual change in the structure and physiology of plant and animal species - generally producing more complex organisms - as a result of natural selection

Question 16

behavioral neuroscience

Answer 16

a scientist who studies the physiology of behavior primarily by performing physiological and behavioral experiments with laboratory animals

Question 17

neoteny

Answer 17

a slowing of the process of maturation allowing more time for growth an important factor in the development of large brains

Question 18

galen

Answer 18

dissected and studied brains on animals found all of the nerves were connected to the brain.

Question 19

santiago y cajal

Answer 19

used golgi straining technique to examine individual neurons of the brain and made drawings from what he could see

Question 20

rene descartes

Answer 20

assumptions, reflexes, suggested link between mind and brain, moving models

Question 21

decartes assumptions

Answer 21

world is mechanical entity, once God set it it ran its course without divine intervention

Question 22

galvani

Answer 22

electrical stimulation of frogs caused contaction of attached muscle

Question 23

muller

Answer 23

doctrine of specific nerve engeries

Question 24

flournes

Answer 24

experimental ablation on animals

Question 25

broca

Answer 25

experimental ablation on humans; found speech is on left side of brain;

Question 26

fritsch and hitzig

Answer 26

found the hemispheres control opposite sides of the body; primary motor cortex

Question 27

hermann von helmholtz

Answer 27

made formula for law of conservation of energy; measured the speed of conduction through nerves (90 feet per second)

Question 28

darwin

Answer 28

natural selection, functionalism, evolution,

Question 29

blest

Answer 29

functional analysis of an adaptive trait; moths have eye like spots that protect them from preditiors