STUDY GUIDE: UNIT 3 – BIOLOGICAL BASES OF BEHAVIOR
AP Psychology
In addition to the information in this study guide, you are also responsible
for all of the content in textbook (Chapter 2 & Chapter 4, Part 1), all
information from class notes/discussions, all handouts and graphic
organizers.
It’s AP – it’s all fair game 
Terms & Concepts
All terms & concepts on page 83
*and*
behavior genetics
environment
chromosomes
DNA
genes
genome
identical twins
fraternal twins
temperament
heritability
molecular genetics
evolutionary psychology
natural selection
mutation
gender
Big Ideas: Chapter 2
1: What are neurons, and how do they transmit information?
 Parts of neuron
 Action potential
2: How do nerve cells communicate with other nerve cells?
 What is a synapse?
 What is reuptake?
 How is a flushing toilet like a neuron firing?
3: How do neurotransmitters influence behavior, and how do drugs and other chemicals effect
neurotransmitters?
 What is an agonist and an antagonist?
4: What are the functions of the nervous system’s main divisions?
 Central Nervous System
 Peripheral Nervous System & its divisions
5: How does the endocrine system transmit its messages?
 Hormones
 Pituitary Gland
6: How do neuroscientists study the brain’s connections to behavior and mind?
 EEG, PET, MRI
7: What are the functions of important lower-level brain structures?
 Brainstem & its parts
 Cerebellum
 Limbic System
8: What are the functions served by the various cerebral cortex regions?
 Brain parts & regions
 Phineas Gage
9: To what extent can a damaged brain reorganize itself?
10: What do split brains reveal about functions of our two brain hemispheres?
11: How does handedness relate to brain organization?
Big Ideas: Chapter 4
1: What are genes and how do behavior genetics explain our individual differences?
 Behavior Genetics
 DNA, genes, genomes
 Twin & adoption studies
2: What is hereditability and how does it relate to individuals and groups?
 Nature & nurture
3: What is the promise of molecular genetics research?
4: How do evolutionary psychologists use natural selection to explain behavior tendencies?
 Evolutionary psychology
 Artificial selection
5: How might an evolutionary psychologist explain gender differences in sexuality and mating
preferences?
 Natural selection & mating preferences
6: What are the key criticisms of evolutionary psychology?