Chapter 1

Question 1

Plasticity

Answer 1

change, adaption, flexibility in the nervous system usually in response to experience or learning

Question 2

Generalization

Answer 2

Broader version of scientific explanation based on many observations of similar phenomena

Question 3

Reduction

Answer 3

Type of scientific explanation, a broader explanation of complex phenomenon using a series of smaller ones

Question 4

Mind-Body Question

Answer 4

How the brain interacts with the body and nervous system; what role does the mind play? Does it control the nervous system? Is it part of the nervous system? Is it physical and tangible, like the rest of the body, or is it a spirit that will always remain hidden?

Question 5

Dualism

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Monism

Answer 6

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 7

Reflexes

Answer 7

An automatic, stereotyped movement, that is produced, as a direct result of stimulus; ie pulling your hand away when something is hot

Question 8

Doctrine of specific nerve energies

Answer 8

Müller’s conclusion that because all nerve fibers carry the same type of message—an electrical impulse—sensory information must be specified by the particular nerve fibers that are active; messages occur in different channels; different parts of the brain do different things

Question 9

Epigenics

Answer 9

Changes to gene expression induced by environmental factors

Question 10

Theory

Answer 10

An explanation that is supported by multiple lines of research with many converging results

Question 11

Functionalism

Answer 11

The principle that the best way to understand a biological phenomenon, (a behavior or physiological structure) is to try and understand it’s a useful functions as an organism

Question 12

Natural Selection

Answer 12

The process by which inherited traits that increase an animals likelihood to survive, and reproduce, become more prevalent in a population

Question 13

Mutation

Answer 13

A change in the genetic information contained in the chromosomes of sperm or egg’s, which can be passed on to an offspring; provides genetic variability; changes are accidental and often negative

Question 14

Selective Advantage

Answer 14

A characteristic of an organism that permits it to produce more than the average number of offspring in its species, and live longer

Question 15

Evolution

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Neoteny

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Informed consent

Answer 17

The process in which researchers must inform any potential participant about the nature of the research study, how any data will be collected and stored, and what the anticipated benefits and cost of participating will be

Question 18

Neuroethics

Answer 18

An interdisciplinary field devoted to understanding, implications of, and developing practices and ethics for neuroscience research

Question 19

Behavioral Neuroscience

Answer 19

Scientist who studies the physiology of behavior, primarily by performing physiological and behavioral experiments with laboratory animals; attempt to understand how the nervous system interacts with the rest of the body to control behavior