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PSGY1003 Biological Psychology > evolution > Flashcards

evolution Flashcards

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1
Q

why do we study non-human animals?

A
  • there are similarities of brain structure and function across species
  • allows study of phylogeny (evolution) of the brain
  • understand particular behavioural adaptations
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2
Q

what does Hippocampal lesions in rats show?

A
  • impairs conditioning to contextual cues in animals
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3
Q

what has Hippocampal damage in rats acted as a model for in humans?

A
  • the effects of hippocampal damage in rats = the base model for humans with amnesia (which has occurred due to hippocampal damage)
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4
Q

why are the rat studies essential?

A
  • essential in telling us which neuronal systems are key
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5
Q

what has been found in both birds and mammals in relation to the hippocampus?

A

hippocampal volume found to be relatively enlarged in food storing species

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6
Q

what are the characteristics of an organism according to Darwinian Theory?

A
  • characteristics of an organism have specific functions
  • these functions are selected for if these functions allow organism to survive and reproduce more successfully
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7
Q

what idea is Darwinian Theory consistent with?

A
  • common ancestry
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8
Q

what are Homonids?

A
  • human like apes evolved from primates
  • have grasping hands for climbing
  • forward facing eyes for stereoscopic depth perception
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9
Q

what do present day hominids include?

A
  • chimpanzees
  • gorillas
  • orangutangs
  • humans
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10
Q

define endemic

A

species that are not found elsewhere

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11
Q

what are the mechanisms of natural selection?

A
  • genetic drift
  • the environment
  • speciation
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12
Q

what can have selective advantages?

A
  • mutations
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13
Q

define functionalism

A
  • belief that characteristics of living organisms perform useful functions
  • in order to understand the physiological (why animal has something) basis of behaviour, we have to understand what the behaviours accomplish
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14
Q

explain how functionalism and natural selection go hand in hand

A
  • functionalism = the idea that the best way to understand a behaviour or a physiological structure is to understand how the behaviour is a useful function for organism
  • natural selection = the process where inherited traits that are a selective advantage to organism become more frequent in a population
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15
Q

define mutation

A

random, rare change to genetic information

this can be passed to offspring

provides genetic variability

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16
Q

define selective advantage

A

a characteristic of an organism that increases chance of organism producing more offspring

17
Q

define evolution

A

a gradual change in structure and physiology (function of organism behaviour) of species

generally producing more complex organisms as a result of natural selection

18
Q

provide an example of natural selection

A
  • grey squirrels
  • these can digest acorns, red squirrels cannot
  • grey squirrels carries a virus that is more deadly to red squirrels
  • red squirrels breed less under pressure
  • the decline in red squirrels can be understood in terms of the number of selective advantages that grey squirrels have
19
Q

how is human evolution evidenced?

A
  • fossil records
20
Q

what were the earliest mammals?

A
  • small nocturnal predators that fed on insects
21
Q

where did the first hominids (humanlike apes) appear?

A
  • Africa
  • appeared in drier woodlands, the savanna, grasslands
22
Q

when did the first hominid leave Africa?

A
  • 1.7 million years ago
23
Q

what does DNA analysis of chimps, gorillas, organutans and humans show?

A
  • there is very little difference between species
  • humans and chimps share almost 99% of DNA
24
Q

how is human brain evolution marked?

A
  • differences in hominid brain size
  • brain size also links to body size
25
Q

what is the encephalization quotient?

A
  • a measure of relative brain size
  • is often used to convey how small or large a species brain is compared to other species of similar body size
26
Q

why do humans have a slower maturation process (‘neoteny’)?

A
  • to allow brain development
  • birth canal limits the size of the head
  • development of head is supported by prenatal care
27
Q

how has social development supported the evolution of large brains?

A
  • supported evolution of larger brains
  • brain reaches adult size (1400 grams) at adolescence
  • neoteny allows more time for growth
  • this is important factor in development of large brains
28
Q

what else has been supported by social factors?

A

evolution of cognitive domains (skills)

29
Q

what did neoteny most likely drive?

A
  • development of social skills to co-ordinate child care

PSGY1003 Biological Psychology (21 decks)

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