Test Bank Complete_ Biological Psychology 14th
Edition, (2024) James W. Kalat| All Chapters 1-14
biological psychology - ANSWERAlso called behavioral neuroscience. The study of the
biological bases of psychological processes and behavior.
neuroscience - ANSWERThe study of the nervous system.
conserved - ANSWERIn the context of evolution, referring to a trait that is passed on
from a common ancestor to two or more descendant species.
ontogeny - ANSWERThe process by which an individual changes in the course of its
lifetime--that is, grows up and grows old.
somatic intervention - ANSWERAn approach to finding relations between body
variables and behavioral variables that involves manipulating body structure or
function and looking for resultant changes in behavior.
independent variable - ANSWERThe factor that is manipulated by an experimenter.
dependent variable - ANSWERThe factor that an experimenter measures to monitor
a change in response to changes in an independent variable.
behavioral intervention - ANSWERAn approach to finding relations between body
variables and behavioral variables that involves intervening in the behavior of an
organism and looking for resultant changes in body structure or function.
correlation - ANSWERthe covariation of two measures.
neuroplasticity or neural plasticity - ANSWERThe ability of the nervous system to
change in response to experience or the environment.
reductionism - ANSWERThe scientific strategy of breaking down into increasingly
smaller parts in order to understand it.
levels of analysis - ANSWERThe scope of experimental approaches. A scientist may
try to understand behavior by monitoring molecules, nerve cells, brain regions, or
social environments, or some combination of these levels of analysis.
dualism - ANSWERThe notion, promoted by Rene Descartes, that the mind is subject
only to spiritual interactions, while the body is subject only to material interactions.
phrenology - ANSWERThe belief that bumps on the skull reflect enlargements of
brain regions responsible for certain behavioral faculties.
, consciousness - ANSWERThe state of awareness of one's own existence and
experience.
neuron or nerve cell - ANSWERThe basic unit of the nervous system, each composed
of a cell body, receptive extensions(s) (dendrites), and a transmitting extension
(axon).
neuron doctrine - ANSWERThe hypothesis that the brain is composed of separate
cells that are distinct structurally, metabolically, and functionally.
synapse - ANSWERThe tiny gap between neurons where information is passed from
one to the other.
glial cells - ANSWERAlso called glia or neuroglia. Nonneuronal brain cells that provide
structural, nutritional, and other types of support to the brain.
mitochondrion - ANSWERA cellular organelle that provides metabolic energy for the
cell's processes.
cell nucleus - ANSWERThe spherical central structure of a cell that contains the
chromosomes.
ribosomes - ANSWERStructures in the cell body where genetic information is
translated to produce proteins.
dendrite - ANSWEROne of the extensions of the cell body that are the receptive
surfaces of the neuron.
input zone - ANSWERThe part of a neuron that receives information, from other
neurons or from specialized sensory structures. Usually corresponds to the cell's
dendrites.
cell body or soma - ANSWERThe region of a neuron that is defined by the presence
of the cell nucleus.
integration zone - ANSWERThe part of the neuron that initiates nerve electrical
activity. Usually corresponds to the neuron's axon hillock.
axon - ANSWERA single extension from the nerve cell that carries nerve impulses
from the cell body to other neurons.
conduction zone - ANSWERThe part of the neuron over which the nerve's electrical
signal may be actively propagated. Usually corresponds to the cell's axon.
axon terminal - ANSWERAlso called synaptic bouton. The end of an axon or axon
collateral, which forms a synapse on a neuron or other target cell.
Edition, (2024) James W. Kalat| All Chapters 1-14
biological psychology - ANSWERAlso called behavioral neuroscience. The study of the
biological bases of psychological processes and behavior.
neuroscience - ANSWERThe study of the nervous system.
conserved - ANSWERIn the context of evolution, referring to a trait that is passed on
from a common ancestor to two or more descendant species.
ontogeny - ANSWERThe process by which an individual changes in the course of its
lifetime--that is, grows up and grows old.
somatic intervention - ANSWERAn approach to finding relations between body
variables and behavioral variables that involves manipulating body structure or
function and looking for resultant changes in behavior.
independent variable - ANSWERThe factor that is manipulated by an experimenter.
dependent variable - ANSWERThe factor that an experimenter measures to monitor
a change in response to changes in an independent variable.
behavioral intervention - ANSWERAn approach to finding relations between body
variables and behavioral variables that involves intervening in the behavior of an
organism and looking for resultant changes in body structure or function.
correlation - ANSWERthe covariation of two measures.
neuroplasticity or neural plasticity - ANSWERThe ability of the nervous system to
change in response to experience or the environment.
reductionism - ANSWERThe scientific strategy of breaking down into increasingly
smaller parts in order to understand it.
levels of analysis - ANSWERThe scope of experimental approaches. A scientist may
try to understand behavior by monitoring molecules, nerve cells, brain regions, or
social environments, or some combination of these levels of analysis.
dualism - ANSWERThe notion, promoted by Rene Descartes, that the mind is subject
only to spiritual interactions, while the body is subject only to material interactions.
phrenology - ANSWERThe belief that bumps on the skull reflect enlargements of
brain regions responsible for certain behavioral faculties.
, consciousness - ANSWERThe state of awareness of one's own existence and
experience.
neuron or nerve cell - ANSWERThe basic unit of the nervous system, each composed
of a cell body, receptive extensions(s) (dendrites), and a transmitting extension
(axon).
neuron doctrine - ANSWERThe hypothesis that the brain is composed of separate
cells that are distinct structurally, metabolically, and functionally.
synapse - ANSWERThe tiny gap between neurons where information is passed from
one to the other.
glial cells - ANSWERAlso called glia or neuroglia. Nonneuronal brain cells that provide
structural, nutritional, and other types of support to the brain.
mitochondrion - ANSWERA cellular organelle that provides metabolic energy for the
cell's processes.
cell nucleus - ANSWERThe spherical central structure of a cell that contains the
chromosomes.
ribosomes - ANSWERStructures in the cell body where genetic information is
translated to produce proteins.
dendrite - ANSWEROne of the extensions of the cell body that are the receptive
surfaces of the neuron.
input zone - ANSWERThe part of a neuron that receives information, from other
neurons or from specialized sensory structures. Usually corresponds to the cell's
dendrites.
cell body or soma - ANSWERThe region of a neuron that is defined by the presence
of the cell nucleus.
integration zone - ANSWERThe part of the neuron that initiates nerve electrical
activity. Usually corresponds to the neuron's axon hillock.
axon - ANSWERA single extension from the nerve cell that carries nerve impulses
from the cell body to other neurons.
conduction zone - ANSWERThe part of the neuron over which the nerve's electrical
signal may be actively propagated. Usually corresponds to the cell's axon.
axon terminal - ANSWERAlso called synaptic bouton. The end of an axon or axon
collateral, which forms a synapse on a neuron or other target cell.
