biological approach

key assumptions of bio approach

behaviour can be explained by

• Genes (GT and PT)

• Neuroanatomy (lobes/regions)

• Neurochemistry (NTs)

what is genetic inheritance

when traits are passed down from parent to child

chain of genetic apparatus

1. nucleotides

2. dna (made up of genes which are made of proteins)

3. chromosomes

4. cells

what is a genotype

a description of all a persons gene and alleles

what is a phenotype

an entire list of a persons traits (determined by genotype and environmental factors)

what is evolution

when a species gradually change over many generations

what is cognitive neruoscience

the study of which parts of the brain are involved in different mental processes

what is an fmri scan

give us a picture of the brain show us which parts are active by detecting changes in blood flow and oxygenation

what is an pet scan

uses a small amount of radioactive substance (a tracer) to show how active different parts of the body are.

what are neurotransmitters

Chemicals that carry signals across synapses

evaluate the bio approach

• understanding neurochemistry has led to effective medications

• highly scientific and objective - heavily on empirical measurable data like scans and twin studies

• biological reductionism - ignores social and cultural causes of behaviour (focuses on nature not nurture)

• biological determinism - implies behavior is entirely dictated by biological factors leaving little room for free will.

What are the four main lobes of the cerebral cortex

Frontal lobe

Parietal lobe

Occipital lobe

Temporal lobe

What is the main function of the frontal lobe

Responsible for

• decision making

• personality

• planning

• voluntary movement.

It also contains the motor cortex and Broca’s area

Where is the frontal lobe located

At the front of the brain

What is the main function of the parietal lobe?

Processes sensory information such as

• touch

• pressure

• pain

• temperature

It contains the somatosensory cortex.

Where is the parietal lobe located?

In the top middle part of the brain, behind the frontal lobe.

What is the main function of the occipital lobe?

Responsible for processing

• visual information.

Contains the visual cortex.

Where is the occipital lobe located?

At the back of the brain.

What is the main function of the temporal lobe?

Responsible for

• hearing

• memory

• language comprehension

Contains the auditory cortex and Wernicke’s area.

Where is the temporal lobe located?

On the sides of the brain, near the temples.

What is the brain stem?

The brain stem is the lower part of the brain that connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls basic life functions

What is the cerebellum?

A structure at the back of the brain, below the occipital lobe, responsible for coordinating movement and balance.

What is the cerebrum and its main function

largest part of the brain and controls high-level functions such as thinking, emotion, and conscious movement.

What are the two main layers of the cerebrum

• Cerebral Cortex- The outer layer responsible for conscious thought

• White Matter- The inner layer that transmits nerve signals throughout the brain

How is the cerebrum divided, and how do the halves communicate?

left and right hemispheres

connected by/ communicate through a thick band of nerve fibers - corpus callosum

What is hemisphere lateralization?

The idea that each hemisphere specializes in different tasks:

Left Hemisphere - Language/speech and logic/analysis.

Right Hemisphere - Spatial awareness and creativity

What is the function of the thalamus?

receives sensory information (not smell) and sends it to the correct area of the cerebral cortex to be processed.

also regulates consciousness and sleep