Exam 1 Flashcards
(183 cards)
1
Q
Psychology is ____
A
the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
2
Q
Wilhelm Wundt
A
One of the founders of modern psychology
“Atoms of the mind”
3
Q
Structuralism
A
uses introspection to discover the structure of the mind
4
Q
Edward Titchner
A
proponent of structuralism
5
Q
Functionalism
A
investigates the function/purpose of behavior, thoughts, & feeling
6
Q
William James
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strong proponent of functionalism
“Father of American Psychology”
7
Q
Mary Whiton Calkins
A
student of William James
Harvard refused to grant her a PhD, despite having completed all requirements and outscoring her male colleagues
-studied memory
-First woman president of APA
8
Q
Basic Research
A
builds knowledge base
9
Q
Applied Research
A
Searches for solutions to immediate problems
10
Q
Early psychologists defined psychology as
A
“the study of mental life”
11
Q
Behaviorism
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studies behavior without reference to mental processes
B.F. Skinner & John B. Watson
12
Q
Freudian Psychology
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studies how unconscious influences behavior
Sigmund Freud
13
Q
Humanistic Psychology
A
emphasizes the need for love, acceptance, nurturing to achieve potential
14
Q
Psychology uses ________ to examine assumptions and evaluate evidence
A
critical thinking and systematic methods
15
Q
Psychology is based on three principles:
A
curiosity, skepticism, and humility
16
Q
A study looking at how caffeine assumption impacts the brain
A
basic research
17
Q
A study investigating what management strategies works best to motivate employees
A
applied research
18
Q
A study investigating how attachment styles
among children of divorced parents compare to
those raised by married parents
A
basic research
19
Q
Research into what treatment programs best
alleviate symptoms of anxiety
A
applied research
20
Q
Theory
A
An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events
21
Q
Hypothesis
A
testable prediction, often implied by theory
22
Q
Operational definition
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a carefully constructed concept regarding the exact procedures used in a research study
23
Q
Correlation
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a measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other
24
Q
Independent variable
A
the factor that is manipulated, variable who’s effect is being studied
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Dependent variable
the outcome that is measured, the variable that may change when the independent variable is manipulated
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Experimental group
exposed group
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Control group
unexposed group
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Confounding variable
something other than the independent variable that might be impacting the dependent variable
(controlled by random assignment)
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Random assignment
participants are randomly assigned to experimental or control groups, every participant has an equal chance of being in either group
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Double-blind procedure
when neither the participant nor the experimenter knows which group is receiving the treatment
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Placebo effect
Experimental results caused by expectation alone
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Scientific inquiry
helps sift reality from overestimated intuition and illusion
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Naturalistic observation
observing the world as is, "big data"
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Case studies
suggests fruitful ideas for future research, no generalizations/universal truths
35
Surveys and Interviews
asking people to self-report behavior or opinions of a particular group
36
Analgesia
relief from pain
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Neuron
specialized for sending information- receives, integrates, and transmits information
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Soma
the cell body of the neuron
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Dendrites
the branching fibers that receive signals from other cells
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Nucleus
contains genetic material
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Biological psychology
the scientific study of the links between
biological and psychological processes
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Plasticity
the adaptability of a system
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Neuroplasticity
the brain’s ability to change, especially during
childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways
based on experience
44
______ and _____ shape our bodies and minds
nature and nurture
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Axon
the long fiber material that passes the message from the cell body to neighboring cells
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Myelin sheath
the fatty insulation that speeds the transmission of signals down to the axon
prevents interference in the axon
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Nodes of Ranvier
gap between the segments of the myelin sheath along the axon
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_______ can result from a breakdown of the myelin sheath
Multiple sclerosis
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Glial cells
cells in the nervous system that support and protect neurons
50
Action potential
a brief electrical charge that travels down the axon of a neuron
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Neurons use ____ to send messages from one place to another
action potential
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What can trigger an action potential?
-A flash of light
-pressure
-temperature change
-the presence of a chemical
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At rest, the inside of an axon has a voltage of about _____
-70 mV
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What is the resting potential?
-70 mV
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Threshold of excitation
for an action potential to occur, a stimulus must raise the voltage of the axon to a threshold of -55mV
56
Once you meet the threshold of excitation, the neuron ____ and ____ due to the flow of Na+ and K+ ions from the cell
depolarizes and reploarizes
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Refractory period
the cell undershoots resting potential and has to recover
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All or none principle
the way a neuron fires an action potential is either on or off; there are no bigger or smaller action potentials
59
Where does the difference of how we hear soft vs loud sounds or see dark vs dim light come from?
how many neurons send an action potential at one time, as well as how frequently the neurons fire
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Synapse
the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron
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Lock-and-Key Mechanism
neurotransmitters bind to a post-synaptic cell
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Neurotransmitters
chemicals that cross a synapse, bind to a post-synaptic neuron and cause changes
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Reuptake
the process by which a pre-synaptic neuron reabsorbs neurotransmitters from the synapse
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Acetylcholine
makes muscles contract, also involved in learning and memory
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Dopamine
movement, learning, attention, and emotion
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Serotonin
mood, hunger, sleep, arousal
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Endorphins
endogenous painkillers produced by the body
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Morphine and other opiates have an analgesic effect because they
bind to the brain's receptor for endorphins
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Agonist
molecule that increases the action of a neurotransmitter
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Antagonist
a molecule that inhibits the action of a neurotransmitter
71
The Nervous System
set of all neurons that communicate with neurotransmitters throughout the body
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Central Nervous System
brain and spinal cord
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Peripheral Nervous System
neurons that connect to the CNS and the rest of the body
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Sensory neurons
carry messages from the body tissues inward to the CNS
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Motor neurons
carry messages from the CNS outward to the muscles and glands
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Nerves
bundle of axons that form neural cables to connect the CNS with muscles, glands, organs
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Interneurons
neurons that communicate internally and process info at sensory inputs and motor outputs; important in reflexes
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The peripheral Nervous System has two divisions:
Somatic Nervous System and Autonomic Nervous System
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Somatic Nervous System
controls body's skeletal muscles
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Autonomic Nervous System
controls the glands and muscles of internal organs
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The autonomic nervous system has two divisions
Sympathetic Nervous System & Parasympathetic Nervous System
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Sympathetic Nervous System
arouses the body and mobilizes energy
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"Fight or Flight"
Sympathetic Nervous System
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Parasympathetic Nervous System
calms the body and conserves energy
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"Rest and Digest"
Parasympathetic Nervous System
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Endocrine System
a chemical communication system in the body; slower than neurons
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Hormones
chemical messengers secreted by the glands of the endocrine system; travel through the bloodstream
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Adrenal gland
sits on top of the kidneys; releases epinephrine and norepinephine
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Pituitary gland
"master gland" in the brain; releases hormones associated with puberty, birth, lactation, bonding, orgasm
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Lesions
selective, intentional tissue destruction of the brain structures to reveal their functions
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Micro-electrodes
selectively stimulate single neurons in animals
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Electroencephalography (EEG)
recording of the waves of electrical activity through the brain
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Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan
displays where the radioactive glucose flows into the brain when performing a particular task
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Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
a technique for revealing blood flow and,
therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as structure
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy
96
What are the three parts of the brain?
Hindbrain, Midbrain, and Forebrain
97
The hindbrain consists of ___.
medulla, pons, and cerebellum
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The hindbrain is responsible for ____.
essential survival functions, coordination, and balance
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The midbrain is responsible for ____.
controlling some motor movements, and transmitting auditory and visual information
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The midbrain sits on top of the ____.
brainstem
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The midbrain _____ the hindbrain and the forebrain.
connects
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The forebrain consists of the ____.
cerebral cortex, thalamus, and hypothalamus
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The forebrain is responsible for ___.
complex cognitive activities, sensory and associative functions, and voluntary motor activities
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Brainstem
oldest part of the brain and begins where the spinal cord ends, responsible for autonomic survival functions
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Crossover point
a touch on your right arm will be processed by the left hemisphere of your brain
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Medulla
part of the brainstem that controls heart beat and breath
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Thalamus
central control center on top of the brain
108
The thalamus receives input _____.
from sensory systems and routes these messages to the cortex
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The Reticular Formation
a neural network that extends from the spinal cord into the thalamus
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The reticular formation controls _____.
arousal
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Cerebellum
"little brain" sits at the rear of the brain
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The cerebellum controls and processes ____.
sensory input, movement coordination, and enables nonverbal memory
113
Limbic System
group of disparate structures located just below the cerebral hemisphere
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Amygdala
two bean-sized neural clusters
115
The amygdala is linked to ___.
aggression and fear
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Hypothalamus
located below the thalamus
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The hypothalamus directs and governs ___.
body maintenance activities and the endocrine system by controlling the pituitary gland
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The hypothalamus is part of the brain's ____.
pleasure and reward system
119
The hippocampus is responsible for ___.
the formation and consolidation of memories
120
Damage to the hippocampus limits _____.
the ability to form new associations and memories
121
Cerebral cortex
layer of neural tissues covering the cerebral hemispheres
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What are the specialized functions of the cerebral cortex?
perception, thought, and speech
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What are the four lobes of the cerebral hemispheres?
frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe
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The frontal lobe is responsible for___.
planning, movement, logic, and judgement
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The motor cortex is located in the _____.
frontal lobe
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The motor cortex controls ___.
voluntary movements
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The prefrontal cortex enables ____.
planning, judgment, and processing new memories
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The parietal lobe is responsible for ____.
sensation, touch, and body position
129
The occipital lobe controls ___.
vision
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The somatosensory cortex is located in the ____.
parietal lobe
131
The somatosensory cortex is responsible for ___.
registering body touch and movement sensations
132
The temporal lobe is responsible for ___.
hearing and speech
133
Lateralization
the left and right hemispheres are specialized for different functions
134
The left hemisphere of the brain is responsible for ___.
language and the right side of the body
135
The right hemisphere is responsible for ___>
inference, self-awareness, and the left side of the body
136
Corpus callosum
a band of tissues that joins the two brain hemispheres
137
Split brain
when the two hemispheres of the brain are surgically separated
138
Chromosome
string of DNA molecules
23 pairs
46 total
139
DNA
molecule that codes for genetic information
140
Genes
small segment of DNA that codes for specific proteins
141
DNA and genes also code for some ____ and ____ traits.
mental and psychological
142
Heredity and environment interact to ____>
create behavior
143
Monozygotic Twims
identical
144
Dizygotic
fraternal
145
Comparing twins leads to conclusions regarding ____.
nature vs nurture
146
Consciousness
subjective awareness of self and environment
147
What are the different states of consciousness?
daydreaming, dreaming, focused attention, hypnosis, hallucination, orgasm, sensory deprevation
148
What are the features of consciousness?
-involves different states
-focuses attention when learning concepts or behavior
-allows assemblage of multiple information sources
149
In the late 1900s, Psychology was viewed as _______.
states of consciousness
150
In the first half of the twentieth century, consciousness was replaced by ____.
behaviorism
151
After 1960, consciousness reappeared in the field of psychology due to support from ____>
neuroscience
152
Cognitive neuroscience
the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition
153
The conscious experience is linked with ____.
synchronized activity across the brain
154
Selective attention
the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus
155
Cocktail party effect
the ability to attend to only one voice among many
156
Salient information, such as _____, can pull attention from one place to another
our names and loud voices
157
A scientist who maintains an awareness of her own vulnerability to error and openness to surprises and new perspectives is exemplifying which scientific attitude?
humility
158
A scientist who begins experiments by doubting, and who analyzes all scientific claims while asking "how does it work?" is exemplifying which scientific attitude?
skepticism
159
People who engage in ___ do not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Instead, they analyze assumptions, look into hidden values, and try to determine if conclusions are warranted.
critical thinking
160
Many popular myths, such as the idea that sleepwalkers are acting out their dreams, have been debunked using ___.
critical inquiry
161
Edward Titchener used the research method known as ___.
introspection
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The early school of psychology that employed the method of introspection was known as ____.
structuralism
163
Leroy wants to provide medical treatment, including prescribing psychoactive drugs, to help individuals with psychological disorders.
Leroy wants to be a __.
psychiatrist
164
The ___ approach involves directly observing the topic of interest
empirical
165
What is not a tool that can be used in empirical research?
content analysis
166
Professor Patel is conducting observational research on children in kindergarten.
Her data will make it possible for her to ___.
describe the children
167
Professor Tan found a strong correlation between SAT scores and introductory psychology grades for students at his college.
HIs data will allow him to ___.
predict a student's introductory psychology score based on their SAT scores
168
The only research method that can be used to explain what caused a change in a variable is ____ research.
experimental
169
Professor West has 30 participants drink either 0 mg, 2 mg, or 4 mg of caffeine mixed in juice before completing two tasks.
In this experiment, the independent variable is ___.
the amount of caffeine consumed
170
Professor Enfield has 8 ten-year-olds and 8 fifteen-year-olds study a book about beekeeping for either 5 or 10 minutes and then recall as much information as possible.
In this experiment, the dependent variable is ___.
recall of beekeeping information
171
In an experiment, a researcher can make claims about causation if _____.
changing the independent variable resulted in changes in the dependent varible
172
Predictions can be made if you have ____.
correlational data
173
Observational studies can only produce ___>
descriptive data
174
Professor Ahmed brings 2 year olds into the lab and has them interact with toys. Professor Ahmed records which toys the children play with the longest. This is an example of a ____ study
observational study
175
What is an example of an altered state of consciousness that occurs spontaneously?
daydreaming about an upcoming trip
176
What is an example of a psychologically induced altered state of consciousness?
entering a state of hypnosis with the aid of a psychologist
177
Months after Tonya's left index finger was severed in a factory accident, she noticed an increase in the sensitivity of the fingers near the missing one. The increased sensitivity is caused by ____.
the area in the somatosensory cortex once occupied by the missing index finger now receiving input from the adjacent fingers
178
MRI scans indicate that well-practiced pianists have a larger-than-usual auditory cortex area, the area that encodes piano sounds. This best illustrates __.
plasticity
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A PET scan depicts brain activity by detection ___.
where a radioactive form of glucose goes during a given task
180
Ron's recent blood test results indicate that his blood sugar is way off, and he learns that this may have to do with an abnormaility of the ____ in his endocrine system.
pancreas
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Neurotransmitter is to synaptic gap as hormone is to __.
bloodstream
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An automatic reflex such as a knee jerk, or withdrawing a hand from a flame involves __.
the spinal cord
183
You are watching your favorite television program when a commercial for a new medication comes on. It states that the medication can alleviate depression. "Since depression is a chemical imbalance, new Effexor extended release can help with mood, sleep, arousal, and alertness by working on the two key neurotransmitters involved in depression."
These two neurotransmitters are _____.
serotonin and norepinephrine
