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Chapter
3
Biological Foundations
Outline

What Is the Genetic Basis of Psychological Science?

  • Heredity Involves Passing Along Genes through Reproduction
  • Genotypic Variation Is Created by Sexual Reproduction
  • Genes Affect Behavior
  • Social and Environmental Contexts Influence Genetic Expression
  • Genetic Expression Can Be Modified
  • Critical Thinking Skill: Seeking Disconfirming Evidence

How Does the Nervous System Operate?

  • Neurons Are Specialized for Communication
  • Action Potentials Cause Neural Communication
  • Neurotransmitters Bind to Receptors across the Synapse
  • Neurotransmitters Influence Mind and Behavior

What Are the Basic Brain Structures and Their Functions?

  • The Brainstem Houses the Basic Programs of Survival
  • The Cerebellum Is Essential for Movement
  • Subcortical Structures Control Emotions and Basic Drives
  • The Cerebral Cortex Underlies Complex Mental Activity

How Are Neural Messages Integrated into Communication Systems?

  • The Peripheral Nervous System Includes the Somatic and Autonomic Systems
  • The Endocrine System Communicates through Hormones
  • Actions of the Nervous System and Endocrine System Are Coordinated

How Does the Brain Change?

  • The Interplay of Genes and Environment Wires the Brain
  • Culture Affects the Brain
  • The Brain Rewires Itself throughout Life
  • Critical Thinking Skill: Recognizing Unstated Assumptions
  • Females' and Males' Brains Are Similar and Different
  • The Brain Can Recover from Injury
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