Module 3 - Evolution & Psychology

What is adaptation?

A trait shaped by natural selection that improves survival or reproduction

What does domain-general mean?

Processes all information equally well

What does domain-specific mean?

Specialized for a specific type of problem

What is a social contract?

An agreement to cooperate for mutual benefit

What is cooperation?

Paying a small cost to give a large benefit to others

What is cheating?

Not helping someone who helped you before :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

What is variation (uniqueness)?

Individuals differ in traits

What is recombination?

Mixing of parental DNA during reproduction

What is natural selection?

Process where beneficial traits are passed on

What is an adaptation?

A trait suited to the environment

What is adaptive radiation?

Species diversify due to environmental pressures

What is extinction?

Disappearance of a species

What is speciation?

Formation of new species

What are primates?

Animals sharing a common ancestor with humans

What is bipedalism?

Walking on two legs

What is Homo habilis known for?

First use of stone tools

What is culture?

Accumulated knowledge across generations

Are humans more evolved than other species?

No, evolution has no goal

At what level does evolution act?

Individual level

What is proximate explanation?

How a behavior works

What is ontological explanation?

How a behavior develops

What is ultimate explanation?

Why a behavior exists (function)

What is phylogenetic explanation?

Evolutionary history of a behavior

Why is evolutionary psychology important?

Adds ultimate and phylogenetic explanations

How does standard psychology view the mind?

Domain-general processor

How does evolutionary psychology view the mind?

Domain-specific processors

What is a mental adaptation?

A psychological trait shaped by evolution

Why might adaptations not fit modern environments?

Environment has changed

What is an example of mismatch?

Preference for sugar leading to unhealthy eating

Why do humans struggle with logic problems?

No evolved adaptation for abstract logic

What is cheater detection?

A mental adaptation to detect violations of social contracts

What is sexual selection?

Evolution of traits related to mating success

What is intra-sexual selection?

Competition within same sex for mates

What is inter-sexual selection?

Choosing mates based on traits

What is parental investment?

Resources spent on offspring

What is parental investment theory?

Sex investing more is choosier

Who is more choosy in humans?

Females

Who is more competitive in humans?

Males

Why are females choosier?

Higher reproductive investment

What is an example of reversed roles?

Seahorses (males invest more)

What does parental investment predict?

Mating behavior differences

How do men and women differ in mating?

Men prefer more partners; women fewer

Why do these differences exist?

Different reproductive costs

What is the main takeaway of evolutionary psychology?

Behavior is shaped by survival and reproduction pressures

What are neurons?

Basic units of the nervous system that transmit information

What are glial cells?

Support, protect, and nourish neurons

What are dendrites?

Receive incoming signals

What is the soma?

Cell body that integrates information

What is the axon?

Sends signals away from the neuron

What is the myelin sheath?

Fatty layer that speeds up signal transmission

What is a synapse?

Gap between neurons where communication occurs

What is resting membrane potential?

Negative charge inside neuron at rest

What ions are involved in resting potential?

Sodium and potassium

What is an action potential?

All-or-none electrical signal down the axon

What happens during depolarization?

Neuron becomes more positive

What happens during repolarization?

Neuron returns to negative state

What is synaptic transmission?

Communication via neurotransmitters

What are neurotransmitters?

Chemicals that transmit signals between neurons

What is an excitatory signal?

Increases likelihood of firing

What is an inhibitory signal?

Decreases likelihood of firing

What is the central nervous system?

Brain and spinal cord

What is the peripheral nervous system?

Nerves connecting CNS to body

What is the somatic nervous system?

Controls voluntary movement

What is the autonomic nervous system?

Controls involuntary functions

What are the two branches of the autonomic system?

Sympathetic and parasympathetic

What does the sympathetic system do?

Fight or flight response

What does the parasympathetic system do?

Rest and digest functions

What are the three main brain regions?

Forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain

What does the forebrain control?

Higher thinking and cognition

What does the midbrain control?

Movement and reflexes

What does the hindbrain control?

Basic survival functions

What is the cerebral cortex?

Outer layer responsible for higher processing

What are the four lobes of the brain?

Frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital

What does the frontal lobe do?

Planning and movement

What does the parietal lobe do?

Sensory processing

What does the temporal lobe do?

Hearing and memory

What does the occipital lobe do?

Vision

What is the neural tube?

Early structure that develops into brain and spinal cord

What influences nervous system development?

Genes and environment

What are common methods to study the brain?

Lesions, EEG, brain imaging