Intro to Neuroscience - Chapter 1

Behavioral Intervention

a method where changes are made to an organism’s behavior or environment to observe the resulting physiological or anatomical changes. Behavior is treated as the independent variable when the body changes are the dependent.

Behavioral Neuroscience

the field that explores the relationship between the brain and behavior.

Consciousness

the state of being aware of and able to think about one’s own existence, thoughts, and surroundings. Encompasses personal awareness of emotions, intentions, and sensory experiences.

Conserved

traits or characteristics that have remained relatively unchanged throughout evolution and are shared among different species due to common ancestry.

Correlation

a statistical measure that describes the extent to which two variables change together. A correlation does not equal causation. It is the relationship between two variables.

Dualism

the philosophical concept that the mind and body are distinct entities. It posits that mental phenomena are non-physical and that the mind and body interact but are fundamentally different.

Levels of Analysis

the different perspectives or approaches used to study complex phenomena. In neuroscience, the levels range from social interactions to molecular mechanisms.

Neurons

specialized cells in the nervous system that transmit information through electrical and chemical signals.

Neuroplasticity

the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.

Neuroscience

the scientific study of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and neural networks. It encompasses various disciplines to understand how these structures influence behavior and cognition.

Ontogeny

the development of an individual organism from conception to maturity. It encompasses all physiological and behavioral changes throughout an organism’s life span.

Phrenology

historical pseudoscience that claimed to determine personality traits and mental abilities based on the shape of the skull. Has since been discredited.

Reductionism

the approach of understanding complex systems by breaking the down into their simpler components. In neuroscience, it often involves studying the brain at molecular or cellular levels.

Somatic Intervention

involves altering a biological structure or function (such as administering a hormone or stimulating a brain area) to observe how these changes affect behavior. The somatic change in the IV and the behavioral change is the DV.