Biopsychology and Neuroscience Overview

What is neuroscience?

What is biopsychology?

What term is commonly referred to as the 'nature-nurture issue'?

What is the fundamental method of biopsychology?

What does the term 'neuroplasticity' refer to?

What are the six major divisions of biopsychology? (Select all that apply)

What are the three main types of research in biopsychology? (Select all that apply)

What are the two main designs used in behavioral research? (Select all that apply)

The term 'lordosis' refers to the arched-back, rump-up, tail-diverted posture exhibited by female rodents during sexual receptivity.

The Coolidge effect describes the phenomenon where a copulating male can recommence copulating with a new female partner.

Korsakoff's syndrome is primarily caused by the toxic effects of alcohol.

The term 'asomatognosia' is used to describe a deficiency in the awareness of one's own body parts, which commonly results from damage to the left parietal lobe.

The term 'spandrel' refers to a non-adaptive evolutionary by-product that is often the incidental result of a developmental program.

The term 'exaptation' refers to a trait that evolved to serve one function and was later co-opted to serve another.

Humans are the only species known to engage in complex social behavior, including mating bonds.

The term 'polygyny' refers to the mating system where one male mate forms bonds with multiple females.

The term 'polyandry' refers to the mating system where one female mate forms bonds with multiple males.

The term 'monogamy' refers to the mating system where enduring bonds are formed between one male and one female.

The term 'dichotomous traits' refers to traits that occur in one form or another, but never in combination.

The term 'true-breeding line' refers to organisms that always produce offspring with the same trait, even when interbred.

The term 'phenotype' refers to the observable traits of an organism, while 'genotype' refers to the genetic makeup of an organism.

The 'dominant gene' is expressed in a homozygous or heterozygous state, whereas the 'recessive gene' is only expressed in the homozygous state.

DNA is composed of a single-stranded molecule of deoxyribonucleic acid, made up of a sequence of nucleotide bases.

'Mutations' are defined as accidental alterations in individual genes that can be beneficial or detrimental to an organism's fitness.

'Enhancers' are stretches of DNA that contain structural genes, which provide information for the synthesis of proteins.

The term 'transcription factor' refers to a protein that binds to DNA and influences the extent to which a gene is expressed.

The 'messenger RNA' (mRNA) is a single-stranded molecule that carries the genetic code for a protein from the nucleus to the cytoplasm.

'Sex-linked traits' are traits that are controlled by genes located on the X chromosome, as the Y chromosome is small and carries few genes.

'Epigenetics' studies all mechanisms of inheritance except for the genetic code and its expression.

The term 'transgenerational epigenetics' refers to the transmission of acquired traits across generations through epigenetic mechanisms.

The Human Genome Project, initiated in 1970, aimed to map the sequence of all 3 billion bases that compose the human genome.

The term 'proteome' refers to the complete set of proteins encoded by an organism's genes.

The term 'reuptake' and 'enzymatic degradation' are the two main mechanisms for terminating neurotransmitter action in the synapse.

'Gap junctions', also known as electrical synapses, allow electrical signals and small molecules to pass between adjacent cells.

'Glutamate' is the most prevalent inhibitory, and 'GABA' is the most prevalent excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system.

Monoamine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, are a class of large-molecule neurotransmitters.

'Noradrenergic' neurons release norepinephrine, and 'adrenergic' neurons release epinephrine.

The term 'acetylcholine' refers to a small-molecule neurotransmitter that is often compared to a professor who is late for lecture.

'Soluble gas neurotransmitters', such as nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, are known to participate in retrograde transmission.

'Endocannabinoids' are a class of unconventional neurotransmitters that are similar to THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana.

Neurotransmitter molecules can only function as neurotransmitters.

'Reuptake' and 'enzymatic degradation' are the two main mechanisms for terminating neurotransmitter action in the synapse.

The term 'agonistic' refers to a drug that enhances the effects of a neurotransmitter, while the term 'antagonistic' refers to a drug that opposes the effects of a neurotransmitter.

The terms 'nicotinic' and 'muscarinic' refer to different types of receptors for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, named after the substances (nicotine and muscarine) that were found to selectively bind to those receptors.

'Atropine', the main active ingredient of the belladonna plant, is a receptor blocker that acts as an antagonist by binding to muscarinic receptors.

'Curare', an extract from a certain class of woody vines, is a nicotinic receptor blocker that inhibits the release of acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions.

'Botox', a neurotoxin released by a bacteria, is a nicotinic antagonist that blocks the release of acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions.

'Morphine', the major psychoactive ingredient in opium, is an effective analgesic and has no side effects.

'Endogenous opioids', such as enkephalins and endorphins, are naturally occurring opioid peptides that bind to opioid receptors in the brain.

'Schizophrenia' is a debilitating mental illness that is thought to be caused by excessive activity at dopamine synapses, and is often effectively treated by dopamine agonists.

'Parkinson's disease' is characterized by the degeneration of a major dopamine pathway in the brain, which can be mimicked by dopamine agonists like cocaine and amphetamines.

'X-ray' is a structural brain-imaging technique that is based on the principle that different tissues absorb X-rays to varying degrees, allowing visualization of internal structures.

'Computed tomography (CT)' is a structural brain-imaging technique that uses computer-assisted x-rays to create three-dimensional images of the brain and other internal structures.

In 'magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)', high-resolution images are constructed based on the measurement of radio-frequency waves emitted by hydrogen atoms as they align with a powerful magnetic field.

'Functional MRI (fMRI)' produces images of brain activity by measuring changes in blood flow to active brain regions, using the BOLD signal, which reflects the magnetic properties of oxygenated blood.

'Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)' is a technique that measures the rate of water diffusion along axons, allowing visualization of major tracts in the brain.

'Electroencephalography (EEG)' is a measure of the gross electrical activity of the brain, recorded through large electrodes attached to the scalp, and the resulting signal is called an electroencephalogram.

'Event-related potentials (ERPs)' are changes in the cortical EEG signal that are elicited by a momentary presentation of a sensory stimulus, averaged over multiple trials to reduce noise.

'Magnetoencephalography (MEG)' measures changes in magnetic fields on the surface of the scalp that are produced by changes in underlying patterns of neural activity.

'Electromyography (EMG)' is used to measure muscle tension, while 'Electrooculography (EOG)' is used to record eye movements.

'Skin conductance level (SCL)' is a measure of the background level of skin conductance, while 'skin conductance response (SCR)' is a measure of transient changes in skin conductance that are associated with discrete experiences.

'Heart rate', 'arterial blood pressure', and 'local blood volume' are three commonly used measures of cardiovascular activity in psychophysiological research.

'Stereotaxic surgery' is a procedure for precisely positioning experimental devices within the brain, using a stereotaxic atlas and a stereotaxic instrument.

'Lesion methods' are used to selectively damage specific brain structures, using techniques such as aspiration, radiofrequency lesions, knife cuts, and reversible lesions.

'Pharmacological research methods' aim to administer drugs that either increase or decrease the effects of neurotransmitters and observe the resulting behavioral consequences.

'Selective chemical lesions' involve injecting neurotoxins that have an affinity for specific components of the nervous system, allowing targeted damage to specific brain regions.

The '2-deoxyglucose (2DG) technique' is a neuroanatomical tracing technique that involves injecting radioactive 2DG and analyzing its uptake in different brain areas.

'Cerebral dialysis' is a technique for measuring extracellular concentrations of neurochemicals in behaving animals by extracting the fluid surrounding neurons through a cannula implanted in the brain.

'Immunocytochemistry' is used to locate specific neuroproteins in the brain by labeling their antibodies with a dye or radioactive element and then exposing brain slices to those labeled antibodies.

'In situ hybridization' is a technique for locating specific proteins in the brain by using labeled hybrid RNA strands that bind to complementary mRNA strands.

'Gene knockout techniques' are procedures for creating organisms that lack a particular gene, called knockout mice.

'Gene replacement techniques' allow scientists to replace one gene with another, providing new possibilities for research and therapy.

'Transgenic mice' are genetically modified mice that contain genetic material from another species, and can be used to study the effects of specific genes.

'Green fluorescent protein (GFP)' is a protein that exhibits green fluorescence when exposed to blue light, and can be used to label specific cells in a model organism.

The 'brainbow' technique is a research technique in which each neuron in a model organism is labeled with a different color, allowing scientists to trace their pathways and connections.

'Optogenetics' is a novel technique that uses light to control the activity of neurons by inserting an opsin gene into specific neurons, providing a powerful tool for studying brain function and developing new therapies.

The term 'connectome' refers to the complete map of neural connections in the brain.

The 'cingulate cortex' is an area of the brain that is thought to be involved in emotional experience, and can be stimulated or inhibited using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).

The term 'default mode network' refers to brain structures that are typically active when the mind is at rest and less active during cognitive tasks.

The term 'repetition priming' refers to a technique in which repetitive exposure to a particular stimulus influences subsequent performance of that stimulus, and this can be observed in language and memory tasks.

The 'Wisconsin Card Sorting Test' is used to assess frontal lobe function and is particularly sensitive to damage in this region.

The 'token test' is a quick screen for language-related deficits, employing twenty tokens with different shapes, sizes, and colors.

The 'Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)' is a widely used standardized test battery for assessing general intelligence, but it often fails to detect memory deficits.

The term 'episodic memory' refers to memory for personal experiences, while 'semantic memory' refers to memory for knowledge of the world.

The term 'explicit memory' refers to memories that the patient is aware of and can express verbally, while 'implicit memory' refers to memories that are demonstrated by improved performance without conscious awareness.

'Pavlovian conditioning' is also known as 'classical conditioning', and involves pairing an initially neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus that reliably elicits a response.

'Operant conditioning' involves changing the rate of a voluntary response (such as lever pressing) by the use of reinforcement or punishment.

'Self-stimulation paradigm' involves animals learning to press a lever to deliver electrical stimulation to specific regions of the brain, often termed 'pleasure centers'.

'Conditioned taste aversion' is a learning paradigm in which animals develop an aversion to a specific taste after experiencing illness or nausea.

'The radial arm maze' is a spatial learning task that assesses rodents' spatial memory and navigation abilities.

'The Morris water maze' is a spatial learning task that assesses the ability of rodents to navigate to a hidden platform in a circular pool of murky water.

'Conditioned defensive burying' is a task where rodents learn to associate an aversive stimulus (such as a shock or a noxious odor) with an object, and respond by flinging bedding material at the object.

The term 'lordosis quotient' refers to the proportion of mounts that elicit lordosis in a female rodent during sexual activity.

Traditional conditioning paradigms, including Pavlovian, operant, and self-stimulation paradigms, are used in biopsychology research to study learning processes and the neural mechanisms underlying those processes.

Seminatural animal learning paradigms, such as the radial arm maze and the Morris water maze, are designed to approximate ecologically relevant tasks and are thought to be more directly related to innate neural mechanisms.

What is the scientific study of the nervous system?

What is the scientific study of the biology of behavior?

What is the scientific study of behavior?

Who is considered the father of behaviorism?

Which of the following is NOT a discipline of neuroscience relevant to biopsychology?

What is the scientific term for the arched-back, rump-up, tail-diverted posture of female rodents during sexual receptivity?

What is the name of the surgical procedure in which the connections between the prefrontal lobes and the rest of the brain are severed?

The scientific inference method relies on studying directly observable phenomena.

Which of the following is NOT a division of biopsychology?

What is the term used to describe structures that are similar because they have a common evolutionary origin?

What is the term for the process in which structures that are similar but do not have a common evolutionary origin evolve in unrelated species because they have similar solutions to the same environmental demands?

What is the term used to describe characteristics that evolved to serve one function but were later co-opted to serve another?

Human evolution proceeded in a single, linear path, with each species evolving directly from the one before it.

What is the name of the theory that states traits associated with higher survival and reproduction rates are more likely to be passed on to future generations?

What term describes a stable hierarchy of social dominance that is established through combative encounters between males?

What is the name of the group of organisms that are reproductively isolated from other organisms, meaning they can only produce fertile offspring by mating with members of the same species?

What term describes the process of cell division that produces gametes (sex cells)?

What is the name of the molecule that carries the genetic code for a given organism?

What are the two genes that control the same trait?

What is the term used to describe an organism that possesses two identical genes for a trait?

What is the term used to describe an organism that possesses two different genes for a trait?

What is the term for accidental alterations in individual genes?

What type of chromosomes are typical chromosomes that come in matched pairs?

What type of chromosomes are the pair of chromosomes that determine an individual's sex?

Biopsychology

Neuron

Neuroplasticity

Evolutionary Perspective

Clinical Implications

Nature-Nurture Issue

Ethology

Instinctive Behaviors

Asomatognosia

Social Dominance

Courtship Display

Species

Natural Selection

Fitness

Homologous Structures

Analogous Structures

Polygyny

Polyandry

Monogamy

Gene

Allele

Homozygous

Heterozygous

Chromosome

Meiosis

Mutation

Sex-Linked Trait

Epigenetics

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Sensitive Period

Heritability Estimate

Somatic NS

Automatic NS

Sympathetic NS

Parasympathetic NS

Dendrites

Axon

Myelin

Synapse

Neurotransmitter

Multipolar Neuron

Unipolar Neuron

Bipolar Neuron

Interneuron

Oligodendrocyte

Schwann Cell

Microglia

Astrocyte

Golgi Stain

Nissl Stain

Electron Microscopy

Anterograde Tracing

Retrograde Tracing

Anterior

Posterior

Dorsal

Ventral

Medial

Lateral

Superior

Inferior

Proximal

Distal

Horizontal Section

Frontal Section

Sagittal Section