IB Psychology Biological Master the Exam
– Comprehensive Study Guide with Practice
Questions and Verified Answers
localization -answer ✅✅refers to the idea that the brain is made up of specialized
modules, and that each module has a certain function
prefrontal cortex -answer ✅✅the outermost layer of the frontal lobe and is responsible
for many of the executive functions in the brain
Broca's area -answer ✅✅localization - suggests that speech articulation is controlled
by the left frontal lobe
amygdala -answer ✅✅emotional center of the brain and is part of the limbic system. It
activates our stress response and our ability to experience emotions such as fear.
localization criticisms -answer ✅✅some functions may be focused in a specific module
while others are widely distributed - demonstrated in Lashley
neuroplasticity -answer ✅✅refers to the brain's ability to adapt by forming new
connections as a result of experience, learning, or following an injury. Reasons for
change are both genetic and environmental - as a result of experience
dendritic branching -answer ✅✅the process by which the part of one neuron
establishes a connection with other neurons
neural network -answer ✅✅sum total of all your brain's neurons, and the connections
between them. The stronger the pathway becomes, the more likely this pathway will
become activated in the future.
synaptic plasticity -answer ✅✅the ability of one neuron to form new connections and
break up the old ones
corticial remapping -answer ✅✅when brain area X assumes the functions of brain area
Y due to injury
Rosenzweig and Bennet (1972) -answer ✅✅neuroplasticity - the study suggests that
being in a more stimulating environment causes new connections to form in the brain,
altering brain structure
,Maguire et al. (2000) -answer ✅✅neuroplasticity - London cab drivers showed an
increase in the posterior of the hippocampus as a result of their day to day lives
Neurons -answer ✅✅a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
excitatory neurotransmitters -answer ✅✅allows the impulse to cross the synapse and
produce a stimulating effect on the brain
inhibitory neurotransmitters -answer ✅✅stops the impulse, preventing it from crossing
and produces a calming effect on the brain
agonists -answer ✅✅chemical substances that mimic or enhance the effects of a
neurotransmitter on the receptor sites of the next cell, increasing or decreasing the
activity of that cell
antagonists -answer ✅✅drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter
limitations of neurotransmitters -answer ✅✅reductionist explanation for behaviour.
There could be many other things affecting behaviour.
pheromones -answer ✅✅Chemical signals released by an animal that communicate
information and affect the behavior of other animals of the same species. Inconclusive
evidence that they exist in humans.
pheromones and animals -answer ✅✅are processed in a different part of the brain than
ordinary smells. It is processed in the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and is connected to a
special region called the accessory olfactory bulb.
pheromones and humans -answer ✅✅don't have a functional VNO or the accessory
olfactory bulb so the effect of pheromones is debatable
Lundstrom and Olsson (2005) -answer ✅✅pheromones - the study suggests that the
androstadienone found in sweat may serve the function of signaling sexual
attractiveness
criticisms of human pheromones -answer ✅✅research is inconclusive, contradictory
findings, biased because of backing by commercial interests, and limitations in
methodology
hormones -answer ✅✅chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine
glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues
endocrine glands -answer ✅✅release hormones. Parts include adrenal gland, pineal
gland, thyroid, thymus, etc.
,target cells -answer ✅✅receptors for a particular hormone
gene activation -answer ✅✅when a hormone binds to a receptor and launches a
sequence of changes
examples of hormones -answer ✅✅adrenaline, insulin, oxytocin, testosterone, cortisol,
etc.
impacts of testosterone -answer ✅✅deepened voice, muscle development, increased
competitiveness and violence
Effects of Cortisol (glucocorticoid) -answer ✅✅1. longer-term stress response, 2.
increases blood [glucose], 3. increases protein degradation, 4. decreases inflammation
& immunity
Albert et al. (1986) -answer ✅✅hormones - the study suggests that testosterone plays
an important role in aggression and status seeking in rats
Kiecolt-Glaser -answer ✅✅stress of caring for someone with a chronic illness delays
wound recovery due to chronic stress - increase in cortisol (glucocorticoids) in
bloodstream
genetics -answer ✅✅The scientific study of heredity. DNA can be found in the nucleus
of each cell and is organized into tiny units called genes
genotype -answer ✅✅the genetic structure an organism inherits from its parents
phenotype -answer ✅✅the observable characteristics of an organism resulting from the
interaction between the organism's genotype and its environment
genes and behaviour -answer ✅✅contain the instruction for the production of proteins
which regulate the body's processes and the expression of the phenotypic traits such as
intelligence
chromosomes -answer ✅✅humans have 46 and each one contains thousands of
genes and are located in the nucleus of every human cell
epigenetics -answer ✅✅the study of environmental influences on gene expression that
occur without a DNA change
genetic similarities -answer ✅✅a quantitive measure of the relative contribution of
genetic factors into a trait/behaviour. Methods include twin studies, family studies, and
adoption studies.
, concordance rate -answer ✅✅The degree to which a condition or traits shared two or
more individuals or groups
Caspi et al. (2003) -answer ✅✅genetics and behaviour - the study suggests that
individuals with the 5-HTTT gene reacted to stressful life events with more depressive
symptoms
criticisms of genetics -answer ✅✅different traits are influenced by genetic inheritance
to different degrees and environmental factors can influence biological factors through
the regulation of gene expression
theory of evolution -answer ✅✅states that organisms are driven to survive and
reproduce and organisms of the same population are born with randomly different traits
which may help in their survival
survival of the fittest -answer ✅✅favourable characteristics which help an organism
survive and reproduce
natural selection -answer ✅✅organisms that are better adapted and pass on their
genes to help strengthen the gene pool
monozygotic (MZ) twins -answer ✅✅Twins who originate from one zygote that splits
apart very early in development. (Also called identical twins.) Share 100% of genes.
dizygotic twins -answer ✅✅fraternal twins - no more genetically similar that regular
siblings
3 R's of animal research -answer ✅✅replacement, refinement, reduction
4 types of Animal models used in experimental research -answer ✅✅Genetic,
environmental, invasive (nervous), invasive (bodily parts)
Strengths of animal research -answer ✅✅- Relatively small and easy to handle, so
procedures can be more feasible
- Short gestation periods and reproductive cycles, so generations can be studied
- Similar brain structures to humans, can be related to humans
Limitations of animal studies -answer ✅✅-ethical issues
-generalizability between animals and humans
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) -answer ✅✅a technique that uses magnetic fields
and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show
brain anatomy.
– Comprehensive Study Guide with Practice
Questions and Verified Answers
localization -answer ✅✅refers to the idea that the brain is made up of specialized
modules, and that each module has a certain function
prefrontal cortex -answer ✅✅the outermost layer of the frontal lobe and is responsible
for many of the executive functions in the brain
Broca's area -answer ✅✅localization - suggests that speech articulation is controlled
by the left frontal lobe
amygdala -answer ✅✅emotional center of the brain and is part of the limbic system. It
activates our stress response and our ability to experience emotions such as fear.
localization criticisms -answer ✅✅some functions may be focused in a specific module
while others are widely distributed - demonstrated in Lashley
neuroplasticity -answer ✅✅refers to the brain's ability to adapt by forming new
connections as a result of experience, learning, or following an injury. Reasons for
change are both genetic and environmental - as a result of experience
dendritic branching -answer ✅✅the process by which the part of one neuron
establishes a connection with other neurons
neural network -answer ✅✅sum total of all your brain's neurons, and the connections
between them. The stronger the pathway becomes, the more likely this pathway will
become activated in the future.
synaptic plasticity -answer ✅✅the ability of one neuron to form new connections and
break up the old ones
corticial remapping -answer ✅✅when brain area X assumes the functions of brain area
Y due to injury
Rosenzweig and Bennet (1972) -answer ✅✅neuroplasticity - the study suggests that
being in a more stimulating environment causes new connections to form in the brain,
altering brain structure
,Maguire et al. (2000) -answer ✅✅neuroplasticity - London cab drivers showed an
increase in the posterior of the hippocampus as a result of their day to day lives
Neurons -answer ✅✅a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
excitatory neurotransmitters -answer ✅✅allows the impulse to cross the synapse and
produce a stimulating effect on the brain
inhibitory neurotransmitters -answer ✅✅stops the impulse, preventing it from crossing
and produces a calming effect on the brain
agonists -answer ✅✅chemical substances that mimic or enhance the effects of a
neurotransmitter on the receptor sites of the next cell, increasing or decreasing the
activity of that cell
antagonists -answer ✅✅drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter
limitations of neurotransmitters -answer ✅✅reductionist explanation for behaviour.
There could be many other things affecting behaviour.
pheromones -answer ✅✅Chemical signals released by an animal that communicate
information and affect the behavior of other animals of the same species. Inconclusive
evidence that they exist in humans.
pheromones and animals -answer ✅✅are processed in a different part of the brain than
ordinary smells. It is processed in the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and is connected to a
special region called the accessory olfactory bulb.
pheromones and humans -answer ✅✅don't have a functional VNO or the accessory
olfactory bulb so the effect of pheromones is debatable
Lundstrom and Olsson (2005) -answer ✅✅pheromones - the study suggests that the
androstadienone found in sweat may serve the function of signaling sexual
attractiveness
criticisms of human pheromones -answer ✅✅research is inconclusive, contradictory
findings, biased because of backing by commercial interests, and limitations in
methodology
hormones -answer ✅✅chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine
glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues
endocrine glands -answer ✅✅release hormones. Parts include adrenal gland, pineal
gland, thyroid, thymus, etc.
,target cells -answer ✅✅receptors for a particular hormone
gene activation -answer ✅✅when a hormone binds to a receptor and launches a
sequence of changes
examples of hormones -answer ✅✅adrenaline, insulin, oxytocin, testosterone, cortisol,
etc.
impacts of testosterone -answer ✅✅deepened voice, muscle development, increased
competitiveness and violence
Effects of Cortisol (glucocorticoid) -answer ✅✅1. longer-term stress response, 2.
increases blood [glucose], 3. increases protein degradation, 4. decreases inflammation
& immunity
Albert et al. (1986) -answer ✅✅hormones - the study suggests that testosterone plays
an important role in aggression and status seeking in rats
Kiecolt-Glaser -answer ✅✅stress of caring for someone with a chronic illness delays
wound recovery due to chronic stress - increase in cortisol (glucocorticoids) in
bloodstream
genetics -answer ✅✅The scientific study of heredity. DNA can be found in the nucleus
of each cell and is organized into tiny units called genes
genotype -answer ✅✅the genetic structure an organism inherits from its parents
phenotype -answer ✅✅the observable characteristics of an organism resulting from the
interaction between the organism's genotype and its environment
genes and behaviour -answer ✅✅contain the instruction for the production of proteins
which regulate the body's processes and the expression of the phenotypic traits such as
intelligence
chromosomes -answer ✅✅humans have 46 and each one contains thousands of
genes and are located in the nucleus of every human cell
epigenetics -answer ✅✅the study of environmental influences on gene expression that
occur without a DNA change
genetic similarities -answer ✅✅a quantitive measure of the relative contribution of
genetic factors into a trait/behaviour. Methods include twin studies, family studies, and
adoption studies.
, concordance rate -answer ✅✅The degree to which a condition or traits shared two or
more individuals or groups
Caspi et al. (2003) -answer ✅✅genetics and behaviour - the study suggests that
individuals with the 5-HTTT gene reacted to stressful life events with more depressive
symptoms
criticisms of genetics -answer ✅✅different traits are influenced by genetic inheritance
to different degrees and environmental factors can influence biological factors through
the regulation of gene expression
theory of evolution -answer ✅✅states that organisms are driven to survive and
reproduce and organisms of the same population are born with randomly different traits
which may help in their survival
survival of the fittest -answer ✅✅favourable characteristics which help an organism
survive and reproduce
natural selection -answer ✅✅organisms that are better adapted and pass on their
genes to help strengthen the gene pool
monozygotic (MZ) twins -answer ✅✅Twins who originate from one zygote that splits
apart very early in development. (Also called identical twins.) Share 100% of genes.
dizygotic twins -answer ✅✅fraternal twins - no more genetically similar that regular
siblings
3 R's of animal research -answer ✅✅replacement, refinement, reduction
4 types of Animal models used in experimental research -answer ✅✅Genetic,
environmental, invasive (nervous), invasive (bodily parts)
Strengths of animal research -answer ✅✅- Relatively small and easy to handle, so
procedures can be more feasible
- Short gestation periods and reproductive cycles, so generations can be studied
- Similar brain structures to humans, can be related to humans
Limitations of animal studies -answer ✅✅-ethical issues
-generalizability between animals and humans
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) -answer ✅✅a technique that uses magnetic fields
and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show
brain anatomy.
