study in which characteristics of children adopted at hirth are compared to those of their adoptive parents or siblings versus their biological parents or siblings (focus on comparison of twins raised in the same household or in different households)
natural selection
changes in frequency of genes in a population that arise because genes allow an organism to have more offspring that survive
evolution
gene-based changes in the characteristics of members of a species over successive generations
adaptation
characteristic that increases an organism's fitness for an environment
twin study
compares identical and fraternal twins to determine the relative contribution of genes to variability in a trait or characteristic
heretibility
degree to which variability in a characteristic is due to genetics
neuroendocrine system
system regulated by CNS, that makes hormones that affect many bodily functions and also provides the CNS with information
hormone
chemical that is produced by a gland and can act as a neuromodulator
midbrain
brainstem structures that lie between forebrain and hindbrain
hindbrain
at rear end of brain of 4 legged animal (medula, pons, cerebellum)
cerebellum
large structure at the base of the brain that is concerned with physical coordination, estimating time and paying attention (if damaged: might walk oddily and have trouble standing normally)