Chapter 3 Questions

Topic:
1. The difference between genotype and phenotype is that genotype it the genetic factor. While phenotype is the structural appearance.
2. Motor neurons direct muscles to contract or relax. Sensory neurons detect information the physical world around us to the brain. interneurons communicate information within a single area of the brain versus from the brain to the rest of the body.
3. dopamine is a derivative from protein.  It communicates pleasure, motivation and motor control.
4. The amygdala is a brain structure located in the front of the hippocampus. Its main function is to associate things with emotion.
5. Learning may be represented in the brain by the neurons. connections between neurons may become stronger or new neuron connections may be created.
Questions:
1. Monozygotic twins are twins that are born from one zygote splitting into to two. Therefore both would share the exact same genes. Dizygote twins are born from two separate eggs that become fertilized. Thus each zygote has its own genes. We can compare each ones similarities to determine if behavior is partly caused by genetics. For example if monozygotic twins are more similar than dizygotic twins it would imply that genetics has an influence on psychology.
2. The difference between axons and dendrites is that the axon is what carries the action potential. While the dendrites are the media that passes the stimulation on to the next neuron at the synapse. The axon is the stimuli carrier and the dendrites are transporter of the stimuli from one neuron to the next and receive the stimuli as well.
3.  The resting potential is when the neuron is not active and the electrical charge inside the neuron is slightly more negative than the charge on the outside of the neuron. It is said to be polarized. An action potential also known as the neural firing is the chemical signal that passes along the axon when the neuron is active, and caused the release of chemicals that transmit the signal to other neurons.
4. Neurotransmitters allow one neuron to communicate with another by being released across the synaptic cleft and opening ion channels into another neuron and creating another action potential.
5. The four lobes that form the brain are the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe and the occipital lobe. The frontal lobe processes thoughts and movements, the parietal lobe processes the sense of touch, the temporal lobe processes hearing and memory, and the occipital lobe processes vision.