Biopsychology, 11th Edition (Pinel) - 2025/2026 Study Guide
Chapter 1: Biopsychology as a Neuroscience
1. What is biopsychology?
ANSWER ✓ Biopsychology is the scientific field that seeks to understand the biological
mechanisms underlying behavior and psychological processes, such as learning,
memory, emotion, and perception.
2. How does biopsychology differ from other subdisciplines of neuroscience?
ANSWER ✓ While all neurosciences study the nervous system, biopsychology is unique
in its primary focus on the direct connection between neural mechanisms and
observable behavior and mental processes.
3. What are the six main divisions of biopsychology?
ANSWER ✓ The six main divisions are: (1) Physiological Psychology, (2)
Psychopharmacology, (3) Neuropsychology, (4) Psychophysiology, (5) Cognitive
Neuroscience, and (6) Comparative Psychology.
4. What is the primary focus of a neuropsychologist?
ANSWER ✓ Neuropsychologists typically study the psychological effects of brain
damage in human patients, using behavioral assessments to diagnose deficits and
localize brain lesions.
5. What key principle is illustrated by the case of Phineas Gage?
ANSWER ✓ The case of Phineas Gage dramatically illustrates that complex aspects of
personality, decision-making, and social conduct are localized to specific brain regions,
in this case, the frontal lobes.
Chapter 2: Evolution, Genetics, and Experience
6. What is the central thesis of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection?
ANSWER ✓ The theory states that individuals with traits that are better suited to their
environment are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass on those advantageous
traits to their offspring, leading to evolutionary change in a population over time.
7. What is the difference between a genotype and a phenotype?
ANSWER ✓ A genotype is an organism's complete set of genetic material (its genes). A
phenotype is the observable characteristics of an organism, resulting from the
interaction of its genotype with the environment.
, 8. How do epigenetics change our understanding of genetics?
ANSWER ✓ Epigenetics involves changes in gene expression that do not involve
alterations to the underlying DNA sequence. These changes, often caused by
environmental factors like stress or diet, can be heritable and illustrate how experience
can biologically influence genetics.
9. What is the purpose of using twin studies in biopsychology?
ANSWER ✓ Twin studies compare identical (monozygotic) twins, who share 100% of
their genes, with fraternal (dizygotic) twins, who share about 50%. This allows
researchers to estimate the relative contributions of genetics (heritability) and
environment to a particular trait or disorder.
10. What is neuroplasticity?
ANSWER ✓ Neuroplasticity is the nervous system's lifelong ability to change its
structure and function in response to experience, learning, trauma, or disease.
Chapter 3: The Anatomy of the Nervous System
11. What are the two major divisions of the human nervous system?
ANSWER ✓ The two major divisions are the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).
12. What structures are included in the Central Nervous System (CNS)?
ANSWER ✓ The CNS consists of the brain and the spinal cord.
13. What are the two functional subdivisions of the Peripheral Nervous System
(PNS)?
ANSWER ✓ The PNS is subdivided into the Somatic Nervous System and the Autonomic
Nervous System (ANS).
14. What is the primary role of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)?
ANSWER ✓ The ANS regulates the body's internal environment by controlling
involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, respiration, and pupil dilation.
15. What are the three meninges that protect the CNS?
ANSWER ✓ From outermost to innermost, the three meninges are the Dura Mater,
Arachnoid Mater, and Pia Mater.
16. What is the function of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
ANSWER ✓ CSF provides a cushioning buffer for the brain, provides buoyancy, and
helps to remove waste products.
Chapter 1: Biopsychology as a Neuroscience
1. What is biopsychology?
ANSWER ✓ Biopsychology is the scientific field that seeks to understand the biological
mechanisms underlying behavior and psychological processes, such as learning,
memory, emotion, and perception.
2. How does biopsychology differ from other subdisciplines of neuroscience?
ANSWER ✓ While all neurosciences study the nervous system, biopsychology is unique
in its primary focus on the direct connection between neural mechanisms and
observable behavior and mental processes.
3. What are the six main divisions of biopsychology?
ANSWER ✓ The six main divisions are: (1) Physiological Psychology, (2)
Psychopharmacology, (3) Neuropsychology, (4) Psychophysiology, (5) Cognitive
Neuroscience, and (6) Comparative Psychology.
4. What is the primary focus of a neuropsychologist?
ANSWER ✓ Neuropsychologists typically study the psychological effects of brain
damage in human patients, using behavioral assessments to diagnose deficits and
localize brain lesions.
5. What key principle is illustrated by the case of Phineas Gage?
ANSWER ✓ The case of Phineas Gage dramatically illustrates that complex aspects of
personality, decision-making, and social conduct are localized to specific brain regions,
in this case, the frontal lobes.
Chapter 2: Evolution, Genetics, and Experience
6. What is the central thesis of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection?
ANSWER ✓ The theory states that individuals with traits that are better suited to their
environment are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass on those advantageous
traits to their offspring, leading to evolutionary change in a population over time.
7. What is the difference between a genotype and a phenotype?
ANSWER ✓ A genotype is an organism's complete set of genetic material (its genes). A
phenotype is the observable characteristics of an organism, resulting from the
interaction of its genotype with the environment.
, 8. How do epigenetics change our understanding of genetics?
ANSWER ✓ Epigenetics involves changes in gene expression that do not involve
alterations to the underlying DNA sequence. These changes, often caused by
environmental factors like stress or diet, can be heritable and illustrate how experience
can biologically influence genetics.
9. What is the purpose of using twin studies in biopsychology?
ANSWER ✓ Twin studies compare identical (monozygotic) twins, who share 100% of
their genes, with fraternal (dizygotic) twins, who share about 50%. This allows
researchers to estimate the relative contributions of genetics (heritability) and
environment to a particular trait or disorder.
10. What is neuroplasticity?
ANSWER ✓ Neuroplasticity is the nervous system's lifelong ability to change its
structure and function in response to experience, learning, trauma, or disease.
Chapter 3: The Anatomy of the Nervous System
11. What are the two major divisions of the human nervous system?
ANSWER ✓ The two major divisions are the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).
12. What structures are included in the Central Nervous System (CNS)?
ANSWER ✓ The CNS consists of the brain and the spinal cord.
13. What are the two functional subdivisions of the Peripheral Nervous System
(PNS)?
ANSWER ✓ The PNS is subdivided into the Somatic Nervous System and the Autonomic
Nervous System (ANS).
14. What is the primary role of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)?
ANSWER ✓ The ANS regulates the body's internal environment by controlling
involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, respiration, and pupil dilation.
15. What are the three meninges that protect the CNS?
ANSWER ✓ From outermost to innermost, the three meninges are the Dura Mater,
Arachnoid Mater, and Pia Mater.
16. What is the function of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
ANSWER ✓ CSF provides a cushioning buffer for the brain, provides buoyancy, and
helps to remove waste products.
