Biological Psychology, Genetics, and Consciousness Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering nervous system anatomy, genetics and epigenetics, evolutionary psychology, and states of consciousness based on the provided lecture notes.

Pituitary Gland

The "master gland" of hormones that manufactures and releases chemical messengers into the bloodstream.

Neocortex

The part of the brain involved in higher cognitive processes.

Limbic System

The brain system responsible for social emotion and attachments.

Reptilian Brain

The brain structures associated with basic instincts and survival.

Motor Cortex

Part of the frontal lobe that sends instructions for the body's conscious movements.

Somatosensory Cortex

Part of the parietal lobe that receives information sent from the body to conscious awareness.

Nervous System

The body's speedy electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

Central Nervous System

The body's decision maker, consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.

Sympathetic System

The branch of the nervous system responsible for the flight or fight response.

Parasympathetic System

The branch of the nervous system responsible for rest and digest functions.

Hormones

Chemical messengers that are manufactured by endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues.

Environment

Every non-genetic influence, from before birth through life experiences, including family, friends, culture, education, nutrition, and experiences.

Heredity

The genetic transfer of traits from parents to offspring.

Behavior Genetics

The study of how genes and environment influence behavior.

Chromosomes

Threadlike structures made mostly of DNA that contain our genes; humans normally have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs).

DNA

A molecule containing our genetic information.

Genes

Small segments of DNA that influence traits, with many traits being influenced by multiple genes.

Genome

An organism's complete set of genetic instructions.

Identical Twins

Also called monozygotic twins; individuals developed from one fertilized egg that splits into two, resulting in the same DNA.

Fraternal Twins

Also called dizygotic twins; individuals developed from two different eggs fertilized by two different sperm.

Interaction

The phenomenon where the effect of one factor depends on another factor, such as genes and environment working together rather than acting completely separately.

Epigenetics

The study of how environmental influences can affect gene expression.

Evolutionary Psychology

The study of how evolution and natural selection may influence behavior and the mind.

Natural Selection

The principle that traits helping an organism survive and reproduce are more likely to be passed to future generations.

Mutation

A random error or change in gene replication.

Adaptation

An inherited trait that helped organisms survive or reproduce in a particular environment.

Cognitive Neuroscience

The interdisciplinary study of brain activity linked with mental processes such as thinking, memory, language, and consciousness.

Consciousness

Our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment.

Marker of Consciousness

Synchronized activity across the brain.

Selective Attention

Focusing conscious awareness on one specific thing while taking in lots of information.

Inattentional Blindness

Failing to see visible objects or notice something visible because attention is directed elsewhere.

Change Blindness

Failing to notice changes in the environment or surroundings, which is a form of inattentional blindness.

Dual Processing

The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks.

Conscious Track

Information processing that we are actively aware of.

Unconscious Track

Automatic information processing happening without awareness.

Blindsight

A condition where someone can respond to visual information without consciously seeing it.

Parallel Processing

Handling several parts of information at the same time.

Sequential Processing

Handling one thing at a time.

Cortisol

A stress hormone that increases to prepare the body for flight or fight.

Cognitive Decline

A decreased ability to focus attention, as well as to process and store memories.