physiological psychology midterms

Monism

It is the belief that the universe consists of only one kind of existence.

Artificial selection

This principle has long been known by plant and animal breeders, who choose individuals with desired traits and make them the parents of the next generation.

Physiological explanation

Describes/relates a behavior to the activity of the brain and other organs. It deals with the machinery of the body.

Heritability

It is the estimated concept of how much of the variance in some characteristics within some population is due to differences in heredity.

Identity position

The view that mental processes are the same things as certain kinds of brain process but described in different terms.

Lamarckian evolution

According to this idea, if giraffes stretch their necks as far as possible, their offspring will be born with longer necks.

Materialism

The view that everything that exists is material or physical.

Rene Descartes

Who is this French Philosopher, who proposed that mind and brain interact at a single point in space, which he suggested was the pineal gland?

Recombination

It is a new combination of genes, comes from one parent and some from the others, that yields characteristics not found in either parent.

Recessive

A gene that shows its effect only in the heterozygous condition.

Sex-linked genes

The genes that are located in the sex chromosomes.

Biological psychology

The study of the physiological, evolutionary and developmental mechanisms of behavior and experience.

Evolution

It is a change over generations in the frequencies of various genes in a population.

Gregor Mendel

Who is this scientist who demonstrated that inheritance occurs through genes, a unit of heredity that maintain their structural identity from one generation to another?

Ontogenetic

The term ontogenetic comes from Greek roots meaning 'to be' and 'origin'.

Sex-limited genes

It is distinct from sex-linked genes, it is present in both sexes but has an effect limited or almost limited to one sex.

Heredity

What do you call the chemicals that maintain their integrity from one generation to the next and influence the developments of the individual?

Functional explanation

It describes why a structure or behavior evolved as it did.

Dominant

A gene that shows a strong effect in either the homozygous or heterozygous condition.

Phenylketonuria

It is a form of mental retardation caused by genetic inability to metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine.

Nucleus

Except for red blood cells, all animal cells have a structure that contains the chromosomes.

Glia

The other major components of the nervous system that do not transmit information over long distances as neurons do, although they do exchange chemicals with adjacent neurons.

Axon

Any stimulation beyond a certain level and it produces a sudden, massive depolarization of the membrane.

Hyperpolarization

It is an exaggeration of the usual negative charge within a cell.

Nodes of Ranvier

The sites at which the cell synthesizes new protein molecules.

Threshold of excitation

It is the structure that performs metabolic activities, providing the energy that the cell requires for all its other activities.

Dendrites

Cells that receive information and transmit it to other cells.

Cell body

It contains nucleus, ribosomes, mitochondria, and other structures found in most cells.

Endoplasmic reticulum

A network of thin tubes that transport newly synthesized proteins to other locations.

Plasma Membrane

It is the edge of the cell and a structure that separates the inside of the cell from the outside environment.

Efferent Axon

The other terms associated with neurons that carries information away from a structure.

Afferent axon

The other terms associated with neurons that brings information into a structure.

Radial glia

It is a type of astrocyte that guide the migration of neurons and the growth of their axons and dendrites during embryonic development.

Microglia

This also removes waste material as well as viruses, fungi and other microorganisms.

Oligodendrocytes

Cells that provide support and insulation to axons in the central nervous system.

Motor neuron

It receives excitation from other neurons and conducts impulses from its soma in the spinal cord to muscle or gland cells.

Dendrites

The branching fibers that get narrower near their ends and it is shaped like a tree.

Saltatory conduction

It is the jumping of action potentials from node to node.

Presynaptic terminal

An axon has many branches, each of which swells at tip, forming a known as end bulb or bouton.

Synapse

The junction between two neurons where information is transmitted.

Mitochondrion

It is the structure that performs metabolic activities, providing the energy that the cell requires for all its other activities.

Myelin Sheath

It is a thin fiber of constant diameter and the information sender of the neuron.

Neurons

The basic working unit of the brain, a specialized cell designed to transmit information.

Evolutionary explanation

A concept that explains how characteristics within a population vary due to heredity.

Functional evolution

An explanation of how evolutionary processes contribute to the function of biological traits.

Contogenetic explanation

An explanation that focuses on the development of an organism over its lifetime.

Physiological explanation

An explanation that relates biological functions to the physical processes of the body.

Heritability

The estimated concept of how much of the variance in some characteristics within some population is due to differences in heredity.

Sex-linked genes

Genes located on sex chromosomes that can affect traits related to gender.

Recombination

A new combination of genes from one parent and some from the other that yields characteristics not found in either parent.

Lamarckian evolution

The idea that if giraffes stretch their necks as far as possible, their offspring will be born with longer necks.

Dualism

The philosophical position that mind and body are distinct entities.

Gregor Mendel

The scientist who demonstrated that inheritance occurs through genes, units of heredity that maintain their structural identity across generations.

Sex-limited genes

Genes that are present in both sexes but have effects limited to one sex.

Heredity

The chemicals that maintain their integrity from generation to generation and influence the development of the individual.

Functional explanation

An explanation that describes why a structure or behavior evolved as it did.

Dominant gene

A gene that shows a strong effect in either the homozygous or heterozygous condition.

Phenylketonuria

A form of mental retardation caused by genetic inability to metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine.

Placebo

A drug or other procedure with no pharmacological effects.

Vestibular organ

An organ adjacent to the cochlea that monitors each movement and directs compensatory movements of the eyes.

Across-fiber principle

A principle where each receptor responds to a wider range of stimuli and contributes to the perception of each of them.

Tinnitus

A condition common in old age characterized by frequent or constant ringing in the ears.

VNO

Is a set of receptors located near, but separate from olfactory receptors.

Conductive Deafness

It occurs if the bones of the middle ear fail to transmit sound waves properly to the cochlea.

Cochlea

Which of the following is not part of the tiny bones that are attached to the tympanic membrane.

Amplitude

_ is the perception of intensity.

Pitch

_ is a perception closely related to frequency.

Spatial Neglect

It is a tendency to ignore the left side of the body and its surroundings, including visual, auditory, and touch stimuli.

Frequency Theory

_ is when the basilar membrane vibrates in synchrony with sound, causing auditory nerve axons to produce action potentials.

Labeled-line principle

The _ principle, each receptor would respond to a limited range of stimuli and send a direct line to the brain.

Frequency

is a number of compressions per second.

Somatosensation

It is not one sense but many, it is the sensation of the body and its movements.

Mechanical Senses

It responds to pressure, bending, or other distortions of a receptor.

Pheromones

These are chemicals released by an animal that affect the behavior of other members of the same species, especially sexually.

Olfaction

It is the detection and recognition of chemicals that come in contact with the membranes inside the nose.

Nerve deafness

results from damage to the cochlea, the hair cells or the auditory nerve.

Anosmia

It is known as the lack of Olfaction.

Genetic Drift

A single-strand chemical coded by DNA.

DNA

Bouble-stranded molecule that is part of the chromosome.

Evolutionary Explanation

Of the following, which one is an example of an Evolutionary Explanation (as opposed to a functional explanation)?

Glia

The type of cell in the nervous system that, in contrast to neurons, does not conduct impulses over long distances.

Neurons

The basic building blocks of the nervous system, responsible for transmitting information throughout the body.

Glia

Supportive cells in the nervous system that assist neurons in their functions.

Ribosomes

Cellular structures that synthesize proteins by translating messenger RNA.

Nucleus

The organelle in a cell that contains the genetic material.

Animal Research Justifications

The underlying mechanisms of behavior are similar across species and sometimes easier to study nonhuman species.

Minimalist

Those who accept some kinds of animal research but wish to prohibit others depending on the probable value of the research, the amount of distress to the animal, and the type of animal.

Abolitionist

Individuals who see no room for compromise and maintain that all animals have the same rights as humans.

Reduction

A legal standard that uses fewer animals in research.

Replacement

A legal standard that uses computer models or other substitutes for animals when possible.

Refinement

Legal standards that modify the procedures to reduce pain and discomfort in animal research.

Animal Research Ethics

Animal research today is conducted with legal ethical controls that attempt to minimize animal distress.

Materialism

The belief that the universe consists of only one kind of existence.

Kin Selection

A principle that suggests individuals can increase their own genetic success through altruistic behavior toward relatives.

Artificial Selection

The process by which humans breed plants and animals for desired traits.

Physiological Explanation

Describes a behavior in relation to the activity of the brain and other organs.

Heritability

The estimated concept of how much of the variance in some characteristics within some populations is due to differences in heredity.

Recombination

A new combination of genes that yields characteristics not found in either parent.

Recessive Gene

A gene that shows its effect only in a heterozygous condition.

Identity Position

The view that mental processes are the same as certain kinds of brain processes but described in different terms.