Exam #1 (Intro, Research Methods, Evolutionary Origins)

Question 1

social neuroscience

Answer 1

An attempt to understand and explain, using the methods and theories of neuroscience, how the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others

Question 2

modular view of the brain (and its 3 characteristics)

Answer 2

Brain regions are highly specialized in terms of what they do.
Modules are localized, innate, and universal:
Localized –> exist within specific brain region
Innate –> we are born with the module “pre-programmed”
Universal –> shared across all humans regardless of experience and culture

Question 3

domain specific

Answer 3

Brain regions aren’t recruited to do other jobs, a region responds to one and only one type of input.
Modularity = domain specificity

Question 4

non-specialized view of the brain

Answer 4

Social cognition is linked to general cognitive capacities, not a singular task

Question 5

domain general

Answer 5

Regions of the brain don’t exist to process very specific cognitive tasks but more general ones
Ex: Being able to detect subtle differences between two things is a general task, not just related to faces

Question 6

mixed-model of the brain

Answer 6

Some parts of the social brain may be modular, module-like, or non-modular depending on the specific function

Question 7

forward inference

Answer 7

Inferring that brain region A is involved in supporting mental process X.
Ex: The amygdala is activated when someone feels fear, therefore the amygdala must be involved in supporting fear

Question 8

reverse inference

Answer 8

Inferring that mental process X is occurring because brain region A is activated.
Ex: If the amygdala is activated, then someone must be feeling fear

Question 9

blank slate theory

Answer 9

The belief that the nature of all social interactions is entirely shaped and constrained by culture, society, and the environment.
The brain just accepts, stores and processes whatever information is given to it without any pre-existing biases, limitations, or knowledge

Question 10

gene-culture co-evolution

Answer 10

Certain genotypes may predispose people to create particular features in their environment (thus influencing cultural selection) and – at the same time – aspects of a given culture may tend to favor individuals of a given genotype (thus influencing genetic selection)

Question 11

ways to measure behavior

Answer 11

performance (ex: response times)
observation (ex: eye tracking)
surveys

Question 12

autonomic nervous system

Answer 12

Part of the peripheral nervous system, regulates a variety of bodily functions such as heart rate, arousal, digestion, etc

Question 13

sympathetic nervous system

Answer 13

Involved in preparing the body for action. More energy goes towards the immediate need than bodily functions such as digesting

Question 14

parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 14

Returns the body to its resting state

Question 15

skin conductance response (SCR)

Answer 15

Method of detecting autonomic arousal:
A weak electrical current is applied to the skin, the current will flow more easily when one is aroused due to sweat glands activating.
This conductivity can be measured.

Question 16

electrocardiogram (ECG)

Answer 16

Method of detecting autonomic arousal:
Electrodes are placed on the chest to record electrical signals that make the heart beat. Heartbeat patterns can help us detect arousal

Question 17

pupillometry

Answer 17

Method of detecting autonomic arousal:
Small fluctuations in the diameter of the pupil are measured, a change in diameter can indicate arousal

Question 18

spatial resolution

Answer 18

The accuracy with which one can measure WHERE an event is occurring

Question 19

temporal resolution

Answer 19

The accuracy with which one can measure WHEN an event is occurring

Question 20

invasiveness

Answer 20

Is the method being used one that has the potential to destroy tissue or permanently disrupt function?

Question 21

perturbing the brain

Answer 21

Manipulating the brain and looking at the effect of that manipulation
IV = Brain
DV = Cognition/Behavior

Question 22

observing the brain

Answer 22

Manipulating behavior and looking at how that affects the brain
IV = Cognition/Behavior
DV = Brain

Question 23

single dissociation

Answer 23

Brain region A is independent from brain region B, BUT brain region B isn’t necessarily independent from A
(The independence only goes one way)

Question 24

double dissociation

Answer 24

Brain region A is independent from brain region B AND brain region B is independent from A
(The independence goes both ways)

Question 25

direct cortical stimulation (DCS)

Answer 25

Method of perturbation, electrodes are placed directly on the surface of the brain, electrical stimulation is applied briefly to identify critical areas for certain functions
(Very invasive, stronger basis for causation because you can temporarily turn off parts of the brain)

Question 26

transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Answer 26

Method of perturbation, coil is held over scalp that uses a magnetic field to influence brain activity
(Non-invasive, stronger basis for causation because you can temporarily turn off parts of the brain)

Question 27

single-cell recording

Answer 27

Method of observation, microelectrode is implanted into the brain to record the firing of action potentials from a single neuron
(Highly invasive)

Question 28

event related potential (ERP)

Answer 28

An averaged set of EEG recordings that are time-locked to a particular event, they measure electrical changes to discrete mental events

Question 29

electroencephalography (EEG)

Answer 29

Method of observation, participant wears cap with many electrodes, it detects electrical signals generated by post synaptic potentials.
For a signal to be detected:
- Enough neurons need to be firing at the same time
- The neurons need to be pointing in the same direction
(Non-invasive)

Question 30

intracranial EEG

Answer 30

Method of observation, doing the same thing as the EEG but…
(Highly invasive, greater spatial resolution)

Question 31

magnetoencephalography (MEG)

Answer 31

Very similar to EEG but detects magnetic fields instead of electric
(Better spatial resolution than EEG)

Question 32

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Answer 32

A medical imaging technique used to form pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes of the body using a strong magnetic field
MRI’s look at structure (what does it look like?)

Question 33

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Answer 33

Measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood oxygenation and flow that occur in response to neural activity
fMRI’s look at function (what is the brain doing?)

Question 34

social intelligence hypothesis (version 1, light strength)

Answer 34

Intelligence doesn’t exist for a specific task, it is domain-general

Question 35

social intelligence hypothesis (version 2, medium strength)

Answer 35

Intelligence is still domain-general but complex society selects for enhanced intelligence

Question 36

social intelligence hypothesis (version 3, extra strength)

Answer 36

Social pressures select not only the amount of intelligence but also the type of intelligence
Supporting evidence: A lot of primates have a greater chance of surviving in their environment if they can keep track of who is a member of the group and who is not. They can recognize who they’re competing for resources with.

Question 37

social intelligence hypothesis

Answer 37

The main evolutionary pressure for human intellectual development is the ability to understand and predict complex social interactions, work together, and outwit our peers.
Social intelligence was the driver to need to do things like calculus.

Question 38

What was critical to our cultural and technological advancement? What did Darwin think?

Answer 38

It’s very likely that brain expansion allowed us to progress culturally and technologically. Darwin thought bipedalism was what enabled this progression.

Question 39

What is the relationship between brain size and social groups? Are there any exceptions?

Answer 39

As the size of of a social group increases, the size of the brain increases.
One exception are birds, no positive relationship between group size and brain size but there is a positive relationship between mating system + brain size. More complex mating system = bigger brain.

Question 40

culture

Answer 40

A shared set of values, skills, artifacts, and beliefs that are shared amongst members of a group and differentiated across different groups

Question 41

culture pyramid (bottom, level 1)

Answer 41

“social information transfer”
Something is learned socially but it won’t transfer to the next generation

Question 42

culture pyramid (level 2)

Answer 42

“traditions”
Same as level 4 of the pyramid but the behavior WILL be passed on to future generations
Ex: Chimpanzees in two different groups learned a way to obtain food that is unique to their group. When introduced to the other group’s method, they were resistant to switch methods.

Question 43

culture pyramid (level 3)

Answer 43

“culture”
Multiple traditions are present within a species and are passed on to future generations
Ex: Capuchin monkeys engage in a variety of social games. These games are distributed differently from group to group, suggesting they are culturally learned.

Question 44

culture pyramid (level 4)

Answer 44

“cumulative culture”
All of the characteristics of levels 1-3 are present but traditions are built upon as they are passed from generation to generation, they don’t stay the same
Ex: Humans moved from using stone tools to using metal tools.

Question 45

imitation

Answer 45

Reproducing the goals of another person
It is NOT:
- Mimicking –> copying without understanding the goal
- Stimulus enhancement –> being drawn to what’s going on in the environment as opposed to the goal
- Contagion –> repetition of behaviors that are innate rather than learned

Question 46

neural recycling

Answer 46

Parts of the brain used for certain cognitive tasks in the past can be recruited to do new, more culturally relevant tasks, this is not transgenerational

Question 47

mirror neurons

Answer 47

A type of brain cell that respond equally when we perform an action and when we witness someone else perform the same action.
They respond to the goal of the behavior, suggesting an abstract coding of action related to the intention.
People argue about the significance of them but we can pretty confidently conclude that there is more to imitation and tool use than mirror neurons.