Biological Approach Terms

fMRI

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, a type of brain scan that measures brain activity of areas of the brain when the participant is performing a task or cognitive process.

Localization of Brain Function

Specific parts of the brain are responsible for specific functions.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to change as a result of experience.

Neural Networks

A group of interconnected neurons that work together to process information and generate responses in the brain.

Neural Pruning

The process by which the brain eliminates unused synaptic connections, making our most-used neural networks stronger.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers that transmit signals along neural pathways.

Excitatory

Neurotransmitters that allow impulses to cross the synapse.

Inhibitory

Neurotransmitters that suppress impulse crossing the synapse.

Serotonin

Inhibitory neurotransmitter that contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness, influencing mood, emotion, and sleep. Correlation with antisocial behavior

Hormone

A chemical messenger produced by glands that travels through the bloodstream.

Testosterone

A sex hormone primarily associated with the development of male reproductive tissues, correlated with aggression.

Aggression

A behavior that is intended to harm or threaten another individual.

Impulsive-Reactive Aggression

Reacting to a threat aggressively without thinking carefully.

Pheromone

A chemical signal released by an individual that influences the behavior or physiology of another individual of the same species.

Androstadienone

A type of pheromone found in sweat, believed to influence social and sexual behavior in humans.

Vemeronasal Organ

Anolfactory structure in many mammals that detects pheromones.

Gene

A segment of DNA that encodes for a specific protein or trait.

MAOA Gene

“Warrior Gene,” correlated with aggressive behavior. Produces an enzyme that affects neurotransmission.

Heritability

The proportion of variation in a trait that can be attributed to genetic factors.

Monozygotic

(Identical) Twins that have 100% of DNA in common.

Dizygotic

(Fraternal) Twins that have 50% of DNA in common.

Antisocial Behaviour

A pattern of behavior characterized by a disregard for social norms and the rights of others, often involving harmful or hostile actions.

Evolutionary Explaination of Behaviour

The behavior exists because it helps an individual to pass on their genes by helping them to survive, procreate, and/or produce healthy children.

Cortisol

A steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands, often released in response to stress.

Memory Consolidation

The process by which short-term memories are transformed into long-term memories.

Animal Model

A research method in which non-human animals are used to study psychological and biological processes.

Lesioning

The process of intentionally damaging the brain.

Ablating

A procedure that involves removing a part of the brain.

Selective Breeding

The process of breeding animals for specific traits or behaviors, often used to study genetic influences on behavior.

Attack Latency (Oortmerssen and Bakker)

How long it takes a mouse who is used to living in a particular cage to attack another mouse who is put in the same cage.

Resident-Intruder Paradigm (Oortmerssen and Bakker)

A test used to measure aggression, where one animal is placed in a cage where another has been living.

TPH2 Gene

A gene that helps with the conversion of tryptophan into serotonin.

Gene Ablating

The process of selectively removing or disabling a specific gene to study its effects on an organism's phenotype or behavior.

Amygdala

The emotional center of the brain, located within the temporal lobe.

Hippocampus

Brain region involved in memory formation and spatial navigation, located in the medial temporal lobe.