Unit 2

Question 0

Why is the evolution of psychological traits more controversial than biological traits?

Answer 0

Psychological traits are derived from unmeasurable data and from learning. Biological traits can be measured and observed using scientific method.

Question 1

What field studies behavior and the mind using the principles of evolutionary theory?

Answer 1

Evolutionary psychology

Question 2

Why is it that species do not necessarily evolve to fit their environment perfectly?

Answer 2

Because surviving well enough to reproduce is all that matters. Although it may not be the best design (penguin example) it just needs to work well enough to continue living.

Question 3

What is evolution?

Answer 3

Cumulative changes in generations over time.

Question 4

Three components necessary for evolution to occur:

Answer 4

Variation
Selection
Retention

Question 5

Variation:

Answer 5

Individual members of species have unique features and differ from one another.

Question 6

Selection:

Answer 6

Provides direction to process by favoring (and disfavoring) certain unique features.

Question 7

Retention:

Answer 7

Favored features are retained through heredity and become more common in the species overall.

Question 8

What role does natural selection play in evolution?

Answer 8

Organisms well adapted to their environment will produce more offspring than those less well adapted. Over time, those organisms possessing traits more favorable for survival will become more numerous than those not possions those traits.

Question 9

What are genes?

Answer 9

The biological unit of heredity; discrete section of a chromosome responsible for transmission of traits.

Question 10

What is a neuron?

Answer 10

A basic unit of nervous system. A cell in the nervous system specialized to receive, process, and/or transmit information to other cells.

Question 11

What is a neurotransmitter?

Answer 11

Chemical messenger released from a neuron that crosses the synapse from one neuron to another stimulating the post synaptic neuron.

Question 12

Neurotransmitters and mental disorders & abnormal behavior.

Answer 12

The many roles played by neurotransmitters make it difficult to pinpoint a simple cause and effect relation.
This may be a false debate because there could be outside contributing factors.

Question 13

Cell body:

Answer 13

Called the soma and contains the nucleus of the cell and the cytoplasm that sustains its life.

Question 14

Dendrites:

Answer 14

One of the branched fibers of neurons that receive incoming signals.

Question 15

Axon:

Answer 15

The extended fiber of a neuron through which nerve impulses travel from the soma to the terminal buttons.

Question 16

Axon terminal:

Answer 16

A bulb like structure at the branched ending of an axon that contains vesicles filled with neurotransmitters.

Question 17

What are mirrored neurons?

Answer 17

Neurons that responds when an individual observes another individual performs a motor action.( Monkey see monkey do )
They may enable us to understand the intentions of others people’s behavior.

Question 18

EEG

Answer 18

Electroencephalogram is an amplified tracing of the brain activity, and study the relationship between psychological activities and brain response.

Question 19

fMRI

Answer 19

Functional magnetic resonance imaging detects magnetic changes in the flow of blood to cells in the brain; fMRI allows for more precise claims about both structure and function.
Used to learn about cognitive abilities, such as attention, perception, language processing, and memory.

Question 20

Amygdala:

Answer 20

The part of the limbic system that controls emotion, aggression, and the formation of emotional memory.

Question 21

Hypothalamus:

Answer 21

The brain structure that regulates motivated behavior (such as eating and drinking) and homeostasis.

Question 22

Hippocampus:

Answer 22

The part of the limbic system that is involved in the acquisition of explicit memory.

Question 23

Cerebrum:

Answer 23

The region of the brain that regulates higher cognitive and emotional functions.

Question 24

Corpus callosum:

Answer 24

The mass of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres of the cerebrum. (sends messages back and forth between hemispheres)

Question 25

What percentage of our brain do we use?

Answer 25

We use 100% of the brain but not 100% of the time. Each part of the brain has a function. All regions of the brain have a function.

Question 26

What is homeostasis and which part of the brain plays an important role in maintaining homeostasis.

Answer 26

The body’s internal equilibrium and the hypothalamus maintains homeostasis.

Question 27

What are the cerebral hemispheres and how are they connected?

Answer 27

The two halves of the cerebrum connected by the corpus callosum.

Question 28

Lateralization:

Answer 28

The notion that each hemisphere is responsible for specific functions on the same or opposing side.

Question 29

What is neurogenesis?

Answer 29

The production of new brain cells from naturally occurring stem cells. (The creation of new neurons)

Question 30

Stem cells & paralysis:

Answer 30

Stems cells are unspecialized cells that, under appropriate conditions, can be prompted to function as new neurons.
These can be used to “patch” holes which could be the reason for malfunctions or paralysis, possibly curing the ailment

Question 31

Biological rhythm:

Answer 31

A periodic, more or less regular fluctuation in a biological system; it may or may not have psychological implications.

Question 32

Circadian rhythm:

Answer 32

Adaption to the many changes associated with the rotation of the earth on its axis, such as changes in light, air pressure, and temperature.

Question 33

What is seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?

Answer 33

A controversial disorder which typically occurs in winter months where people become sad, lethargic, drowsy, and crave carbs because the decreased amount of exposure to sunlight. BEST TREATMENT: Phototherapy; exposure to fluorescent lights.

Question 34

What are lucid dreams?

Answer 34

Dreams in which the dreamer is aware of dreaming.

They are different than normal dreams because we are normally unaware of dreaming.