PSYC 280

Question 1

What is Behavioral Neuroscience?

Answer 1

BN encompasses a variety of disciplines, including players from distinct backgrounds. Psych, bio, physio, engineer, neurology, etc.

It studies the two-way relationship between the brain and behaviour. “The Neuroscience underlining behaviour and experience.

Question 2

Five viewpoints exploring the “Biology of Behaviour”

Answer 2

1. ‘Describing’ behaviour
2. Studying the ‘evolution’ of behaviour
3. Observing the ‘development’ of behaviour and it’s biological characteristics over the life span
4. Studying the biological ‘mechanisms’ of behaviour
5. Studying ‘applications’ of behavioural Neuroscience - ex: applications to dysfunctions of human behaviour

Question 3

Three main approaches to studying the neuroscience of behaviour

Answer 3

Somatic intervention
Behaviour intervention
Correlation

Question 4

Somatic intervention

Answer 4

Altering a structure or function of the brain/body to see its effect on behaviour
Ex. A connection between two parts of the nervous system is cut, and changes of behaviour are examined

Question 5

Behavioural intervention

Answer 5

Altering behaviour and/or environment to see if there are subsequent physiological or anatomical changes.
Ex. Training of animals in a maze is accompanied by electrical, biochemical, and anatomical changes in parts of the brain.

Question 6

Correlation (intervention approach)

Answer 6

Studying both somatic and behavioural variables to identify the correlation between somatic and behavioural changes
Ex. Is the severity of a disability or disorder correlated with the magnitude of changes in brain structure?

Question 7

Neural plasticity or ‘Neuroplasticity’

Answer 7

The ability of the brain structure and/or function to be altered by environment and experience

Question 8

Explain Levels of Analysis

Answer 8

Levels of analysis in behavioural Neuroscience range from social interaction to molecular changes. Using different strategies such as reductionism to investigate the correlation between biological changes and behaviour.

Question 9

Reductionism

Answer 9

A scientific strategy of breaking a system down into increasingly smaller parts in order to understand it.

Question 10

What are the 7 levels of analysis

Answer 10

Social level - individuals behaving in social interaction

Organ level - brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and eyes

Neural systems level - eyes and visual brain regions

Brain region level - visual cortex

Circuit level - local neural circuit

Cellular level - single neuron

Synaptic level -

Molecular level - receptors

Question 11

Does a bigger brain indicate greater intelligence?

Answer 11

See page 17

Question 12

phrenology

Answer 12

The belief that different areas of the brain are associated with certain tasks/functions.

Old phrenology believed that bumps on the scull indicated development in specific areas of the brain, which were associated with particular qualities. Today, through neuro-imaging, we know that the entire brain is activated during any task but some areas are activated more than others depending on the task. Therefore, new phrenology measures where ‘peak activity’ occurs.