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(Illes & McDonald, 2017; Wolpe, 2018). Ignore the procedure’s cost, estimated at
as much as $100 million (Hjelmgaard, 2019). And ignore the seeming impossibility
of precisely connecting the head-to-spinal-cord nerves. Imagine, just imagine, that
the procedure could work. With the same brain and a new body, would Wang still
be Wang? To whose home should he return? If the old Wang was a skilled musician,
would the new Wang conceivably retain that skill — or would that depend on the
muscle memories stored in the new body? And if he (assuming the new body was
male) later fathered a child, whom should the birth certificate list as the father?
Most of us twenty-first-century people (you, too?) presume that, even with
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Not for redistribution.
a new body, Wang would still be Wang. We presume that our brain, designed by
our genes and sculpted by our experiences, provides our identity and enables our
mind. No brain, no mind.
In this unit, we examine the mind’s biology and its relationship to our
Copyright © Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers.
behavior, our consciousness, and how we sense the world around us. We discuss
the interaction of our genes and our experiences. We consider epigenetics (how
experience can influence genetic expression) and see that our species has been
graced with the tremendous biological gift of brain plasticity (our enormous
capacity to learn and adapt). We examine our biology from the bottom up — from
nerve cells up to the brain — and from the top down, considering how behavior
and environment can influence our biology. We explore our nightly loss of
consciousness — sleep — and the fascinating world of dreams. Finally, we examine
how our brain helps us sense and make sense of our world.

Module 1.1 Interaction of Heredity

and Environment

®
AP Exam Tip
Throughout the text, important con- LEARNING TARGETS
cepts are boldfaced. As you study,
you can find the key terms with their 1.1-1 Describe evolutionary psychologists’ use of natural selection to explain
definitions in a nearby margin and in behavior tendencies.
the Glossary/Glosario at the book’s
end. (In the e-book, definitions are 1.1-2 Describe how behavior geneticists explain our individual differences.
always a click away.)
1.1-3 Explain how twin and adoption studies help us understand the effects and
interactions of nature and nurture.
nature–nurture issue the 1.1-4 Explain how heredity and environment work together.
longstanding controversy over
the relative contributions that
genes and experience make to
the development of psychological The Nature–Nurture Issue
traits and behaviors. Today’s Consider psychology’s biggest and most persistent issue: Are our human traits present at
science views traits and behaviors
as arising from the interaction of birth, or do they develop through experience? The debate over this big nature–nurture
nature and nurture. issue is ancient. The Greek philosopher Plato (428–348 b.c.e.) assumed that we inherit
character and intelligence and that certain ideas are inborn. Aristotle (384–322 b.c.e.)

4 Unit 1 Biological Bases of Behavior

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