Chapter 3 Biopsychology

Question 1

Chromosomes

Answer 1

Chromosomes are long strings of genetic material known as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Question 2

DNA

Answer 2

DNA is a helix-shaped molecule made up of nucleotide base pairs.

Question 3

Allele

Answer 3

An allele is a specific version of a gene.

Question 4

Genotype

Answer 4

the genetic makeup of that individual.

Question 5

Phenotype

Answer 5

refers to the individual’s inherited physical characteristics, which are a combination of genetic and environmental influences

Question 6

homozygous

Answer 6

When someone has two copies of the same allele

Question 7

heterozygous

Answer 7

When someone has a combination of alleles for a given gene,

Question 8

polygenic

Answer 8

Most traits are polygenic: controlled by more than one gene.

Question 9

Range of reaction

Answer 9

asserts that our genes set the boundaries within which we can operate, and our environment interacts with the genes to determine where in that range we will fall.

Question 10

genetic environmental correlation.

Answer 10

our genes influence our environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes

Question 11

epigenetics

Answer 11

refers to a change in gene expression or cellular traits that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence.

Question 12

The nervous system is composed of two basic cell types:

Answer 12

glial cells (also known as glia) and neurons.

Glial cells, which outnumber neurons ten to one, are traditionally thought to play a supportive role to neurons, both physically and metabolically.

Question 13

Significance of Glial cells..?

Answer 13

provide scaffolding on which the nervous system is built, help neurons line up closely with each other to allow neuronal communication, provide insulation to neurons, transport nutrients and waste products, and mediate immune responses.

Question 14

Neurons

Answer 14

serve as interconnected information processors that are essential for all of the tasks of the nervous system.

Question 15

semipermeable membrane

Answer 15

A neuron’s outer surface is made up of a semipermeable membrane. This membrane allows smaller molecules and molecules without an electrical charge to pass through it, while stopping larger or highly charged molecules.

Question 16

Soma

Answer 16

Is the cell body where the nucleus is.

Has branching extensions known as Dendrites

Question 17

dendrites

Answer 17

dendrites serve as input sites where signals are received from other neurons

Question 18

Agonists

Answer 18

Agonists are chemicals that mimic a neurotransmitter at the receptor site and, thus, strengthen its effects.

Question 19

An antagonis

Answer 19

An antagonist, blocks or impedes the normal activity of a neurotransmitter at the receptor.

Question 20

reuptake inhibitors

Answer 20

prevent unused neurotransmitters from being transported back to the neuron.

Question 21

somatic nervous system

Answer 21

somatic nervous system is associated with activities traditionally thought of as conscious or voluntary.

Question 22

The PNS has two major subdivisions:

Answer 22

the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

Question 23

Motor neurons,

Answer 23

carrying instructions from the CNS to the muscles, are efferent fibers (efferent means “moving away from”).

Question 24

Sensory neurons,

Answer 24

carrying sensory information to the CNS, are afferent fibers (afferent means “moving toward”).

Question 25

autonomic nervous system

Answer 25

controls our internal organs and glands and is generally considered to be outside the realm of voluntary control.

It can be further subdivided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions

Question 26

sympathetic nervous system

Answer 26

is involved in preparing the body for stress-related activities;

fight or flight response

Question 27

parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 27

is associated with returning the body to routine, day-to-day operations.

Question 28

Homeostasis

Answer 28

is a state of equilibrium, in which biological conditions (such as body temperature) are maintained at optimal levels.

Question 29

corpus callosum

Answer 29

a thick band of neural fibers, consisting of 200 million axons, that connect the two hemispheres

Question 30

The limbic system is involved in processing

Answer 30

both emotion and memory.

Interestingly, the sense of smell projects directly to the limbic system; therefore, not surprisingly, smell can evoke emotional responses in ways that other sensory modalities cannot.

Question 31

The thalamus

Answer 31

is a sensory relay for the brain. All of our senses, with the exception of smell, are routed through the thalamus before being directed to other areas of the brain for processing

Question 32

Three main structures of the limbic system

Answer 32

hippocampus, the amygdala, and the hypothalamus