Biological Approach

• How many different approaches are outlined in the text?

  Three
• What are the three approaches discussed in the text?

  Evolutionary influences, localisation, and neurotransmitters
• What is evolution defined as in the text?

  The changing of something over time
• According to the text, what is the focus of evolutionary psychologists?

  Explaining emotions, thoughts and responses based on evolution
• Whose theory of evolution do evolutionary psychologists base their explanations on?

  Charles Darwin
• What mechanism did Darwin's theory suggest species survive through?

  Natural selection
• What does EEA stand for?

  Environment of Evolutionary Adaptiveness
• What are adaptive traits in the context of evolution?

  Characteristics that help survival and reproduction
• According to Trivers, what drives the formation of romantic relationships?

  Differing parental investment levels in offspring survival
• Why do females have a larger investment in offspring?

  They carry the child for 9 months
• What does localisation of brain function refer to?

  Different brain areas are responsible for different functions
• How is the brain divided?

  Two hemispheres
• Which part of the brain is responsible for higher order cognitive functions?

  Cerebral cortex
• In what century did Paul Broca conduct his studies?

  18th century
• What did Paul Broca discover in his patients with language problems?

  Damage to the left hemisphere of the brain
• What is Broca's area associated with?

  Speech production
• What are neurons?

  Nerve cells that transmit electrical signals
• What are the three basic roles of neurons?

  • Receive information
  • Determine whether to pass it on
  • Send information to muscles, glands, or organs
• Where is an electrical impulse initiated in a neuron?

  Presynaptic neuron
• What happens to the electrical signal at the synaptic gap?

  It cannot cross the gap
• What facilitates the transmission of signals across the synaptic gap?

  Neurotransmitters
• Where do neurotransmitters bind on the postsynaptic neuron?

  Receptors on the dendrite
• What do neurotransmitters generate in a postsynaptic neuron?

  A new electrical impulse
• What happens to neurotransmitters after they are released into the synapse?

  Reuptaken or destroyed by enzymes
• What does the case study of Phineas Gage illustrate about brain function?

  Specific brain areas affect personality and behaviour