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PSYC 289 UNIT 3 BIOPSYCHOLOGY QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS

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PSYC 289 UNIT 3 BIOPSYCHOLOGY QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS

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Where does the variation that is selected originate?


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originates from genetic mutations, which are random changes in an
organism's DNA. These mutations create genetic diversity within a
population, providing the raw material for natural selection to act upon.




What are hormones? Contrast them with neurotransmitters.


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Hormones are your body's chemical messengers. They travel in your
bloodstream to tissues or organs. They work slowly, over time, and affect
many different processes, including growth and development, and
metabolism. They are different from neurotransmitters because 1. neural
messages are sent short distances quickly whereas hormonal messages
travel long distances slowly and 2. because neural messages travel along

, very specific pathways whereas hormones are less specific in how they
travel




What determines whether a neurotransmitter can bind to a receptor?


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A specific neurotransmitter can bind only to receptor sites that its
molecular structure will fit into




Describe the various parts of the neuron and explain their basic functions.


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, -First, all neurons have a barrier, like a skin, that separates the inside of the
cell from the outside. This barrier, called the cell membrane, has small
channels or gates that allow, or prevent, molecules from entering or
leaving the cell.


-Second, each neuron has a cell body, also called a soma, which contains
the nucleus and acts like a tiny factory where proteins and
neurotransmitters

-Third, all cells have dendrites, which gather much of the incoming
information from other cells.


-Fourth, in addition to the many dendrites that branch out from the cell
body, each neuron has a single main extension called the axon. The axon is
a long, thin fibre that transmits signals away from the soma to other neurons
or to muscles or glands.

-Fifth, though only one axon leaves each cell body, this axon can branch
and each branch ends in an axon terminal. Axon terminals are where
chemicals are released by the neuron to influence the activity of other
neurons.




Describe the all-or-none law of the neural impulse and describe how this is a binary
signal.


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signal transmission between neurons is not dependent on the strength of
the stimuli but, rather, only that the initial threshold is met. In other words,
neurons will either transmit an impulse over the synapse to the next neuron
completely or not at all.



-Neuron's fire or they don't

, Describe how dendrites and axons relate to this junction.


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The synapse is a junction between the axon terminals of one neuron and
the dendrites of another neuron. Messages travel in only one direction.
Messages are received by the dendrites and travel through the cell body
and the axon to the axon terminals. From there, they cross synapses to the
dendrites of other neurons.




Describe the different brain-imaging methods that show brain activity, which is useful
for studying brain functions:


EEG
(electroencephalograph)


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a device for recording brain waves, typically by electrodes placed on the
scalp




Describe synaptic transmission.


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primary way that neurons communicate with other neurons

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