Chapter 2: Neuroscience and Biological Foundations

Question 1

What do Evolutionary Psychologists study?

Answer 1

How natural selection and adaptation help explain behavior and mental processes

Question 2

What is neuroscience?

Answer 2

Interdisciplinary field studying how biological processes relate to behavioral and mental processes

Question 3

What is the neural basis of psychology?

Answer 3

The Nervous System consists of neurons (cells responsible for receiving and transmitting electrochemical information)

Question 4

What components form the structure of a neuron?

Answer 4

Dendrites
Cell Body
Axon
Myelin Sheath
Terminal Button of Axon

Question 5

What is a Dendrite?

Answer 5

Receives information from other neurons and sensory receptors

Question 6

What is a Cell Body?

Answer 6

Receives information from dendrites, and if enough stimulation is received, the message is passed to the axon

Question 7

What is an Axon?

Answer 7

Carries the neuron’s messages to other body cells (send them away)

Question 8

What is a Myelin Sheath?

Answer 8

Covers the axons of some neurons to insulate and help speed neural impulses

Question 9

What is the Terminal Button of Axon?

Answer 9

Form junctions with other cells and release chemicals called neurotransmitters

Question 10

What is a Neurotransmitter?

Answer 10

Chemicals used to send a signal across the synaptic gap

Question 11

What is a Synapse?

Answer 11

A Synapse is a junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite (or cell body) of the receiving neuron

Question 12

What parts of the brain does the Forebrain consist of?

Answer 12

Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Cerebrum
Limbic System
Corpus Callosum

Question 13

What parts of the Brain does the Hindbrain consist of?

Answer 13

Cerebellum
Pons
Medulla

Question 14

What is the purpose of the brain stem and the cerebellum?

Answer 14

Coordinates the body

Question 15

What is the purpose of the Limbic System?

Answer 15

Manages emotions, and connects thought to body

Question 16

What is the purpose of the Cortex?

Answer 16

Integrates information

Question 17

What is the purpose of the Midbrain?

Answer 17

Helps conduct movement patterns, sleep, and arousal

Question 18

What is the purpose of the Hindbrain?

Answer 18

Controls respiratory rhythm, motor activity, sleep, and wakefulness

Question 19

What is the purpose of the Hypothalamus?

Answer 19

Responsible for regulating emotions and drives

Question 20

What is the purpose of the Thalamus?

Answer 20

Relays sensory messages to Cortex

Question 21

What is the purpose of the Amygdala?

Answer 21

Part of the Limbic System; involved in aggression and fear
-Linked to Emotion

Question 22

What is the purpose of the Cerebral Cortex?

Answer 22

The outer layer responsible for most complex behaviors and higher mental processes

Question 23

What is the purpose of the Corpus Callosum?

Answer 23

Thick band of axons connecting the two hemispheres of the Cerebral Cortex

Question 24

What is the purpose of the Pons?

Answer 24

Involved with respiration, movement, waking, sleep, and dreaming

Question 25

What is the purpose of the Cerebellum?

Answer 25

Coordinates fine muscle movement, balance, and some perception and cognition

Question 26

What is the purpose of the Medulla?

Answer 26

Responsible for breathing, heartbeat, and other vital life functions

Question 27

What is the purpose of the Spinal Cord?

Answer 27

Responsible for transmitting information between the brain and rest of the body Handles simple reflexes

Question 28

What is the purpose of the Reticular Formation?

Answer 28

Helps screen incoming sensory information Controls arousal

Question 29

What is the purpose of the Brainstem?

Answer 29

Helps regulate reflex activities critical for survival (ex: heartbeat and respiration)

Question 30

What is the purpose of the Frontal Lobe?

Answer 30

-Receives and coordinates messages from the other lobes -Motor Control, speech control, speech production, and higher functions (thinking, personality, memory) -Contains Broca's Area and the Motor Cortex

Question 31

What is the purpose of the Temporal Lobe?

Answer 31

-Hearing, language comprehension, memory, and some emotional control -Contains Wernicke's area -Includes the auditory processing areas -Located on each side of the brain above the ears

Question 32

What is the purpose of the Occipital Lobes?

Answer 32

-Responsible for vision and visual perception -Located in the back of the brain

Question 33

What is the purpose of the Parietal Lobe?

Answer 33

-Receives information about pressure, pain, touch, and temperature -Located at the top of the brain, directly behind the frontal lobes -Responsible for interpreting bodily sensations

Question 34

What is the purpose of the Left Hemisphere of the Brain?

Answer 34

-Language Functions -Analytical (figure things out step-by-step) -Controls the right side of the body

Question 35

What is the purpose of the Right Hemisphere of the Brain?

Answer 35

-Nonverbal Abilities -Synthetic (figures things out by combining pieces to form wholes) -Controls the left side of the body

Question 36

What is Neuroplasticity?

Answer 36

Brain's lifelong ability to recognize and change its structure and functions

Question 37

What are the 4 components of Neuroplasticity?

Answer 37

1. Positive Emotion 2. Repetition and practice 3. Visualization 4. Meditation

Question 38

What is the CNS?

Answer 38

-Composed of the Brain and the Spinal Cord -Spinal cord is the primary means for transmitting messages between the brain and the rest of the body -CNS makes decisions for the body -The brain directs mental processes and maintains basic life functions

Question 39

What is the PNS?

Answer 39

-Consists of the "rest of" the nervous system -Gathers and sends information to the rest of the body -Connects the CNS to the rest of the body -Subdivided into the Somatic Nervous System and the Autonomic Nervous System

Question 40

What is the Somatic Nervous System?

Answer 40

-Connects to sensory receptors -Controls Skeletal muscles -Controls voluntary movement

Question 41

What is the Autonomic Nervous System?

Answer 41

-Controls involuntary bodily functions (heartbeat, stress response, etc.) -Subdivided into the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems

Question 42

What is the Sympathetic Nervous System?

Answer 42

-Arouses -Fight or Flight response -Prepares the body for action in stressful situations

Question 43

What is the Parasympathetic Nervous System?

Answer 43

-Calms -Acts to calm the body after an emergency or stressful situation has ended