Chapter One

Question 1

Define neurons

Answer 1

Cells of the nervous system that are specialized for the reception, conduction, and transmission of electrochemical signals.

Question 2

What is neuroscience?

Answer 2

The scientific study of the nervous system

Question 3

What is the evolutionary perspective?

Answer 3

The approach that focuses on the environmental pressures that likely led to the evolution of the characteristics of current species. Uses a comparative approach to give insight into biopsychology.

Question 4

Define neuroplasticity

Answer 4

The notion that the brain is a plastic organ that continuously grows and changes in response to an individual’s environment and experiences.

Question 5

Define epigenetics

Answer 5

The study of all mechanisms of inheritance other than the genetic code and its expression.

Question 6

What is consciousness?

Answer 6

The perception or awareness of some aspect of oneself or the world.

Question 7

How much does the human brain weigh?

Answer 7

1.3kg (2.8lbs)

Question 8

Define biopsychology

Answer 8

The scientific study of the biology of behaviour; a biological approach to the study of psychology

Question 9

What was Donald Hebb’s contribution to the field?

Answer 9

Wrote the first comprehensive theory on how complex psychological phenomena are produced by brain activity, based on experiments on both humans and animals, clinical case studies, and logical arguments derived from observations.

Question 10

Define neuroanatomy

Answer 10

The study of the structure of the nervous system

Question 11

Define neurochemistry

Answer 11

The study of the chemical bases of neural activity

Question 12

Define neuroendocrinology

Answer 12

The study of interactions between the nervous system and the endocrine system.

Question 13

Define neuropathology

Answer 13

The study of nervous system dysfunction

Question 14

Define neuropharmacology

Answer 14

The study of the effects of drugs on neural activity

Question 15

Define neurophysiology

Answer 15

The study of the functions and activities of the nervous system.

Question 16

What is the comparative approach?

Answer 16

The study of biological processes by comparing different species - usually from the evolutionary perspective.

Question 17

What are some benefits to using human subjects?

Answer 17

They are cheaper, have human brains, and volunteer.

Question 18

What are some benefits to using non-human subjects?

Answer 18

Comparisons between human and non-human brains are more quantitative than qualitative, there are less ethical restraints, and the brains of non-humans are less complex, making it easier to reveal fundamental brain-behaviour interactions.

Question 19

What is the focus of animal ethics committees?

Answer 19

Reduction, refinement, and replacement.

Question 20

What is the defining characteristic of an experiment?

Answer 20

It can determine causation.

Question 21

What is between-subject design?

Answer 21

An experimental design in which a different group of subjects is tested under each condition.

Question 22

What is within-subjects design?

Answer 22

An experimental design in which the same subjects are tested under each condition.

Question 23

What is a quasiexperimental study?

Answer 23

Studies of groups of subjects who have been exposed to the conditions of interest in the real world; such studies have the appearance of experiments but aren’t true experiments because potential confounded variables have not been controlled for.

Question 24

What is a case study?

Answer 24

Studies that focus on a single case or subject

Question 25

What is a problem with case studies?

Answer 25

There is uncertainty on how generalizable a particular case study can be to the entire population.

Question 26

What is a benefit of case studies?

Answer 26

They can push a field farther.

Question 27

What is pure research?

Answer 27

Research motivated primarily by the curiosity of the researcher and done solely for the purpose of acquiring knowledge.

Question 28

What is applied research?

Answer 28

Research that is intended to bring about some direct benefit to humankind.

Question 29

What is translational research?

Answer 29

Research designed to translate basic scientific discoveries into effective applications.

Question 30

Define physiological psychology.

Answer 30

The division of biopsychology that studies the neural mechanisms of behaviour through direct manipulation of the brains of nonhuman animal subjects in controlled experiments.

Question 31

Define psychopharmacology.

Answer 31

The division of biopsychology that studies the effects of drugs on the brain and behaviour.

Question 32

Define neuropsychology.

Answer 32

The division of biopsychology that studies the psychological effects of brain damage in human patients.

Question 33

Define psychophysiology

Answer 33

The division of biopsychology that studies the relation between physiological activity and psychological processes in human subjects by noninvasive methods (EEG, PET scans etc.)

Question 34

Define cognitive neuroscience.

Answer 34

The division of biopsychology that focuses on the use of functional brain imaging to study the neural mechanisms of human cognition.

Question 35

Define comparative psychology.

Answer 35

The division of biopsychology that studies the evolution, genetics, and adaptiveness of behaviour, often by using the comparative approach.

Question 36

Why are converging operations important?

Answer 36

Because each approach has its limitations. By combining many approaches to a problem, we can collate knowledge to solve it.

Question 37

What is Morgan's Canon?

Answer 37

The rule that the simplest possible interpretation for a behavioural observation should be given precedence.