Intro= Overview & Issues

Question 1

What are the 2 most profound & difficult questions?

Answer 1

• Why is there something rather than nothing (physics)

- Mind brain problem/mind body (Physics & psych)

Question 2

What is the Mind-Body problem?

Answer 2

-It is the question of how the mind relates to brain activity

Question 3

What is the meaning of Fundamental Property?

Answer 3

-It is one that CANNOT be reduced to something else

Question 4

Why can’t consciousness be considered as fundamental property?

Answer 4

-It only occurs in certain parts of the nervous system just some of the time (not including dreamless sleep or coma)

Question 5

What is Biological Psychology?

Answer 5

-It is the study of physiological, evolutionary & developmental mechs of behavior & experience

Question 6

What is the goal of Biological Psychology?

Answer 6

-It is to relate issues of biology to psychology

Question 7

What are the 2 cells that we find in the brain?

Answer 7

• Neurons

- Glia

Question 8

What is the difference between Neurons and Glia?

Answer 8

-Neurons convey messages over great distances and they are larger than Glia cells

Question 9

What are the 3 points that must stick with me forever?

Answer 9

• Perception occurs in your brain
• Mental activity & certain types of brain activity are INSEPARABLE= monism
• Be cautious about what is an explanation & what is not

Question 10

What is Monism?

Answer 10

• It is the idea that the universe consists of only 1 type of being
• AKA your thoughts/experiences are the same thing as your brain activity
• Nearly all neuroscientists & philosophers support this

Question 11

What is the opposite of Monism?

Answer 11

-Dualism

Question 12

What is Dualism?

Answer 12

-It is the idea that minds are 1 type of substance & matter is another

Question 13

What are the 4 categories that biological explanations fall under?

Answer 13

• Physiological
• Ontogenetic
• Evolutionary
• Functional

Question 14

What is a Physiological explanation?

Answer 14

-It relates behavior to brain & organ activities= machinery of the body
EX; Chemical reactions that allow hormones to influence brain activity

Question 15

What is an Ontogenetic explanation?

Answer 15

-It describes how a structure/ behavior develops

EX; influence of genes, nutrition, interactions

Question 16

What is an Evolutionary explanation?

Answer 16

-It reconstructs the evolutionary history of a structure or behavior
EX; call to attention to behavioral similarities among related species

Question 17

What is a Functional explanation?

Answer 17

-Describes WHY a structure/ behavior evolved as it did

EX; advantages of a certain gene

Question 18

What are the 4 reasons why researchers use animal subjects to test on?

Answer 18

• The underlying mechs of behavior are similar across species= sometimes easier to study vs humans
• We are interested in animals for their own sake
• What we learn about animals shed light on human evolution
• Legal/unethical restrictions prevent certain types of human testing

Question 19

What are the 2 sides of opposition?

Answer 19

Minimalists & Abolitionist

Question 20

What does the Minimalist side of animal testing?

Answer 20

• Toleration of certain types of animal research

- Favor firm regulation of the type of animals used & the amount of stress induced

Question 21

What is the Abolitionist side of animal testing?

Answer 21

-Believe that all animals have the same rights as humans and cannot give informed consent= CANNOT be used for research

Question 22

What are the 3 R’s in the legal standard of animal research?

Answer 22

• Reduction=using fewer animals
• Replacement= Using substitutes/ computer models
• Refinement= reducing the amount of pain/ discomfort

Question 23

What is a research university/ facility required to have for animal testing?

Answer 23

-Institutional Animal Care and Use Commitee= made up of vets, community reps, & scientists to evaluate proposed experiments