Biological Basis of Behavior and Perception

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Questions and Answers

What is a key difference between unipolar and bipolar depressive disorders?

Bipolar disorders include manic episodes. (correct)

Unipolar disorders include manic symptoms.

Unipolar disorders have alternating mood states.

Bipolar disorders only involve depressive symptoms.

Which brain region is primarily involved in emotional processing and is often hyperactive in PTSD?

Posterior Cingulate Cortex

Hippocampus

Prefrontal Cortex

Amygdala (correct)

What is the purpose of methylation in the context of epigenetics?

It increases gene expression for all genes.

It alters the DNA sequence permanently.

It only affects the RNA molecule.

It silences certain genes without changing the sequence. (correct)

Which of the following accurately describes post-traumatic growth?

Positive psychological changes following adversity. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary function of the hippocampus in relation to stress?

Facilitating long-term memory formation. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of interpersonal neurobiology, what is primarily emphasized?

The impact of interpersonal relationships on mental health. Signup and view all the answers

What best defines the concept of appraisal in stress management?

The interpretation of a stressor's significance. Signup and view all the answers

In terms of evolutionary psychology, what is generally true about K species?

They tend to have larger offspring with more parental investment. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the thalamus?

Processing sensory information and relaying it to the cerebral cortex Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the neuron is primarily responsible for receiving signals?

Dendrites Signup and view all the answers

How do Broca's area and Wernicke's area differ in their functions regarding language?

Broca's area is involved in speech production, while Wernicke's area is involved in language comprehension. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the processes of bottom-up and top-down processing in perception?

Bottom-up processing begins with basic sensory input, while top-down processing utilizes prior knowledge and expectations. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes hyperpolarization in the visual system?

It is an exception to the normal process of depolarization in sensory neurons. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) from other anxiety disorders?

OCD includes persistent thoughts (obsessions) that lead to specific rituals (compulsions). Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following terms refers to the process of transferring sensory stimuli into neural signals?

Transduction Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary functions of the hippocampus?

Formation and retrieval of memories Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Biological Basis of Behavior

Neurons have dendrites, axons, and synaptic terminals.
Synaptic communication involves the process of communication between neurons.
Action potentials involve ions that depolarize the membrane, ions that keep the resting potential negative (sodium-potassium pump), and a threshold for the action potential.
GABA is inhibitory, while glutamate is excitatory.
The nervous system is divided into central and peripheral systems.
Brain lobes have specific functions; language involves Broca's and Wernicke's areas, and aphasias can occur.
The corpus callosum connects brain hemispheres in split-brain patients.
The limbic system includes the amygdala and hippocampus.
The thalamus has a primary function.
The hypothalamus controls the pituitary gland.
The hindbrain contains the cerebellum, pons, medulla, and reticular formation.
The midbrain has specific structures and functions.

Sensation and Perception

Sensation versus perception definitions.
Transduction describes the conversion of sensory stimuli into neural impulses.
Sensory systems (visual, auditory, etc.) have specific receptor cells, and respond to their respective stimuli.
Visual system receptors include cones and rods, the processes for perceiving light, and visual perception.
Hyperpolarization is an exception to synaptic transmission in the visual system.
Bottom-up and top-down processing are methods of perception.
Touch, hearing, smell, and taste have respective receptor organs and mechanisms.

Memory and Attention

Memory centers encode, consolidate, and retrieve memories.
Consolidation involves processes like Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) and sleep.
Amygdala and hippocampus functions are involved in memory processes and emotional responses.

Abnormal Psychology

Identifying disorders based on symptoms is part of diagnosis.
Anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorders have unique characteristics.
OCD includes compulsions and obsessions.
Depressive disorders can be unipolar or bipolar with differing biological causes (serotonin imbalance, MAOIs and SSRIs).
Schizophrenia includes both positive and negative symptoms, as well as aspects of biological theory.
Common factors of therapy are considered.
Common symptoms of trauma and resilience are described.
The HPA-axis, amygdala, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and posterior cingulate cortex play roles.
Trauma's effect on the brain and the definition of trauma itself are considered.
PTSD has specific symptoms to examine in particular.
The role of epigenetics is described.
Methylation is a biological process involving adding methyl groups to DNA.
Various factors cause epigenetic changes.

Evolutionary Psychology

Natural selection vs. sexual selection.
Intrasexual and intersexual competition.
Individual selection vs. kin selection vs. reciprocal altruism.
Hamilton's Rule of relatedness.
Parental investment and differences between species.

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Description

Explore the intricate relationship between the biological structures of the brain and their impact on behavior. This quiz delves into the roles of neurons, neurotransmitters, and various brain regions, including the limbic system and cerebral lobes. Understand the distinction between sensation and perception and their significance in psychology.