Princeton AP Psych 22nd: Unit 1: Biological Bases of Behavior

physiological psychology

the study of behavior as influenced by biology; draws from biology and medicine to examine psychological phenomena

traits

distinctive characteristics or behavior patterns that are determined by genetics

evolutionary perspective

how the principles of evolution, including survival of the fittest and natural selection, apply to psychology

heritability

the degree of variance among individuals that can be attributed to genetic variations

environmentality

the degree to which a trait’s expression is caused by the environment in which an organism lives

nature versus nurture debate

the relative influences of genetics and environment

Down syndrome

occurs when there are three copies of the 21st chromosome, which generally causes some degree of intellectual disability

Huntington’s chorea

a genetic disorder that results in muscle impairment that does not typically occur until after age 40

• It is caused by degeneration of the structure of the brain known as the basal ganglia, and it is fatal

• Because of the late onset of the disease, it it frequently passed down to the next generation before its symptoms are manifested

nervous system

the organized network of nerve tissue in the body

central nervous system

comprising the brain and the spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

comprising all other nerves in the body