Unit 1 - Biological Bases of Behavior

Question 1

What are the three main types of neurons?

Answer 1

Sensory (afferent), motor (efferent), and interneurons.

Question 2

What is the function of myelin sheath?

Answer 2

It speeds up neural impulses by insulating the axon.

Question 3

What is the difference between an action potential and a resting potential?

Answer 3

The action potential is when a neuron fires due to a change in electrical charge, while the resting potential is when the neuron is inactive and polarized.

Question 4

What is the all or none principle?

Answer 4

A neuron either fires completely or not at all - there is no partial firing.

Question 5

What is reuptake?

Answer 5

The process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the sending neuron after being released into the synapse.

Question 6

What neurotransmitter is linked to muscle movement and memory, and what disease is associated with its deficiency?

Answer 6

Acetylcholine (ACh); Alzheimer’s disease.

Question 7

Which neurotransmitter is involved in mood regulation, and what disorder is linked to its imbalance?

Answer 7

Serotonin, depression (low levels).

Question 8

Which neurotransmitter is associated with pleasure and movement, and what disorders are linked to its imbalance?

Answer 8

Dopamine; schizophrenia (excess) and Parkinson’s disease (deficiency).

Question 9

What are endorphins responsible for?

Answer 9

Pain relief and pleasure (natural painkillers).

Question 10

What is the role of GABA?

Answer 10

It is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps regulate anxiety.

Question 11

What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?

Answer 11

Central nervous system (CNS) and Peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Question 12

What are the two subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 12

Sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and Parasympathetic (rest-and-digest).

Question 13

What part of the nervous system controls voluntary movements?

Answer 13

The somatic nervous system.

Question 14

What does the sympathetic nervous system do?

Answer 14

It prepares the body for stress by increasing heart rate, dilating pupils, and inhibiting digestion.

Question 15

What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

Answer 15

It calms the body after stress by slowing the heart rate, constricting pupils, and stimulating digestion.

Question 16

What are the three major parts of the brain?

Answer 16

Hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain.

Question 17

What is the function of the medulla?

Answer 17

Controls basic life functions such as heartbeat and breathing.

Question 18

What part of the brain is responsible for balance and coordination?

Answer 18

The cerebellum.

Question 19

What is the role of the amygdala?

Answer 19

Processing emotions, especially fear and aggression.

Question 20

What brain structure serves as a relay station for sensory information?

Answer 20

The thalamus.

Question 21

What part of the brain regulates hunger, thirst, and body temperature?

Answer 21

The hypothalamus.

Question 22

What is the cerebral cortex responsible for?

Answer 22

Higher-level thinking, reasoning, and decision making.

Question 23

What are the four lobes of the brain?

Answer 23

Frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal.

Question 24

What is the frontal lobe responsible for?

Answer 24

Decision making, personality, movement (motor cortex), and speech (Broca’s area).

Question 25

What lobe processes touch and spatial information?

Answer 25

The parietal lobe.

Question 26

Which lobe is involved in vision?

Answer 26

The occipital lobe.

Question 27

What does the temporal lobe process?

Answer 27

Hearing and language (Wernicke's area).

Question 28

What is the corpus callosum?

Answer 28

A band of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres.

Question 29

What does the left hemisphere specialize in?

Answer 29

Language, logic, and analytical thinking.

Question 30

What does the right brain specialize in?

Answer 30

Creativity, spatial ability, and recognizing emotions.

Question 31

What happens in a split brain patient?

Answer 31

The two hemispheres cannot communicate, affecting how they process information.

Question 32

What is the endocrine system?

Answer 32

A system of glans that release hormones into the bloodstream.

Question 33

What gland is known as the "master gland"?

Answer 33

The pituitary gland.

Question 34

What hormone does the adrenal gland release during stress?

Answer 34

Adrenaline (epinephrine).

Question 35

What is the role of the thyroid gland?

Answer 35

Regulating metabolism

Question 36

What hormone does the pancreas regulate?

Answer 36

Insulin, which controls blood sugar levels.

Question 37

What is the difference between nature vs. nurture?

Answer 37

Nature is genetics and nurture is everything else (experiences, etc.)

Question 38

How does modern research demonstrate that our environment can alter our genetics?

Answer 38

Environmental factors can influence gene expression without altering the DNA sequence itself, leading to changes in traits and behaviors.

Question 39

What do identical twins have?

Answer 39

Same DNA, sex, and one egg (monozygotic).

Question 40

What do fraternal twins have?

Answer 40

Different DNA, no more genetically similar than non-twin siblings, might be same or opposite sex, and two eggs (dizygotic).

Question 41

Why are twin studies important?

Answer 41

They can help clarify whether nature, nurture, or both play a role in determining things like: Personality characteristics, personal preferences, intelligence, psychological health, and language acquisition.

Question 42

What is heritability?

Answer 42

The amount of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genetics.

Question 43

What is the central nervous systems comprised of?

Answer 43

The brain and the spinal cord.

Question 44

What was the "Jim Twin" Case?

Answer 44

It was a case that highlights the remarkable similarities between identical twins, Jim Lewis and Jim Springer, who were separated at birth and raised in different environments, demonstrating the influence of genetics on behavior and personality.