Biopsychology Test

Behavioral genetics:

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

Genes:

the biochemical units of heredity that make up chromosomes

Genome:

an individual’s complete set of genetic material in their chromosomes

Phenotype:

an individual’s observable physical and behavioral traits

Monozygotic:

twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits (also known as identical twins).

Dizygotic:

twins develop from two separate fertilized eggs and are also known as fraternal twins.

Temperament:

a person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity, apparent from early childhood.

Heritability:

refers to the portion of variation within a population that we can attribute to genetic differences.

Epigenetics:

explores the molecular mechanisms by which environments can trigger or block gene expression.

Molecular genetics:

the study of how the structure and function of specific genes interact with our environment to influence behavior.

Gene-environment interactions:

occurs when two different genotypes respond to the same environment in different ways.

Evolutionary adaptation:

the principle that traits providing a reproductive or survival advantage are more likely to be passed down.

Adoption studies:

are used to compare the influence of genes (biological parents) and environment (adoptive parents) on a trait.

Transduction:

the process of converting one form of energy into another, such as light waves into neural impulses.

Sensation:

the process by which our sensory receptors receive and represent stimulus energies from the environment.

Absolute threshold:

the minimum stimulus energy needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time.

Difference threshold:

the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time, also known as the Just Noticeable Difference (JND).

Weber’s Law:

the principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must different by constant minimum percentage (rather than constant amount).

Sensory Adaptation:

diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant unchanging stimulation (like no longer feeling your watch).

Fovea:

the central focal point in the retina, where the eye’s cones are clustered and vision is sharpest.

Young-Hemlotz Trichromatic Theory:

states that color vision is based on the activity of three types of cones: red, green, and blue.

Opponent-process theory:

explains afterimages by proposing that color vision operates on opposing pairs (e.g. red-green, blue-yellow).

Cochlea:

the snail-shaped, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear where sound waves are transduced into neural impulses.

Place theory:

explains how we hear high pitches by proposing that different sound frequencies stimulate different locations on the cochlea’s basilar membrane.

Vestibular Sense:

governed by the semicircular canals in the inner ear, monitors the body’s position, movement, and balance.

Dual-processing:

our “two-track” mind, which processes information both consciously and unconsciously simultaneously.

Circadian Rhythm:

the 24-hour biological cycle that regulates body temperature and wakefulness.

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN):

located in the hypothalamus, monitors light levels, and controls the pineal gland to regulate the circadian rhythm.

REM (rapid eye movement):

the sleep stage characterized by vivid, narrative dreams and muscle paralysis (atonia).

NREM (non-rapid eye movement):

the deep sleep stage characterized by large, slow delta waves.

Narcolepsy:

the sleep disorder characterized by sudden, uncontrollable “sleep attacks”, often lapsing directly into REM.

Sleep apnea:

the sleep disorder in which a person repeatedly stops breathing while asleep.

Activation-synthesis:

the hypothesis that suggest dreams are the brain’s attempt to make sense of rapid neural firing.

Depressant:

such as alcohol and barbiturates, are psychoactive drugs that calm neural activity and slow body functions.

Stimulant:

such as cocaine and amphetamines, are psychoactive drugs that increase heart rate, excite neural activity, and provide a rush of energy.