Chapter 1: The Major Issues

Question 1

4 types of biological explanations of behaviour

Answer 1

Physiological
Ontogenetic
Evolutionary
Functional

Question 2

Physiological explanation of behaviour

Answer 2

• relates to the activity of brain and other organs
  ex) chemical reactions enable hormones to influence brain activity and routes that brain activity controls muscle contraction

Question 3

Ontogenetic explanation of behaviour

Answer 3

• how structure develops including influences of genes, nutrition, experiences, and their interactions
  ex) ability to inhibit impulses develops over time reflecting gradual maturation of frontal parts of the brain

Question 4

Evolutionary explanation of behaviour

Answer 4

• evolutionary history of a structure or behaviour
• almost always modifications of something in an ancestral species
  ex) monkeys occasionally use tools and humans evolved to make elaborations on those abilities
  ex) goosebumps when scared=useless to humans because hair is too short to become bigger

Question 5

Functional explanation of behaviour

Answer 5

why a structure or behaviour evolved the way it did

• genetic drift
  ex) dominant male with many offspring spreads his genes

Question 6

2 positions with regards to relationship between the brain and conscious experience

Answer 6

• how does consciousness exist in a world of matter and energy?
  1) some feel we should ignore concept of consciousness (this ignores the question instead of answering it)
  2) See it as a fundamental property of matter (cannot be reduced to something else) - this means we have given up trying to find a reason
• we are not conscious all the time and only certain types of nervous systems are conscious (sleeping/coma)

Question 7

Which kinds of problems are thought to be “hard”

Answer 7

Given this universe is composed of matter and energy why / how does consciousness exist

Question 8

Which kinds of problems are thought to be easy?

Answer 8

Something explained by principles and exists as matter or energy

Question 9

Describe the professionals who conduct neuroscience research

Answer 9

Neuroscientist
Behavioural neuroscientist 
Cognitive neuroscientist 
Neuropsychologist 
Psychophysologist 
Neurochemist 
Evolutionary psychologist 
Comparative psychologist

Question 10

Clinical Treatment

Answer 10

Clinical Psychologist 
Counselling psycholgist 
School psychologist 
Neurologist 
Neurosurgeon 
Psychiatrist

Question 11

Mendelian Genetics

Answer 11

Inheritance occurs through genes (come in pairs aligned on chromosomes)

• genes do not have discrete location, several may overlap on a stretch of chromosome, may depend on parts of 2+ chromosomes
• Tt=heterozygous
• tt=homozygous recessive
• TT=homozygous dominant

Question 12

Describe the relationship between DNA, RNA, and proteins

Answer 12

DNA=double strand and is template for RNA
RNA=single strand
mRNA=template for protein synthesis
-each combination of 3 bases that code for a different amino acid, amino acids form proteins

Question 13

Dominant and recessive genes

Answer 13

Dominant genes takes precedence over recessive genes 
ex) Eye colour 
B=dominant brown eyes 
b=recessive blue eyes 
Father= Bb   Mother=Bb 
BB=25% chance homodominant 
Bb or bB= 50% chance Heterodominant 
bb=25% chance homorecessive

Question 14

Sex-linked and Sex-limited genes

Answer 14

Sex linked genes appear on X Y chromosomes and not autosomal chromosome
Sex limited genes occur on autosomal chromosomes but are only active in one sex

Question 15

heritability and reasons why it can be overestimated

Answer 15

=trait that can be passed on via genes
(gene does not cause brown eyes, it produces protein that makes brown eyes with proper nutrition and normal health)
Can be overestimated due to environmental influences . A person may have a predisposition but environment can turn the gene on or off / be expressed

Question 16

Natural selection

Answer 16

organisms with genes that increase fitness and survival reproduce and pass trait/genes to next generation. Those that do not die without reproducing

Question 17

Goals and criticisms of evolutionary psychology.

Answer 17

criticism- explanation cannot be tested

• cannot take for granted that all common behaviours are product of genes
• must distinguish genetic influences

Question 18

Reasons for animal research

Answer 18

1) underlying mechanisms of behaviour are similar across species and sometimes easier to study in a non human species
2) Interested in animals for their own sake
3) What we learn about animals sheds light on human evolution
4) Legal or ethical restrictions prevent certain kinds of research on humans

Question 19

ethical debate concerning the use of animals in research

Answer 19

-try and use less animals, use computer models or simulations, and modifying procedures to reduce pain and increase comfort

Question 20

Abolitionist

Answer 20

refuse to compromise, animals should have exactly the same rights as humans
ie- animals cannot give informed consent

Question 21

Researchers (animal ethics)

Answer 21

a little harm can lead to a greater good for humans

Question 22

Describe the regulatory committees that oversee animal research

Answer 22

Society for Neuroscience

National Institutes of Health’s Office of Animal Care and Use