Heredity & Environment
What term describes an organism's genetic makeup?
Genotype
What is the basic communication cell of the nervous system?
Neuron.
Which brain structure helps coordinate balance and movement?
Cerebellum.
What approximately 24-hour biological cycle regulates sleep and wakefulness?
Circadian rhythm.
What is the process of converting sensory stimuli into neural signals?
Transduction
What term describes observable characteristics produced by genes and environment?
Phenotype
Which neuron structure receives incoming signals?
Dendrites.
Which division of the autonomic nervous system prepares the body for fight-or-flight?
Sympathetic nervous system.
Which sleep stage is most associated with vivid dreaming and muscle atonia?
REM Sleep.
What is the minimum stimulus intensity detected 50% of the time?
Absolute threshold.
What is the study of how environmental influences can affect gene expression without changing DNA sequence?
Epigenetics.
What is the brief electrical impulse that travels along an axon?
Action potential.
Which brain structure is important for forming new explicit memories?
Hippocampus.
Which NREM stage is associated with deep slow-wave sleep?
N3.
What is the smallest detectable difference between two stimuli, conventionally 50% of the time?
Difference threshold (just-noticeable difference).
Identical twins share nearly all their DNA but develop different interests. What does this demonstrate?
The interaction of heredity and environment (nature and nurture).
Which neurotransmitter is especially associated with reward, motivation, and movement?
Dopamine.
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Which lobe is primarily responsible for processing visual information?
Occipital lobe.
A person repeatedly stops breathing during sleep. What disorder might explain this?
Sleep apnea.
Why might the same added weight be easier to notice in a light backpack than in a heavy one?
Weber's law: detectability depends on the proportional change relative to the original weight.
Two identical twins raised apart have similar traits. Why does this not prove genes alone caused the similarities?
Environmental influences also matter, and twin similarities do not establish that genes are the sole cause.
A medication blocks neurotransmitter reuptake. What generally happens to that neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft?
It remains available longer, potentially increasing its signaling.
After a presentation, a student's heart rate slows toward resting levels. Which autonomic division is primarily involved?
Parasympathetic nervous system.
A student frequently falls asleep unexpectedly during the day and may experience cataplexy. What sleep disorder fits?
Nacrolepsy
A student stops noticing the constant smell of perfume after several minutes. What process explains this?
Sensory adaptation.