chapter 1 concepts

Question 1

how do we define neuroscience? (how do we answer the question “what is neuroscience”)

Answer 1

neuroscience is defined as interdisciplinary scientific approaches to the study of the mind and brain.

it can also be defined as the scientific study of the nervous system.

Question 2

definition of interdisciplinary

Answer 2

each area informing the others.

or between or among fields of study;

Question 3

why do we define neuroscience using the word interdisciplinary?

Answer 3

we define neuroscience using the word “interdisciplinary” because there is no single approach to the scientific study of the brain. and there is no one discipline that provides a complete understanding of brain-behavior relationships.

Question 4

what are the different fields of neuroscience?

hint: there are 6 of them

Answer 4

neurochemistry
neurophysiology
neuroanatomy 
neuropharmacology 
neuropsychology 
cognitive neuroscience

Question 5

what is neurochemistry?

Answer 5

brain chemistry

neurochemistry study’s the chemical bases of neural activity

Question 6

what is neurophysiology?

Answer 6

brain physiology; how the brain functions

neurophysiology study’s the functions and activities of the nervous system

Question 7

what is neuroanatomy?

Answer 7

neuroanatomy study’s the structure of the nervous system/ the anatomy of the brain

Question 8

what is neuropharmacology?

what is it also known as?

Answer 8

neuropharmacology study’s the effects of drugs on neural activity. how drugs affect the brain

it is also known as behavioral pharmacology, and psychopharmacology

Question 9

what is neuropsychology?

Answer 9

neuropsychology study the relation of the brain to mind and behavior

example: studying the memory deficits of human patients with brain damage

Question 10

what is cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 10

cognitive neuroscience study’s the biological basis of thinking and problem solving

Question 11

what terms all refer to the interdisciplinary study of brain-behavior relationships?

Answer 11

behavioral neuroscience
psychobiology
biological psychology
biopsychology (biological approach to psychology)

the emphasis of THIS course is on behavioral neuroscience

Question 12

neuro

Answer 12

pertaining to the brain

Question 13

what is referred to by the phrase “brain-behavior relationship”?

Answer 13

“brain-behavior relationship” refers to how the brain functions in producing such psychological phenomena as seeing, remembering, feeling pain, solving conceptual problems etc.

Question 14

what are the 4 major conceptual frameworks, or approaches to behavioral neuroscience?

Answer 14

1. evolutionary/genetic/comparative
2. anatomical/physiological
3. learning/behavioral
4. perceptual/cognitive

Question 15

explain the evolutionary/genetic/comparative approach to mind and behavior

Answer 15

this approach tends to focus on the nature side of the nature/nurture dichotomy.
we can often learn about human brain-behavior relationships by studying those relationships in other animals because all organisms are related (zoobiquity)
evolutionary history has shaped our human brain and physiology

this approach to understanding the mind of humans is by reference to how human heredity and human brain functioning compares with the heredity, brains, and brain functions of other species

Question 16

the terms phylogenetic and ontogenetic are the same as what other terms that are determinants of behavior?

Answer 16

phylogenetic (hereditary) is the same as nature.

ontogenetic (environment) is the same as nurture.

Question 17

comparative method

Answer 17

comparing human brains and behavior with that of other species

Question 18

what is the anatomical/physiological approach to mind and behavior?

Answer 18

read in notes

Question 19

what some examples of molecular (parts) levels of analysis

Answer 19

pharmacology
neurochemistry
genetics
neurotransmitters

Question 20

what are some examples of molar (whole) levels of analysis

Answer 20

cognitive explanations
behavioral explanations
brain-behavior relationships
behavioral genetics

Question 21

definition of phylogenetic

Answer 21

pertaining to phyla, or the relationships of all living organisms
this is different in all humans due to our own unique environments

Question 22

definition of ontogenetic

Answer 22

pertaining to the development of an individual organism within a particular environment.
this is different for all humans due to our own unique environments

Question 23

explain the learning/behavioral approach to mind and behavior?

Answer 23

this approach focuses on the role of environment (nurture) in determining behavior

this approach studys how the environment programs our brains neural machinery

Question 24

explain the perceptual/ cognitive approach

Answer 24

complex organisms have complex minds. there are inherent limitations in an analysis of behavior, that is restricted to simple responses. humans perceive there environment, use language, and therefor think, reason and plan in unique ways.

this approach includes a study of the parts of the brain implicated in perception, language, memory, learning, and problem solving.

Question 25

what are the advantages of using humans as test subjects?

Answer 25

humans can follow instructions
humans can report their experiences
humans are cheaper
humans have human brains

Question 26

what are the advantages of using non human(animal) test subjects?

Answer 26

animal brains/behavior are simpler
insights arise from the comparative approach
you can conduct research on animals that isn’t ethical for humans

Question 27

experimental studies include

Answer 27

human and non human studies

experiments are used to study causation

Question 28

non experimental research includes

Answer 28

quasi experimental studies and case studies

Question 29

between-subjects design

Answer 29

in an experiment this means a different group of subjects is tested under each condition

Question 30

within-subjects design

Answer 30

in an experiment this means testing the same group of subjects under each condition

Question 31

molecular approach

Answer 31

the molecular approach is how changes in molecules, such as chemicals, effect larger changes in structure and function.

Question 32

molar approach

Answer 32

analysis of behavior as the smallest unit of observation

Question 33

what constitutes the mind-body problem?

Answer 33

defining the relationship of the psychological experience with experience of the outside world. these are two separate realms of sensory experience

Question 34

what are the 5 philosophical views of the mind?

Answer 34

dualism, interactionism, epiphenomenalism, monism, and functionalism

Question 35

what is dualism (aristotle)?

Answer 35

in dualism the mind and the brain are separate entities.

Question 36

what is interactionism? (cartesian dualism)

Answer 36

in interactionism the mind and the brain are separate but they interact with one another

Question 37

what is epiphenomenalism?

Answer 37

in epiphenomenalism the mind and consciousness are merely the side effects of the functioning brain

Question 38

what is monism (central state identity theory)?

Answer 38

in monism the mind and the brain are the same thing, NOT separate entities
-the brain is really all there is, the mind is an illusion

Question 39

what is functionalism?

Answer 39

in functionalism the “machine” doesn’t matter, what the “mind” does is the only consideration

Question 40

what are the different assumptions neuroscientists make as they study the mind and brain?

Answer 40

determinism
mechanism
reductionism
emergent property

Question 41

determinism

Answer 41

every event has a cause.
neuroscientists assume that the human mind and behavior are the result of the interaction of genes(heredity) and environment.
the brains action determines the memory, perception, learning, etc.
philosophically, antecedent events influence subsequent events and no event occurs in isolation.

Question 42

mechanism

Answer 42

neuroscientists assume a mechanistic universe.

they assume that there is a physical basis for everything and the mechanisms are knowable

Question 43

reductionism

Answer 43

neuroscientists assume that the complexities of perception, memory, learning etc.. can be broken down and understood in simpler term, ultimately by reference to chemical activity in the brain.

this is where we find the molecular level of analysis.

Question 44

emergent property

Answer 44

most neuroscientists assume that human consciousness does not differ radically from the consciousness of other animals– rather, slight differences in brain organization result in differing levels of consciousness among different species. our human level of consciousness emerged from more primitive levels upon which it built, as did our brains.

Question 45

explain the molar level of analysis

Answer 45

on a molar level the behavior of WHOLE intact organisms is studied.

Question 46

explain the molecular level of analysis

Answer 46

understanding behavior by determining which parts of the brain (anatomy) or which chemicals (neurochemistry) are involved when the behavior occurs.