Biological Explanations of Behaviour

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on biological explanations of behavior, including the structure and function of the nervous system and brain.

What are the four categories of biological explanations of behavior?

Physiological, Ontogenetic, Evolutionary, and Functional.

What does the Central Nervous System (CNS) consist of?

The brain and spinal cord.

What is the role of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?

Connects the CNS to the rest of the body and contains nerve fibers outside of the CNS.

What are the two divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System?

Sympathetic nervous system and Parasympathetic nervous system.

What does the sympathetic nervous system prepare the body for?

Rigorous activity.

What is the primary function of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Facilitates vegetative, nonemergency responses.

What areas of the brain are included in the forebrain?

The thalamus, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and basal ganglia.

What is grey matter composed of?

Cell bodies and dendrites.

What is the function of the spinal cord?

Communicates with sense organs and muscles, and facilitates spinal reflexes.

What are cranial nerves?

Twelve pairs of nerves that enter and exit the brain directly.

What does the medulla control?

Vital reflexes such as breathing and heart rate.

What is the cerebellum responsible for?

Regulating motor movement, balance, and coordination.

What distinguishes the hippocampus?

It is critical for certain types of memory, especially individual events.

What is the role of the hypothalamus?

Conveys messages to the pituitary gland to alter hormone release and is associated with motivated behaviors.

What connects the two cerebral hemispheres?

The corpus callosum and the anterior commissure.

Which lobe of the brain is responsible for visual processing?

The occipital lobe.

What kind of information does the postcentral gyrus process?

Touch sensations and body position information.

What do the basal ganglia help with?

Planning of motor movement and aspects of memory and emotional expression.

What structures are part of the limbic system?

Olfactory bulb, hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, and cingulate gyrus.

What is the primary motor cortex responsible for?

Control of motor movement.

What does damage to the prefrontal cortex affect?

Higher functions such as abstract thinking, planning, and immediate memory.

How does brain size relate to intelligence?

Intelligence relates more to organization and connectivity than brain size.

What are the key evolutionary changes in the human brain?

Expansion of the cerebral cortex, increased proportion of the prefrontal cortex, and greater cortical folding.