Prüfung: 06 Biology of Mind & Consciousness

Why are biological psychologists interested in studying the brain and body when explaining behavior?

Because thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are linked to biological processes such as neural activity, hormones, and genetics.

What is meant by the statement that the brain is "wired by experience"?

Experiences can change neural connections and create new pathways, allowing the brain to adapt throughout life.

How does plasticity help a person recover after brain damage?

Other brain regions may reorganize and take over some of the lost functions.

Why is plasticity especially important during childhood?

Because the developing brain is highly adaptable and forms many new neural connections in response to experiences.

Does biological psychology assume that all human behavior is caused only by biology?

No. It studies biological influences on behavior but recognizes that other psychological and environmental factors also play a role.

Why are neurons considered the basic building blocks of the nervous system?

Because they receive, process, and transmit information throughout the body.

What role do dendrites play in neural communication?

They receive incoming signals from other neurons.

What role does the axon play in neural communication?

It carries electrical impulses away from the cell body toward other cells.

Why is the cell body essential for neuron functioning?

It contains the nucleus and maintains the neuron's life processes.

What does the phrase "Dendrites listen, axons speak" mean?

Dendrites receive information while axons send information to other cells.

What is the purpose of a resting potential?

It creates the electrical conditions necessary for a neuron to generate an action potential.

Why is an action potential described as an all-or-nothing response?

Once the threshold is reached, the neuron fires completely; if the threshold is not reached, it does not fire at all.

How does the nervous system distinguish between a weak and a strong stimulus if action potentials are always the same size?

Stronger stimuli cause neurons to fire more frequently and often recruit more neurons.

Why can neural communication occur rapidly throughout the body?

Because action potentials travel along axons as electrical impulses.

How do neural impulses compare to computer processing speed?

Neural impulses are slower, but the brain is much more complex and capable of highly integrated processing.

Why do neurons need neurotransmitters to communicate?

Because neurons are separated by a synaptic gap and cannot directly touch each other.

What happens when an action potential reaches the axon terminal?

Neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic gap.

How does a receiving neuron know that a message has arrived?

Neurotransmitters bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron.

Why is the synapse important for neural communication?

It is the junction where information is passed from one neuron to another.

What is the function of reuptake?

It removes excess neurotransmitters from the synapse and recycles them for future use.

How do SSRIs influence neural communication?

They block serotonin reuptake, allowing serotonin to remain active in the synapse for longer.

Why does blocking reuptake strengthen communication between neurons?

Because neurotransmitters remain available to stimulate the receiving neuron for a longer period.

Why can changes in neurotransmitter levels affect behavior and emotions?

Because neurotransmitters influence communication between neurons that regulate thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Which neurotransmitter is most strongly associated with mood regulation?

Serotonin.

Which neurotransmitter plays an important role in motivation and reward?

Dopamine.

Which neurotransmitter is essential for muscle movement and memory?

Acetylcholine.

Which neurotransmitter helps prepare the body for alertness and arousal?

Norepinephrine.

Which neurotransmitter acts as the brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter?

GABA

Which neurotransmitter is the brain's primary excitatory neurotransmitter?

Glutamate

What are endorphins and why are they important?

They are natural pain-relieving neurotransmitters that can also produce feelings of pleasure and well-being.

Why is dopamine associated with both normal functioning and psychological disorders?

Too little dopamine is linked to movement problems, while excessive dopamine activity has been associated with disorders such as schizophrenia.

Why might low serotonin levels contribute to depression?

Because serotonin helps regulate mood, and insufficient serotonin activity is associated with depressive symptoms.

Why is the nervous system often described as the body's information system?

Because it gathers information, processes it, and sends signals that coordinate behavior and bodily functions.

How do the central and peripheral nervous systems work together?

The peripheral nervous system collects information from the body and environment and carries messages to and from the central nervous system, which processes the information and makes decisions.

Why is the brain considered the "decision maker" of the nervous system?

Because it processes incoming information and coordinates responses throughout the body.

What are the two main structures of the central nervous system?

The brain and the spinal cord.

What are the two main divisions of the peripheral nervous system?

The somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

How does the somatic nervous system differ from the autonomic nervous system?

The somatic nervous system is involved in voluntary control of skeletal muscles, whereas the autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary bodily processes.

Why can your heart continue beating even when you are not consciously thinking about it?

Because the autonomic nervous system regulates many involuntary bodily functions automatically.

How do the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems differ during a stressful situation?

The sympathetic nervous system activates the body for action, while the parasympathetic nervous system calms the body afterward.

Why is the sympathetic nervous system often associated with the "fight-or-flight" response?

Because it prepares the body to respond to threats by increasing physiological arousal.

Why is the parasympathetic nervous system sometimes called the "rest-and-digest" system?

Because it helps conserve energy and return the body to a calm state after arousal.

How do the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems work together?

They have opposing functions that help maintain balance in the body's physiological state.

What role does the spinal cord play within the central nervous system?

It transmits information between the brain and the rest of the body and is involved in reflexes.

How does the endocrine system communicate with the body?

By releasing hormones into the bloodstream.

How does communication in the endocrine system differ from communication in the nervous system?

Endocrine communication is slower but its effects usually last longer.

Why are hormones considered chemical messengers?

Because they travel through the bloodstream and influence the activity of target tissues and organs.

How might the endocrine system contribute to a response to danger?

It releases hormones such as epinephrine and norepinephrine that prepare the body for action.

Why do the effects of hormones often last longer than neural signals?

Because hormones circulate through the bloodstream and continue affecting tissues after they are released.

Why is the pituitary gland considered an influential gland?

Because it secretes many hormones that influence numerous bodily processes.

What is one major similarity between the nervous system and the endocrine system?

Both are communication systems that help regulate behavior and bodily functions.

What is one major difference between the nervous system and the endocrine system?

The nervous system communicates rapidly through neural impulses, whereas the endocrine system communicates more slowly through hormones.

Why do psychologists use neural measures?

To study brain structure or brain activity and better understand the biological basis of behavior.

Which neural measure would be most useful for recording electrical activity in the brain over time?

EEG (electroencephalography).

How does EEG measure brain activity?

By using electrodes placed on the scalp to detect electrical activity in neurons.

Which neural measure records magnetic fields generated by brain activity?

MEG (magnetoencephalography).

How does PET differ from EEG and MEG?

PET measures brain activity by tracking radioactive glucose rather than recording electrical or magnetic signals.

Which neural measure is best suited for studying brain anatomy?

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

Why might a researcher choose MRI instead of fMRI?

MRI provides detailed images of brain structure, whereas fMRI focuses on brain activity.

What does fMRI measure that MRI does not directly measure?

Changes in blood flow associated with brain activity.

Which measures are primarily used to study brain activity rather than brain structure?

EEG, MEG, PET, and fMRI.

Which measure would be most appropriate for examining the physical structure of the brain?

MRI.

What do the older brain structures have in common?

They primarily regulate basic survival functions and operate largely without conscious effort.

Which older brain structure would be most directly involved in keeping a person breathing and maintaining their heartbeat?

The brainstem.

Why is damage to the brainstem often life-threatening?

Because it controls essential functions such as breathing and heartbeat.

Which older brain structure acts as a relay station for most incoming sensory information?

The thalamus.

How does the thalamus contribute to perception?

It receives sensory information and directs it to the appropriate brain regions for further processing.

Which older brain structure helps determine what information reaches conscious awareness?

The reticular formation.

Why is the reticular formation important for attention and alertness?

Because it regulates arousal and filters incoming sensory information.

Which older brain structure is most closely associated with balance and coordination?

The cerebellum.

How would damage to the cerebellum most likely affect a person's behavior?

It would impair coordination, balance, and smooth voluntary movements.

Which older brain structure would be most active when learning and performing a skilled movement such as riding a bicycle?

The cerebellum.

What is the primary role of the limbic system?

It is involved in emotion, motivation, and memory.

Which limbic structure is most strongly associated with fear and aggression?

The amygdala.

Why might the amygdala become highly active during a threatening situation?

Because it helps process fear-related information and prepares the organism to respond to danger.

Which limbic structure is most closely involved in regulating hunger, thirst, and body temperature?

The hypothalamus.

Why is the hypothalamus important for maintaining homeostasis?

Because it helps regulate essential bodily functions such as hunger, thirst, and temperature.

Which limbic structure connects the nervous system to the endocrine system?

The hypothalamus.

Which limbic structure is especially important for forming new explicit memories?

The hippocampus.

How would severe damage to the hippocampus most likely affect memory?

The person would have difficulty forming new long-term memories.

Which limbic structure would be most important for remembering information learned in class?

The hippocampus.

How do the amygdala and hippocampus differ in their primary functions?

The amygdala is primarily involved in emotion, especially fear and aggression, whereas the hippocampus is primarily involved in memory formation.

Which cortical area is responsible for controlling voluntary movements?

The motor cortex.

Why would damage to the motor cortex affect movement?

Because it controls voluntary muscle actions.

Which cortical area processes information about touch, pressure, temperature, and movement?

The somatosensory cortex.

Why is the somatosensory cortex important for interacting with the environment?

Because it processes sensory information coming from the body.

How do the motor cortex and somatosensory cortex differ in their primary functions?

The motor cortex controls voluntary movement, whereas the somatosensory cortex processes bodily sensations.

What is the main function of the association areas?

They integrate information and support higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.

Why are association areas important for complex behavior?

Because they combine information from different brain regions and support higher cognitive processes.

Which cortical regions would be most important for activities such as reasoning, learning, and remembering?

The association areas.

A person can move their hand but cannot accurately feel when it is touched. Which cortical area is most likely affected?

The somatosensory cortex.

A person can feel touch normally but has difficulty initiating voluntary movements. Which cortical area is most likely affected?

The motor cortex.

Why is consciousness considered one of psychology's most difficult topics to study scientifically?

Because consciousness is a subjective experience that can only be directly accessed by the individual experiencing it.

What does consciousness allow us to do?

It enables us to be aware of ourselves, our thoughts, our feelings, and our surroundings.

How does consciousness influence our daily behavior?

It allows us to attend to information, make decisions, reflect on experiences, and respond to our environment.

Why can two people experience the same event differently?

Because consciousness involves a subjective interpretation of experiences.

What is meant by a state of high awareness?

A state of focused attention and alertness in which a person is consciously processing information.

Which situation best illustrates high awareness: watching a goal being scored or adapting to background music while studying?

Watching a goal being scored.

What is an example of low awareness in everyday life?

Adapting to background noise without consciously noticing the change.