Week 1 Lecture Content Flashcards
What is the primary focus of biopsychology?
a) The study of human behavior in social contexts
b) The biology of cognition and behavior
c) The psychological effects of medication
d) The evolution of human intelligence
b) The biology of cognition and behavior
Which ancient civilization discarded the brain during mummification?
a) Ancient Greeks
b) Ancient Romans
c) Ancient Egyptians
d) Ancient Persians
c) Ancient Egyptians
According to ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, where did mental capacities stem from?
a) The brain
b) The heart
c) The liver
d) The lungs
b) The heart
Who proposed the pineal gland as the site of mind-body integration?
a) John Watson
b) Charles Darwin
c) René Descartes
d) Sigmund Freud
c) René Descartes
Which of the following is NOT a way to alter neural activity mentioned in the lectures?
a) Disease
b) Tissue damage
c) Drugs
d) Hypnosis
d) Hypnosis
What did John Watson believe was the most important determinant of human behavior?
a) Genetics
b) Individual experience
c) Hormones
d) Brain structure
b) Individual experience
In Tyron’s rat experiments, what ability was selectively bred?
a) Running speed
b) Aggression
c) Maze performance
d) Social behavior
c) Maze performance
Which term describes the ability of the nervous system to change and remodel?
a) Neuroplasticity
b) Neurotransmission
c) Neurogenesis
d) Neurodegeneration
a) Neuroplasticity
What does epigenetics study?
a) How genes mutate over time
b) How certain factors influence gene expression without changing the gene sequence
c) How neurons communicate
d) How the brain develops during childhood
b) How certain factors influence gene expression without changing the gene sequence
Which of the following is NOT part of Paul MacLean’s “Triune Brain Model”?
a) Reptilian brain
b) Paleomammalian brain
c) Neomammalian brain
d) Primate brain
d) Primate brain
What is the primary function of the meninges?
a) Produce cerebrospinal fluid
b) Generate new neurons
c) Protect the brain
d) Regulate brain temperature
c) Protect the brain
What does CSF stand for?
a) Cerebral Structural Fluid
b) Cerebrospinal Fluid
c) Cortical Synaptic Function
d) Central Spinal Fluid
b) Cerebrospinal Fluid
What is the main function of the blood-brain barrier?
a) To produce blood cells
b) To control the entry and exit of molecules between blood and brain
c) To regulate blood pressure in the brain
d) To produce cerebrospinal fluid
b) To control the entry and exit of molecules between blood and brain
Which imaging technique provides the highest resolution of cellular structures?
a) CT scan
b) MRI
c) fMRI
d) Electron microscopy
d) Electron microscopy
Which technique allows for causal manipulation of neural activity?
a) EEG
b) fMRI
c) Optogenetics
d) PET scan
c) Optogenetics
Which of the following is a benefit of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS)?
a) Highest spatial resolution
b) Can be used in more natural settings
c) Provides whole-brain functional data
d) Direct measure of neural activity
b) Can be used in more natural settings
What is a limitation of using dissection to study brain anatomy?
a) It’s too expensive
b) It doesn’t provide functional information
c) It can only be done on animals
d) It requires special imaging equipment
b) It doesn’t provide functional information
Which technique offers the best temporal resolution for studying brain activity?
a) fMRI
b) PET
c) EEG
d) CT scan
c) EEG
What is a major advantage of functional MRI (fMRI)?
a) It’s inexpensive
b) It provides whole-brain functional data
c) It directly measures neural activity
d) It has excellent temporal resolution
b) It provides whole-brain functional data
Which of the following techniques is typically used in animal studies due to its invasive nature?
a) MRI
b) EEG
c) In vivo electrophysiology
d) NIRS
c) In vivo electrophysiology
Which of the following best describes the relationship between brain and behavior in biopsychology?
a) Unidirectional: brain influences behavior
b) Unidirectional: behavior influences brain
c) Reciprocal: brain and behavior influence each other
d) Independent: brain and behavior are unrelated
c) Reciprocal: brain and behavior influence each other
In the nature vs. nurture debate, what does “nature” refer to?
a) Environmental factors
b) Inherited factors and genes
c) Cultural influences
d) Personal experiences
b) Inherited factors and genes
Which ancient Roman physician noted that head injuries could affect behavior?
a) Hippocrates
b) Galen
c) Aristotle
d) Plato
b) Galen
What is the term for factors that can affect how genes are expressed without changing the gene sequence?
a) Neuroplasticity
b) Epigenetics
c) Genetic drift
d) Natural selection
b) Epigenetics
Which part of the nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord?
a) Peripheral Nervous System
b) Central Nervous System
c) Somatic Nervous System
d) Autonomic Nervous System
b) Central Nervous System
What is the primary function of neurotransmitters in the nervous system?
a) To produce new neurons
b) To transmit electrical signals between neurons
c) To repair damaged neural tissue
d) To regulate blood flow in the brain
b) To transmit electrical signals between neurons
Which lobe of the brain is primarily associated with visual processing?
a) Frontal lobe
b) Parietal lobe
c) Temporal lobe
d) Occipital lobe
d) Occipital lobe
What is the main function of the cerebellum?
a) Emotion regulation
b) Language processing
c) Motor coordination and balance
d) Long-term memory storage
c) Motor coordination and balance
Which of the following is NOT a part of the limbic system?
a) Amygdala
b) Hippocampus
c) Cerebellum
d) Hypothalamus
c) Cerebellum
What type of cells in the nervous system provide support and protection for neurons?
a) Astrocytes
b) Neurons
c) Myelin
d) Dendrites
a) Astrocytes
Which technique uses radioactive tracers to measure brain activity?
a) fMRI
b) PET
c) EEG
d) CT
b) PET
What is the primary advantage of using animal models in biopsychology research?
a) They’re less expensive than human participants
b) They allow for more invasive and controlled experiments
c) They provide results that always translate directly to humans
d) They eliminate the need for ethical considerations
b) They allow for more invasive and controlled experiments
Which of the following is a criticism of Paul MacLean’s Triune Brain model?
a) It doesn’t include the cerebellum
b) It suggests that human brains are less evolved than other animals
c) It oversimplifies the evolution of brain structures
d) It proposes that the brain has four major parts, not three
c) It oversimplifies the evolution of brain structures
What is the primary function of the hypothalamus?
a) Processing auditory information
b) Regulating body temperature and hunger
c) Storing long-term memories
d) Controlling voluntary movement
b) Regulating body temperature and hunger
Which of the following best describes the blood-brain barrier?
a) A physical barrier between the skull and the brain
b) A network of blood vessels that supply the brain with oxygen
c) A selective filter that controls what substances can enter the brain from the bloodstream
d) A layer of cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain
c) A selective filter that controls what substances can enter the brain from the bloodstream
What is biopsychology
Biopsychology is the study of the biology of cognition and behaviour. It’s a diverse field incorporating multiple disciplines such as neuropharmacology, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurogenetics, cognitive neuroscience, behavioural neuroscience, neurology, and psychiatry.
Example: Studying how certain neural activity patterns in the brain can generate specific behaviours or cognitive processes, and how experiences can alter these neural patterns.
“The brain drives human behaviour and emotion.” In general, would ancient Egyptians and ancient Greeks agree with this statement?
Ancient Egyptians would likely disagree, as they discarded the brain during mummification, suggesting they didn’t view it as important for behaviour or emotion. Ancient Greeks, like Aristotle, would also likely disagree, as they believed mental capacities stemmed from the heart, not the brain.
“Thoughts have a physical basis – they stem from patterns of neural activity in the brain.” Would a materialist agree with this statement?
A materialist would agree that thoughts stem from patterns of neural activity in the brain.
“Thoughts have a physical basis – they stem from patterns of neural activity in the brain.” Would Déscartes agree with this statement?
Descartes might partially agree but would likely argue for a dualist perspective, suggesting the mind (or soul) interacts with the brain but is separate from it. He proposed the pineal gland as a site of mind-body integration.
List three ways to alter behaviour via altering neural activity.
- Disease: e.g., Parkinson’s disease altering motor behaviour
- Drugs: e.g., antidepressants altering mood and behaviour
- Electrical stimulation: e.g., deep brain stimulation for treating certain neurological disorders
According to John Watson, what is the most important determinant of human behaviour?
Watson believed that individual experience (nurture) was the most important determinant of human behaviour.
_____ ______ believed that individual experience (nurture) was the most important determinant of human behaviour.
John Watson
Watson believed that individual experience (nurture) was the most important determinant of human behaviour.
Think about the implications of this for modern society, e.g., should the government fund early childhood education?
This perspective would support government funding for early childhood education, as it suggests that early experiences significantly shape future behaviour and capabilities.
What did Tyron et al.’s experiments with rats show with regards to heredity and learning?
Tyron’s experiments showed that maze performance in rats could be selectively bred, suggesting a genetic component to learning ability.
_______’s experiments showed that maze performance in rats could be selectively bred, suggesting a genetic component to learning ability.
Tyron’s
Tyron’s experiments showed that maze performance in rats could be selectively bred, suggesting a genetic component to learning ability.
What did subsequent experiments suggest might be confounds?
Subsequent experiments (e.g., Cooper and Zubek, 1958) showed that environmental factors could override these genetic predispositions, suggesting complex interactions between genetics and environment.
Define neuroplasticity
The ability of the nervous system to change and remodel in response to experiences.
Define epigenetics
The study of how certain factors influence gene expression without changing the gene sequence.
Describe how neuroplasticity and epigenetics mediate the reciprocal relationship between brain structure/function and behaviour.
Neuroplasticity: The ability of the nervous system to change and remodel in response to experiences.
Epigenetics: The study of how certain factors influence gene expression without changing the gene sequence.
Both mediate the reciprocal relationship between brain and behaviour by allowing experiences and behaviours to alter neural structures and gene expression, which in turn can influence future behaviours.
What is Paul MacLean’s “Triune Brain Model”?
The model suggests three evolutionary layers of the brain: reptilian (brainstem, basal ganglia), paleomammalian (limbic system), and neomammalian (cortex).
Paul MacLean’s “Triune Brain Model” suggests three evolutionary layers of the brain: _________ (brainstem, basal ganglia), ______________ (limbic system), and ____________ (cortex).
Paul MacLean’s “Triune Brain Model” suggests three evolutionary layers of the brain: reptilian (brainstem, basal ganglia), paleomammalian (limbic system), and neomammalian (cortex).
____ _________ “Triune Brain Model” suggests three evolutionary layers of the brain: reptilian (brainstem, basal ganglia), paleomammalian (limbic system), and neomammalian (cortex).
Paul MacLean’s
Paul MacLean’s “______ _____ _____” suggests three evolutionary layers of the brain: reptilian (brainstem, basal ganglia), paleomammalian (limbic system), and neomammalian (cortex).
“Triune Brain Model”
Paul MacLean’s “Triune Brain Model” suggests three evolutionary layers of the brain: reptilian (brainstem, basal ganglia), paleomammalian (limbic system), and neomammalian (cortex).
Provide two arguments that suggest this model is overly simplified.
- Reptiles do have some cortical and limbic structures, not just a “reptilian brain”
- Non-primate mammals have a cortex, not just a “paleomammalian brain”
Paul MacLean’s “Triune Brain Model” suggests three evolutionary layers of the brain: reptilian (brainstem, basal ganglia), paleomammalian (limbic system), and neomammalian (cortex).
Provide two arguments that suggest this model is overly simplified.
- Reptiles do have some cortical and limbic structures, not just a “reptilian brain”
- Non-primate mammals have a cortex, not just a “paleomammalian brain”
What are the meninges?
Meninges are protective layers (dura mater, arachnoid, pia mater) surrounding the brain.
They protect the brain from physical damage and help maintain the tightly constrained skull-meninges-brain space relationship.
Meninges are protective layers (____ mater, _________, ___ mater) surrounding the brain. They protect the brain from physical damage and help maintain the tightly constrained skull-meninges-brain space relationship.
Meninges are protective layers (dura mater, arachnoid, pia mater) surrounding the brain. They protect the brain from physical damage and help maintain the tightly constrained skull-meninges-brain space relationship.
What is “CSF”?
CSF is a fluid that fills the ventricles and surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
It provides internal protection (shock absorption) and facilitates nutrient exchange between CSF and brain tissue.
What is the blood-brain barrier?
The blood-brain barrier is a selective barrier that controls the entry and exit of molecules between the blood and the brain.
It protects the brain from potentially harmful substances while allowing necessary nutrients to pass through.
What are the pros and cons of Gross Anatomy via Dissection?
Pros: Good for medical settings (e.g., post-mortem diagnosis of dementia)
Cons: No functional information, Only possible post-mortem
What are the pros and cons of Gross Anatomy via Imaging (CT, MRI, DTI)?
Pros: In vivo imaging, Whole brain imaging, Can show anatomical connectivity (especially DTI)
Cons: No functional information, Complex data analysis
What are the pros and cons of Microscopic Anatomy via Histology?
Pros: High-resolution cellular details, Can show protein/gene expression
Cons: No functional information, Typically post-mortem
What are the pros and cons of Microscopic Anatomy via Electron Microscopy?
Pros: Highest resolution of cellular structures
Cons: No functional information, Only possible post-mortem
What are the pros and cons of Microscopic Anatomy via 3D Imaging (e.g., multiphoton microscopy)?
Pros: High-resolution, Can show both structure and function
Cons: Limited depth penetration, Expensive, Typically used only in animal studies
What are the pros and cons of Functional MRI (fMRI) and PET?
Pros: In vivo human brain imaging, Whole-brain functional data
Cons: Indirect measures of neural activity, Poor temporal resolution, Expensive
What are the pros and cons of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS)?
Pros: Portable, Relatively cheap, Can be used in more natural settings
Cons: Limited to cortical regions, Lower resolution than fMRI
What are the pros and cons of Electroencephalography (EEG)?
Pros: Excellent temporal resolution, Relatively cheap
Flexible
Cons: Poor spatial resolution, Limited to cortical activity
What are the pros and cons of In vivo Electrophysiology and Calcium Imaging?
Pros: Direct measure of neural activity, High temporal and spatial resolution
Cons: Invasive, Typically only used in animal studies
What are the pros and cons of Patch Clamping and Slice Electrophysiology?
Pros: Highest resolution of cellular activity, Can study synaptic transmission
Cons: In vitro, Typically used in animal studies
What are the pros and cons of Optogenetics and Chemogenetics?
Pros: Allow for causal manipulation of neural activity
Cons: Invasive, Typically only used in animal studies
