Back to AI Flashcard MakerPsychology /GRE® Psychology Biological: Physiological/Behavioral Neuroscience Part 9
GRE® Psychology Biological: Physiological/Behavioral Neuroscience Part 9
This deck covers key concepts in physiological and behavioral neuroscience, focusing on genetic, evolutionary, and instinctual behaviors as outlined in GRE Psychology. It includes definitions, processes, and theories relevant to understanding biological responses and evolutionary mechanisms.
What is the fight or flight response?
It is a series of physiological changes that provides an animal with the tools necessary to flee from or fight a threat. Examples might include changes in respiration, blood flow, pupil dilation, and heart rate.
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Key Terms
Term
Definition
What is the fight or flight response?
It is a series of physiological changes that provides an animal with the tools necessary to flee from or fight a threat. Examples might include change...
After the fight or flight response, what happens to the body, according to Walter Cannon?
The body self-regulates to return to homeostasis.
What is the term for a molecular unit of heredity?
gene; Genes are made of DNA and RNA molecules and are carried in chromosomes
How many chromosomes are in the nucleus of a human cell?
23 pairs
What are gametes and how do they differ from other human cells?
In humans, gametes are the sperm and ovum. While human cells have 23 pairs of chomosomes (making them diploids), gametes only have 23 single chromosom...
Are zygotes haploids or diploids? Why?
Diploids; when the gametes from parents meet in the fertilized egg cell, the 23 single chromosomes become paired, making the zygote a diploid.
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
What is the fight or flight response? | It is a series of physiological changes that provides an animal with the tools necessary to flee from or fight a threat. Examples might include changes in respiration, blood flow, pupil dilation, and heart rate. |
After the fight or flight response, what happens to the body, according to Walter Cannon? | The body self-regulates to return to homeostasis. |
What is the term for a molecular unit of heredity? | gene; Genes are made of DNA and RNA molecules and are carried in chromosomes |
How many chromosomes are in the nucleus of a human cell? | 23 pairs |
What are gametes and how do they differ from other human cells? | In humans, gametes are the sperm and ovum. While human cells have 23 pairs of chomosomes (making them diploids), gametes only have 23 single chromosomes (making them haploids). |
Are zygotes haploids or diploids? Why? | Diploids; when the gametes from parents meet in the fertilized egg cell, the 23 single chromosomes become paired, making the zygote a diploid. |
What is a genotype? | The entirety of a genetic cell's makeup. The genotype includes both dominant and recessive genes |
What is an allele? | It is any particular version of a gene, including possible variations for each dominant and recessive gene (dominant-dominant, dominant-recessive, or recessive-recessive). |
The sum of your physical characteristics is also known as what? | phenotype |
What idea is central to the theory of evolution? | natural selection |
What is natural selection? | It is the idea that organisms or species are more likely to survive if they adapt to fit their environment. |
What does genetic drift refer to? | It refers to the genotypic pruning or flourishing within a population through generations. |
What is reproduction and the furthering of genes called in terms of evolution? | fitness |
Organisms or animals that are concerned with furthering the entire species rather than just themselves are favoring what? | inclusive fitness |
The desire to protect your own genes (and thus, the genes of your family) is known as what? | kin selection Inclusive fitness is born of kin selection. |
What are characteristics of innate or instinctual behaviors? | • not reliant on learning or experience • relatively consistent throughout the species, even initially • exist in all members of a species |
How does protecting one's kin not constitute altruism? | While protecting a family member is somewhat altruistic, true altruism does not generate a direct benefit for the individual. Protecting non-kin would be altruistic because it does not ensure the safety of one's own genes. |
What is the evolutionary purpose of a biological clock? | Biological clocks keep an organism in step with its environment. |
What time period do circadian rhythms revolve around? | one day (24 hour) cycles |
What behaviors must occur to attract a member of the same species and mate? | courting |
When a bird is unsure whether to attack a predator or flee, it will sometimes peck at the grass. Why? | The bird is exhibiting displacement behaviors, which are illogical and stem from different instincts contradicting one another simultaneously. A human example is scratching one's head while trying to decide between different options. |
What is estrus? | It is the period of time when a female animal is receptive to sex for mating. This is commonly referred to as being 'in heat.' |
How has evolution discouraged inbreeding? | Many animals from the same family have similar markings, so potential suitors know to choose mates with different markings from their own. |
How is mimicry evolutionarily beneficial? | Mimicry allows one species of animal to look/sound/smell like another species to protect themselves from harm. |
What is instinctive drift? | When an animal forsakes conditioned responses in favor of instinctive responses. |