Module 001 – Physiological Psychology as Neuroscience

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Module 001 – Physiological Psychology as Neuroscience.

Biopsychology

Scientific study of the biology of behavior; also called psychobiology, behavioral neuroscience, or behavioral biology.

Physiological Psychology

Division of biopsychology that studies neural mechanisms of behavior via direct manipulation and recording of the brain, usually in laboratory animals.

D.O. Hebb

Neuroscientist whose 1949 book "The Organization of Behavior" proposed that complex psychological phenomena are produced by brain activity, sparking modern biopsychology.

Human Subjects (Research)

Participants whose abilities to follow instructions, report experiences, and possess human brains make them valuable for biopsychological studies.

Non-Human Subjects (Research)

Laboratory animals such as rats or primates used because of simpler brains, comparative approaches, and fewer ethical constraints.

Between-Subjects Design

Experimental design in which different groups of subjects are tested under each condition.

Within-Subjects Design

Experimental design in which the same subjects are tested under all conditions.

Independent Variable

Condition manipulated by an experimenter to determine its causal effect.

Dependent Variable

Outcome measure recorded to assess the effect of the independent variable.

Confounded Variable

Unintended difference between conditions that could affect the dependent variable and obscure causal interpretation.

Quasi-Experimental Study

Non-experimental research using groups exposed to conditions in the real world when random assignment is impossible or unethical.

Case Study

Intensive investigation of a single individual or event; rich detail but low generalizability.

Pure Research

Research motivated by curiosity to acquire knowledge without immediate practical goal.

Applied Research

Research conducted to produce direct benefit to humanity.

Translational Research

Work that bridges pure findings to practical applications for human benefit.

Psychopharmacology

Biopsychology division focusing on drug influence on neural activity and behavior.

Neuropsychology

Study of psychological effects of brain damage in human patients.

Psychophysiology

Examination of relationships between physiological activity and psychological processes in humans, often using EEG, EKG, etc.

Cognitive Neuroscience

Youngest division; investigates neural bases of cognition such as memory, attention, and perception.

Comparative Psychology

Compares behavior across species to understand evolution, genetics, and adaptiveness.

Neuroanatomy

Study of nervous system structure.

Neurochemistry

Study of chemical bases of neural activity.

Neuroendocrinology

Study of interactions between nervous and endocrine systems.

Neuropathology

Study of nervous system disorders.

Neuropharmacology

Study of drug effects on neural activity.

Neurophysiology

Study of nervous system functions and activities.

Cartesian Dualism

Descartes’ view that mind (non-physical) and body/brain (physical) are separate entities.

Nature-Nurture Issue

Debate over whether behavior is inherited (nature) or learned (nurture); now viewed as interactional.

Natural Selection

Darwin’s mechanism of evolution whereby heritable traits that enhance fitness become more common across generations.

Fitness (Evolution)

Ability of an organism to survive and transmit its genes to the next generation.

Social Dominance (Evolution)

Hierarchy-forming behavior that affects mating success and gene transmission.

Courtship Display

Species-typical behavior sequences that facilitate mating and can contribute to speciation.

Cerebrum

Largest brain division; its expansion and cortical convolutions increased during human evolution.

Dichotomous Trait

Characteristic occurring in only two distinct forms, e.g., yellow vs green pea seeds.

Gene

Unit of heredity; section of DNA that codes for a trait.

Allele

Different versions of the same gene located at identical loci on homologous chromosomes.

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a given trait.

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a given trait.

Dominant Trait

Allele that masks expression of another in heterozygotes and appears in first-generation crosses.

Recessive Trait

Allele expressed only when homozygous; reappears in one-quarter of second-generation offspring in Mendel’s crosses.

Chromosome

Threadlike DNA structures in cell nuclei occurring in matched pairs; humans have 23 pairs.

Meiosis

Cell division producing gametes with half the usual chromosome number (haploid), introducing genetic recombination.

Genetic Recombination

Exchange of DNA segments between homologous chromosomes during meiosis, creating novel allele combinations.

Mitosis

Standard somatic cell division producing two genetically identical daughter cells.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

Double-stranded molecule carrying genetic code via sequences of adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine.

Nucleotide Bases

Adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine—building blocks whose order encodes genetic information.

DNA Replication

Process in which DNA strands unwind and complementary bases pair to form two identical molecules.

Mutation

Accidental alteration in genetic code; source of genetic variation and occasionally increased fitness.

Sex Chromosomes

X and Y chromosomes that determine sex; XX = female, XY = male.

Autosomal Chromosomes

Non-sex chromosome pairs; carry most genes.

Sex-Linked Trait

Characteristic influenced by genes on the X (rarely Y) chromosome; often recessive traits manifest in males.

Structural Gene

DNA sequence containing information for synthesizing a specific protein.

Enhancer (Promoter)

DNA segment regulating whether and how fast structural genes are expressed.

Transcription Factor

Protein that binds DNA to influence gene expression by acting on enhancers.

Transcription

First phase of gene expression; DNA code copied into messenger RNA inside nucleus.

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

RNA strand that carries genetic code from nucleus to ribosome.

Ribosome

Cell organelle where mRNA is translated into protein.

Codon

Sequence of three mRNA bases specifying a particular amino acid.

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

Molecule that brings specific amino acids to ribosome during translation.

Translation

Second phase of gene expression; ribosome reads mRNA and assembles amino acid chain (protein).

Monozygotic Twins

Identical twins developed from the same zygote; share virtually 100% genes.

Dizygotic Twins

Fraternal twins arising from two separate zygotes; genetically similar as ordinary siblings (~50%).

Heritability Estimate

Numerical value (0–1 or 0–100%) indicating proportion of population variance in a trait attributable to genetic differences.

Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart

Landmark research showing monozygotic twins raised separately remain more similar than dizygotic twins, highlighting genetic influence.