Hormones and phermones
A hormone produced by the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland; it is known for its role in social interaction and sexual reproduction.
What is oxytocin?
When methyl groups are added to the DNA molecule, and therefore affect the transcription of the gene.
What is DNA methylation?
The layer of neurons with a folded surface covering the brain on the outside. It is the largest part of the human brain associated with higher-order functions such as abstract thought or voluntary action.
What is the cortex?
When the brain changes its structure in response to changes in the environment.
What is neuroplasticity?
A non invasive scan in which uses x-rays to reveal information about the patiens head, without using magnetic fields.
What are Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT-scans)?
A chemical messenger that communicates information (such as fertility or sexual attractiveness) from one member of a species to another.
What are phermones?
The genetic code for a set of traits in an individual.
What is genotype?
The idea that there is a clear correspondence between psychological functions and brain areas, and that all functions can be clearly mapped onto the brain.
What is strict localization?
Aimed to investigate the structural changes in the brain in response to juggling.
What is Draganski et al (2004)?
Electrodes are attached to the scalp at predetermined points. The subject is required to lie still for several minutes while the electroencephalogram is generated. It is useful in diagnosing such conditions as epilepsy or sleep disorders, and is cheap, mobile, silent and non-invasive.
What is a electroencephalography (EEG)?
A chemical messenger system of the organism; the system of glands that secrete hormones.
What is the endoctrine system?
Study technique used when comparing the similarity between mono- and dizygotic twins for a specific trait or behaviour.
What are twin studies?
An evolutionarily older subcortical structure, sometimes referred to as the "emotional brain"
What is the limbic system?
A study that investigated the sensory cortex of owl monkeys.
What is Merzenich et al (1984)?
This method uses the BOLD (blood-oxygen-level dependent) signal. Temporal resolution is around 1 second.
What is a fMRI?
A study that investigated the effect of androstadienone on the mood of women in the presence of men, which concluded with stating that androstadienone may serve the function of signaling sexual attractiveness, which supports its role as a pheromone.
What is Lundstrom and Olsson (2005)?
A specific way in which genetics and environment interacts. Genetics causes an individual to chose certain environments over others.
What is niche-picking?
A general impairment of language comprehension, while at the same time speech production is intact.
What is Wernicke's aphasia?
A class of chemicals that works in the same way as agonists. You can get a hint if its not specific enough.
What is a Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)?
The ability of a scanner to discriminate between nearby locations, a unit of space that is discernable in a brain scan.
What is spatial resolution?
A study that concluded that oxytocin causes men in a relationship to keep a greater distance from attractive women who are not their partner. Researchers explained that this promotes fidelity. The second task makes it evident that this effect of oxytocin is highly specific and selective to a certain group of stimuli: attractive women.
What is Scheele et al (2012)?
A way to estimate heritability of a trait by observing results from a twin study.
What is the Falconer model?
A special case study of localization; language is mostly lateralized in the left hemisphere, but there are exceptions.
What is Gazzaniga (1967) and Sperry (1968)?
A study that investigated the effect of serotonin on prosocial behaviour. It concluded that citalopram reduces the acceptability of personal harm and in this sense promotes prosocial behaviour. Increased levels of serotonin in the brain may cause people to be more opposed to the idea of inflicting harm on someone.
What is Crockett et al (2010)?
Used in Freed et al (2001) to investigate if dopamine has any role on behavioral symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Has a temporal resolution of 30-40 seconds.
What is a PET scan?