Biological Level of Analysis

Anotações:

• evolution plays a key role in behavior

1. mirror neurons
   1. Gallese et al. 1996

      Anotações:

      • isolate neural response in rhesus monkeys reaching for food When another individual reached for food, the neural response was still seen in the monkeys even though they weren't reaching for food
2. inheritance

   Anotações:

   • Genes and DNA are passed from parents to offspring
   1. twin studies
      1. Minnesota Twin Study - Bouchard et al. 1990

         Anotações:

         • Compared MZA's (monozygotic raised apart) and MZT's (monozygotic raised together) Cross-cultural validity - global study determines heritability estimate of 70% for intelligence
   2. intelligence
      1. Bouchard and McGue 1981

         Anotações:

         • Found that closer the kinship, the higher the correlation for IQ --- individuals 100% genetic relationship but different nurture = any IQ similarity will be genetics
3. Darwin & natural selection
   1. hormones
      1. oxytocin

         Anotações:

         • creates bonding within families and society -- evolutionary strength in community
      2. adrenaline

         Anotações:

         • causes flight/fight response  -- evolutionary survival
   2. disgust

1. Martinez and Kesner 1991
2. humans share 93% of genes with rhesus monkeys
3. Gallese et al. 1996

1. neurotransmission

   Anotações:

   • method by which messages are sent throughout the body --- cause body to respond to stimuli
   • neuron - nerve cell axon - body of neuron neurotransmitters - cross synapses, stored in terminal buttons synapse - gab between neurons dendrites - receive information
   1. acetylcholine

      Anotações:

      • muscle contraction
      1. Martinez and Kesner 1991

         Anotações:

         • Aim: determine role of acetylcholine in memory rats were trained to go through a maze, some given shots to block acetylcholine Findings: acetylcholine important role in creating memory of maze
   2. dopamine

      Anotações:

      • voluntary movement, learning, and feelings of pleasure --- excess = schizophrenia
   3. norepinephrine

      Anotações:

      • arousal, alertness, and stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system
   4. serotonin

      Anotações:

      • sleep, arousal levels, and emotion
      1. Kasamatsu and Hirai 1999

         Anotações:

         • aim: how sensory deprivation affects the brain serotonin levels increased in monks' brains -- sensory deprivation triggered release of serotonin
2. hormones
   1. oxytocin

      Anotações:

      • mother-child attachment -- secreted by pituitary and hypothalamus
   2. adrenaline
   3. cortisol
   4. testosterone & oestrogen
   5. melatonin

      Anotações:

      • SAD - seasonal affective disorder individuals are sleepy and lethargic because of an increase in melatonin --- genetically based explanation for behavior