Week 9: Biological psychology: biology of thermoregulation and eating behaviour in humans

Question 1

_______________ is the regulation of body temperature, usually within a specific range.

Answer 1

Thermoregulation

Question 2

________ can regulate their body temperature via metabolic processes (‘warm blooded’ animals, including humans).

Answer 2

Endotherms

Question 3

_________ animals can stay active in cold weather, but they need more energy to heat their bodies and therefore need more food.

Answer 3

Endothermic

Question 4

__________ have a body temperature that is influenced by the external environment (incorrectly known as ‘cold blooded’).

Answer 4

Ectotherms

Question 5

__________ animals do not need energy to heat themselves but as a result they are inactive in cold weather.

Answer 5

Ectothermic

Question 6

If an animal has a low metabolic rate it is a __________.

Answer 6

ectoterm

Question 7

If an animal has a high and very stable internal temperature it is an _______.

Answer 7

endoterm

Question 8

What of the following is NOT a natural insulator?

Fur
Teeth
Blubber
Feathers
Eyes
Hair
Colouration

Answer 8

Teeth and eyes

Question 9

In a colder environment, an animals’ metabolism
________ to __________
their internal body temperature.

Answer 9

increases, raise

Question 10

Which of the following are instances of behavioural thermoregulation?

Timing of activities
Cooling techniques (eg. panting)
Hibernation
Posture
Torpor

Answer 10

Timing of activities
Hibernation
Standing in water
Torpor

Question 11

In order to stop things such as overheating, the human body has several ways of regulating temperature. Which of the below help with thermoregulation?

Vasoconstriction
Coughing
Sneezing
Sweating
Increase activity
Decrease activity
Shivering

Answer 11

Vasoconstriction
Sweating
Increase activity
Decrease activity
Shivering

Question 12

__________ provides carbohydrates, proteins, & fats for metabolism

Answer 12

Eating

Question 13

_______ rate changes with age, sex, body fat, activity & diet

Answer 13

Metabolic

Question 13

__________ is used for body heat & work: transport, synthesis, storage

Answer 13

Energy

Question 14

Hypothalamic ______ _______ controls heat homeostasis.

Answer 14

THERMOREGULATORY CENTER

Question 15

_________ regulates anabolic cell activities & glucose uptake in cells

Answer 15

Insulin

Question 15

Maintaining _________ takes approximately 50% of our energy
controls heat homeostasis

Answer 15

homeostasis

Question 16

COUNTERCURRENT HEAT EXCHANGE

Answer 16

Warm and cold blood flow in opposite directions
to regulate the temperature (arteries & veins)
* Usually around the brain/head region

Question 17

Behavioural thermoregulation occurs through:
___________ (e.g. lizard increases temperature by “spread eagle”
posture on top of a hot rock)
__________ (e.g. turning its back to the sun)

Answer 17

microclimate
orientation

Question 18

Torpor, hibernation, estivation, Timing of activities, “Cooling off” techniques are examples of ________ thermoregulation.

Answer 18

behavioural

Question 19

Reduced metabolic activity and body temperature for
less than a day (endotherm)- governed by circadian
rhythm, ________ or mini hibernation.

Answer 19

torpor

Question 20

During torpor animals stop foraging. True/False

Answer 20

False
Animals continue foraging

Question 21

During hibernation animals usually do not forage but rely on energy
stores (food caches or body energy reserves). True/False

Answer 21

True

Question 21

Long-term torpor (can be 6 months) occurring in the
winter months (endotherms & ectotherms), to
conserve energy.

Answer 21

Hibernation

Question 21

__________ – active at night e.g. owl, mice, koala

Answer 21

NOCTURNAL

Question 21

Long-term torpor (can be 6 months) occurring in the summer months (ectotherms) * To avoid damage from high temperatures (desiccation- extreme dryness or drying out)

Answer 21

Estivation

Question 22

_________ – active during daytime e.g. “grazers” – gazelles, elephants

Answer 22

DIURNAL

Question 23

_________ _______ zone represents ambient conditions where heat gain by animal equals heat loss (= thermal comfort; 28-31 degrees C in naked humans)

Answer 23

Thermo neutral

Question 23

‘COOLING OFF’ TECHNIQUES * Rolling or wallowing in mud * Taking a “dip” or standing in the water * Going underground, using caves or lying in shade * Flying in high altitudes

Question 23

__________ – active at periods throughout 24-hours e.g. some lemurs

Answer 23

CATHEMERAL

Question 24

__________ – active at dawn & dusk e.g. deer, rabbits, most birds, red pandas, cats

Answer 24

CREPUSCULAR

Question 25

In humans about ____ percent of energy is used for body heat.

Answer 25

50

Question 26

Body temperature balance is very narrow range, usually higher/lower than environment.

Answer 26

higher

Question 27

___________ - body temperature too high Fever: pyrogens fight pathogens Heat exhaustion (102 F/38.8C) Heat stroke (106F/41C) → death Malignant hyperthermia – defective Ca++ release

Answer 27

HYPERTHERMIA

Question 28

__________ - body temperature too low Metabolism slows → loss of consciousness, death Surgical applications: heart surgery

Answer 28

HYPOTHERMIA

Question 29

Humans eat more than needed. Human eating is influenced by learned & unlearned mechanisms. True/False

Answer 29

True

Question 30

Factors influencing human eating:

Answer 30

1. Biological (hormones) 2. Psychological (mood, sight and smell of food) 3. Socio-cultural (norms about weight, cultural foods)

Question 31

Function of _________ system is to break food down into smaller molecules that cells can use.

Answer 31

digestive

Question 32

_________ is the body’s main ‘fuel’

Answer 32

Glucose

Question 33

After weaning most mammals lose intestinal enzyme _______ which is needed for metabolising lactose (sugar in milk)

Answer 33

lactase (2/3 of humans lack lactase)

Question 33

The _________ controls eating & other body maintenance functions

Answer 33

hypothalamus

Question 34

THE _______ HYPOTHALAMUS CONTROLS: * Insulin secretion * Alters taste responsiveness

Answer 34

lateral

Question 35

Electrical stimulation to lateral hypothalamus in increased/decreased appetite.

Answer 35

Increased

Question 36

Damage to lateral hypothalamus can result in starvation due to food and water refusal. True/False

Answer 36

True

Question 37

__________ HYPOTHALAMUS: * Tumors lead to overeating & weight gain * Alters taste responsiveness

Answer 37

VENTROMEDIAL

Question 38

Damage to areas in or around the ventromedial hypothalamus: * Animal has increased appetite, gains lot of weight, then becomes ‘finicky’ eater * Eat normal meals more often (overeat) Damage to paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus: * Animal eats larger meals (overeats)

Question 39

________ monitors appetite hormone levels

Answer 39

Hypothalamus

Question 40

______ nervosa (considered psychiatric condition) * Unwilling to eat as much as they need; become extremely thin & may die

Answer 40

ANOREXIA

Question 41

________ NERVOSA (considered psychiatric condition) * Alternate between extreme dieting and binges of overeating

Answer 41

BULIMIA

Question 42

‘SETTLING POINT’: cluster of genetic & environmental factors cause a person’s weight to settle within a given range * Children more likely to be obese if parents are obese * Weight can be affected by diet, exercise, daily habits (e.g., use stairs instead of lift)

Question 43

The Hypothalamus controls eating and other body maintenance functions - what does the Lateral Hypothalamus control? a) Insulin secretion b) Creates tumours c) Alters taste responses d) Controls weight gain

Answer 43

a and c

Question 44

The WHO research also shows that genetics does NOT play a role in determining body weight. True/False

Answer 44

False

Question 44

The WHO commission studied childhood obesity - they found that there were no personality trait differences between obese and non-obese people. True/False

Answer 44

true

Question 45

The Hypothalamus monitors appetite and hormone levels - which of the below are appetite hormones? a) Leptin b)Dopamine c) Pectin d) Insulin

Answer 45

leptin and insulin

Question 46

What other factors besides biological ones, influence hunger and eating? Memories of last meal Food trends Colour of the food Taste preferences How much you ate yesterday

Answer 46

Memories of last meal Food trends Taste preferences

Question 47

Most obese people produce plenty of leptin & have normal leptin receptors, so they overeat for other reasons

Question 47

* Fat cells throughout body produce peptide leptin (more fat cells, more leptin) * Mice with ‘obese’ gene do not make leptin * Gene exists that increases eating, decreases metabolic rate & increases weight gain

Question 48

obesity & inactivity are 2 largest contributors to developing heart disease – Australia’s biggest killer

Answer 48

≈ 55,000 people die from heart disease each year (1 every 12 minutes)

Question 49

Dieters and obese are more likely to eat in response to stress than non-dieters * Family environment of little importance in determining body weight - genetics plays a large role

Question 50

___ ______ _______ (BMI) Measure of relative size based on mass & height

Answer 50

body mass index

Question 51

BMI ____ or below is ideal, ____ or more is obesity.

Answer 51

25, 30