chapter 1 - intro to biological psychology

Question 0

Mind-body dualism

Answer 0

A philosophical perspective put forward by Rene Descartes in which the body is mechanistic, whereas the mind is separate and nonphysical

Question 1

biological psychology

Answer 1

The branch of psychology in which the biological foundations of behaviour, emotions, and mental processes are studied

Question 2

Monism

Answer 2

(MON-nizm) A philosophical perspective characteristic of the neurosciences in which the mind is viewed as the product of activity in the brain and nervous system

Question 3

Phrenology

Answer 3

The pseudoscientific notion that the skull contours indicate personality and character traits

Question 4

Histology

Answer 4

The study of cells and tissues on the microscopic level

Question 5

Microtome

Answer 5

A device used to make very thin slices of tissue for histology

Question 6

Golgi silver strain

Answer 6

A strain developed by Camillo Golgi used to observe single neurons

Question 7

Nissl strain

Answer 7

A stain used to view populations of cell bodies

Question 8

Myelin strain

Answer 8

A strain used to trace neural pathways

Question 9

Horseradish peroxidase

Answer 9

A strain used to trace axon pathways from their terminals to points of origin

Question 10

Autopsy

Answer 10

The examination of body tissues following death

Question 11

Computerized tomography (CT)

Answer 11

An imaging technology in which computers are used to enhance X-ray images

Question 12

Positron emission tomography (PET)

Answer 12

An imaging technique that provides information regarding the localization of brain activity

Question 13

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Answer 13

An imaging technique that provides very high resolution structural images

Question 14

Voxel

Answer 14

Short for “volume Pixel.” A pixel is the smallest distinguishable square part of a two dimensional image. A voxel is the smallest distinguishable box shaped part of a three dimensional image

Question 15

Functional MRI (fMRI)

Answer 15

A technology using a series of MRI images taken 1 to 4 seconds apart in order to assess the activity of the brain

Question 16

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Answer 16

A technology for studying the activity of the brain through recordings from electrodes placed on the scalp

Question 17

Evoked potential

Answer 17

An alteration in the EEG recording produced in response to the application of a particular stimulus

Question 18

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

Answer 18

A technology for recording the magnetic output of the brain

Question 19

Repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)

Answer 19

A technique for stimulating the cortex at regular intervals by applying a magnetic pulse through a wire coil encased in plastic and placed on the scalp.

Question 20

Lesion

Answer 20

Pathological or traumatic damage to tissue

Question 21

Ablation

Answer 21

The surgical removal of tissue

Question 22

Microdialysis

Answer 22

A technique for assessing the chemical composition of a very small area of the brain

Question 23

Heritability

Answer 23

The amount of variability of a trait in a population that is due to genetics

Question 24

Knockout genes

Answer 24

Genes that take the place of normal genes but that fail to produce the specific protein produced by the normal genes

Question 25

Stem cell

Answer 25

An undifferentiated cell that can divide and differentiate into other types of cells