Brain & Behaviour Introduction Session 2

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Questions and Answers

What is a primary aspect of genetic drift?

It only occurs in large populations.

It can lead to the spread of genes by accident. (correct)

It exclusively spreads beneficial genes.

It requires a mechanism for natural selection.

What does a functional explanation provide insight into?

Why a structure or behavior evolved. (correct)

The historical significance of all behaviors.

The efficiency of genes in large populations.

The accidental distribution of genes.

How did Aristotle's perspective on behavior differ from modern understandings?

He considered the brain as the center of consciousness.

He viewed the mind as an entity independent of the body. (correct)

He believed both mind and brain were essential.

He viewed behavior as purely a physical process.

What is mentalism as defined in the content?

The idea that the mind influences behavior. Signup and view all the answers

In which population size is genetic drift most powerful?

In small, isolated populations. Signup and view all the answers

What assumption can be made about a gene that becomes common in a large population?

It has likely provided some advantage in the past. Signup and view all the answers

Which psychological terms are influenced by Aristotle's mentalism?

Definitions related to consciousness and memory. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes evolutionary explanations from functional explanations?

Evolutionary explanations look into inherited traits from ancestors. Signup and view all the answers

What does a physiological explanation of behavior primarily relate to?

The activity of the brain and other organs Signup and view all the answers

Which explanation traces the development of behaviors and structures throughout an individual's life?

Ontogenetic explanation Signup and view all the answers

How does an evolutionary explanation relate to modern behaviors?

It connects behaviors to ancestral survival strategies. Signup and view all the answers

What might physiological explanations help us understand about hormones?

How they influence muscle contractions and behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What key factors does an ontogenetic explanation consider in shaping behavior?

Genetics, nutrition, and past experiences Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a physiological explanation?

Understanding how anxiety manifests through hormonal changes. Signup and view all the answers

What does an evolutionary explanation of goosebumps suggest?

They are a remnant of traits that once provided a survival advantage. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of behavior, what distinguishes a functional explanation?

It considers the adaptive purpose of behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is the central structure involved in Descartes's explanation of how the mind interacts with the body?

Pineal body Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the problem associated with explaining the interaction between a nonmaterial mind and a physical brain?

Mind-body problem Signup and view all the answers

What alternative theory to dualism is defined as the belief that the universe consists of only one kind of substance?

Monism Signup and view all the answers

What key concept was advanced by materialism in relation to behavior?

Behavior is solely biological. Signup and view all the answers

Which scientists independently developed the theory of evolution by natural selection?

Wallace and Darwin Signup and view all the answers

What role does the pineal gland play in modern biology?

Managing biological rhythms Signup and view all the answers

What is dualism primarily concerned with regarding the entities of human behavior?

The mind and body as independent forces Signup and view all the answers

Which category of monism emphasizes the belief that the brain's physicality explains all mental processes?

Materialism Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Biological Explanation of Behavior

Behavior explanations often imply intentional goals, but intentions cannot always be assumed.
Biological explanations encompass physiological, ontogenetic, evolutionary, and functional perspectives.

Physiological Explanations

Relate behavior to brain and organ activity, focusing on body mechanisms, such as hormone influence and muscle control.
Example: Chemical reactions in the body that mediate hormone effects on brain processes.

Ontogenetic Explanations

Originates from Greek terms meaning “to be” and “origin,” explaining the development of structures and behaviors.
Considers genetics, nutrition, and experiences in shaping behavior; e.g., impulse control develops from infancy to adolescence with brain maturation.

Evolutionary Explanations

Reconstruct the evolutionary history of behaviors or structures.
Example: Goose bumps in humans are inherited traits from ancestors, initially useful for intimidation in larger mammals.

Functional Explanations

Describe the purpose behind structures or behaviors and their evolutionary advantages.
Genetic drift can spread traits in small populations; common genes in larger populations typically confer benefits in historical environments.

Perspectives of Brain and Behavior

Mentalism: Originating from Aristotle, suggests behavior is controlled by a nonmaterial psyche, excluding brain function.
Dualism: Descartes proposed a mechanical view where the mind directs a physical body, leading to the mind-body problem, as it fails to explain their interaction.
Materialism: Emerged in the 19th century, positing that brain and nervous system mechanisms solely account for behavior, supported by Darwin and Wallace's evolutionary theory.

Key Philosophers

Aristotle: Attributed consciousness and behaviors to the psyche, independent of the body.
Descartes: Introduced the pineal gland as the interaction point between mind and body; the theory struggled with the mind-body issue.
Darwin and Wallace: Proposed natural selection, highlighting the common genetic traits among species and their evolutionary significance.

Key Concepts

Mentalism: Mind as the sole entity influencing behavior.
Dualism: Behavior controlled by both mind and body.
Monism: Universe consists of one substance; includes materialism, mentalism, and identity positions.

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Description

Explore the biological and evolutionary aspects of brain and behavior in this second session of the series. Understand various physiological explanations for actions and how they relate to intentional goals. This quiz will challenge your knowledge about the interactions between biology and behavior.