Chapter 1: The Major Issues Flashcards
4 types of biological explanations of behaviour
Physiological
Ontogenetic
Evolutionary
Functional
Physiological explanation of behaviour
- relates to the activity of brain and other organs
ex) chemical reactions enable hormones to influence brain activity and routes that brain activity controls muscle contraction
Ontogenetic explanation of behaviour
- how structure develops including influences of genes, nutrition, experiences, and their interactions
ex) ability to inhibit impulses develops over time reflecting gradual maturation of frontal parts of the brain
Evolutionary explanation of behaviour
- evolutionary history of a structure or behaviour
- almost always modifications of something in an ancestral species
ex) monkeys occasionally use tools and humans evolved to make elaborations on those abilities
ex) goosebumps when scared=useless to humans because hair is too short to become bigger
Functional explanation of behaviour
why a structure or behaviour evolved the way it did
- genetic drift
ex) dominant male with many offspring spreads his genes
2 positions with regards to relationship between the brain and conscious experience
- how does consciousness exist in a world of matter and energy?
1) some feel we should ignore concept of consciousness (this ignores the question instead of answering it)
2) See it as a fundamental property of matter (cannot be reduced to something else) - this means we have given up trying to find a reason - we are not conscious all the time and only certain types of nervous systems are conscious (sleeping/coma)
Which kinds of problems are thought to be “hard”
Given this universe is composed of matter and energy why / how does consciousness exist
Which kinds of problems are thought to be easy?
Something explained by principles and exists as matter or energy
Describe the professionals who conduct neuroscience research
Neuroscientist Behavioural neuroscientist Cognitive neuroscientist Neuropsychologist Psychophysologist Neurochemist Evolutionary psychologist Comparative psychologist
Clinical Treatment
Clinical Psychologist Counselling psycholgist School psychologist Neurologist Neurosurgeon Psychiatrist
Mendelian Genetics
Inheritance occurs through genes (come in pairs aligned on chromosomes)
- genes do not have discrete location, several may overlap on a stretch of chromosome, may depend on parts of 2+ chromosomes
- Tt=heterozygous
- tt=homozygous recessive
- TT=homozygous dominant
Describe the relationship between DNA, RNA, and proteins
DNA=double strand and is template for RNA
RNA=single strand
mRNA=template for protein synthesis
-each combination of 3 bases that code for a different amino acid, amino acids form proteins
Dominant and recessive genes
Dominant genes takes precedence over recessive genes ex) Eye colour B=dominant brown eyes b=recessive blue eyes Father= Bb Mother=Bb BB=25% chance homodominant Bb or bB= 50% chance Heterodominant bb=25% chance homorecessive
Sex-linked and Sex-limited genes
Sex linked genes appear on X Y chromosomes and not autosomal chromosome
Sex limited genes occur on autosomal chromosomes but are only active in one sex
heritability and reasons why it can be overestimated
=trait that can be passed on via genes
(gene does not cause brown eyes, it produces protein that makes brown eyes with proper nutrition and normal health)
Can be overestimated due to environmental influences . A person may have a predisposition but environment can turn the gene on or off / be expressed
