iNTRO TO BRAIN

Question 1

What is the approximate weight of the human brain?

Answer 1

About 1.3 kilograms (≈3 pounds).

Question 2

How many neurons are estimated to be in the human brain?

Answer 2

Approximately 90 billion neurons.

Question 3

What is the estimated number of synaptic connections in the human brain?

Answer 3

About 100 trillion connections.

Question 4

What advanced abilities does the complexity of the brain allow humans to achieve?

Answer 4

Creating art and technology, traveling to outer space, and experiencing powerful emotions.

Question 5

What is neuroscience?

Answer 5

The scientific study of the nervous system.

Question 6

What is biopsychology?

Answer 6

The branch of neuroscience that studies how the brain and nervous system influence behavior.

Question 7

What are the main focuses of biopsychology?

Answer 7

Perception, cognition, emotion, motivation, and behavior.

Question 8

What is the main goal of biopsychology?

Answer 8

To explain behavior in terms of neural, physiological, and genetic processes.

Question 9

What does the theme of ‘Thinking Creatively’ in biopsychology emphasize?

Answer 9

Developing new ways of thinking about old problems and questioning assumptions about behavior.

Question 10

How does biopsychology have clinical implications?

Answer 10

Research helps understand and treat human disorders by studying brain function.

Question 11

What perspective does biopsychology take on human behavior?

Answer 11

It views behavior and brain functions as products of evolutionary pressures.

Question 12

What is neuroplasticity?

Answer 12

The brain’s ability to change in response to the environment and experience.

Question 13

What are the positive and negative sides of neuroplasticity?

Answer 13

Positive: enables learning and recovery; Negative: can lead to maladaptive changes like chronic pain.

Question 14

What is epigenetics?

Answer 14

The study of how environmental factors influence gene expression without changing the DNA sequence.

Question 15

How does modern epigenetics reshape our understanding of heredity?

Answer 15

It shows that behavior and traits result from the interaction between genes and experience.

Question 16

How is consciousness defined in biopsychology?

Answer 16

As awareness of self and the environment.

Question 17

What key ideas are associated with consciousness in biopsychology?

Answer 17

Most sensory input is processed unconsciously, and there are multiple states of consciousness.

Question 18

How can brain dysfunction affect consciousness?

Answer 18

It can dramatically alter conscious experience, such as in cases of seizures or brain injury.