PAPER 2 - APPROACHES - the biological approach

Question 1

what is the fundamental belief of the biological approach?

Answer 1

all behaviour can be explained in terms of the individuals biology including: genetic basis of behaviour, genotype & phenotype, biological structures, neurochemistry & evolution

Question 2

what is the genotype?

Answer 2

the genetic code written into the DNA of an individuals cells

Question 3

what is the phenotype?

Answer 3

the physical appearance of the individual as a result of inherited information

Question 4

what do genes ‘carry’?

Answer 4

instructions for chracteristics

Question 5

what are the frontal lobes responsible for?

Answer 5

speech, thought, learning

Question 6

what are the temporal lobes responsible for?

Answer 6

hearing, memory

Question 7

what are the parietal responsible for?

Answer 7

processing sensory information e.g. touch, temperature, pain

Question 8

what are the occipital lobes responsible for?

Answer 8

processing visual information

Question 9

what is meant by the term ‘heredity’?

Answer 9

the passing of characteristics from one generation to the next through the genes and the reason why offspring ‘take after’ their parents

Question 10

what is a gene?

Answer 10

• a section of DNA
• a part of the chromosome of organism that carries information as DNA

Question 11

what is the nature-nuture debate?

Answer 11

the extent to which a physiological characterstic is determined by

Question 12

why do individuals differ in terms of intelligence, ability etc.?

Answer 12

• individuals each have a unique combination of genetic instructions
• the more the trait is influenced by genetic factors, greater hereditability

Question 13

what is the cerebrum?

Answer 13

• makes up 85% of the brain
• outer surface is the cerebral cortex, responsible for ‘high-order’ functions (thought, language)
• divided into 2 halves (hemispheres), each hemisphere divided into 4 (lobes)

Question 14

what is a neurotransmitter, and what does it do?

Answer 14

• when a nerve impulse reaches the end of one neuron
• some neurotransmitters trigger a receiving neuron so send an impulse (stimulates brain into action) and some stop it from doing so (calms & balances mood)

Question 15

what is an excitatory neurotransmitter?

Answer 15

triggers nerve impulses in neurons and stimulates brain into action

Question 16

what is an inhibitory neurotransmitter?

Answer 16

triggers nerve impulses in neurons and calms the brain and balances mood

Question 17

what is an example of an excitatory neurotransmitter?

Answer 17

dopamine

Question 18

what is an example of an inhibitory neurotransmitter?

Answer 18

seratonin

Question 19

what are hormones?

Answer 19

chemicals that are produced in the endocrine glands like the pituitary gland to make up the endocrine system

Question 20

what do hormones do?

Answer 20

in response to signals from the brain, hormones are directly secreted into bloodstream where they travel to ‘target cells’

Question 21

what do hormones do when they reach their target cells?

Answer 21

exert their influence by stimulating receptors on surface or inside cells

Question 22

where are hormones produced?

Answer 22

endocrine glands like pituitary gland to make up the endocrine system