Exam 2 Psychology

Question 1

Psychology

Answer 1

science of human behavior and mental processing. Observing all aspects of both our behavior and internal mental processing.

Question 1

Biological Perspective

Answer 1

the hardware in our brain, the control center for almost all of our behavior and mental process (Internal Factors)

Question 2

Cognitive Perspective

Answer 2

Problem solving and reasoning. How we organize categorical information. (internal Factor)

Question 3

Behavioral perspective

Answer 3

explanatory focus is how external environmental events condition observable behavior. (External factor)

Question 4

Sociocultural Perspective

Answer 4

how other people and culture impact behavior

Question 5

independent variable

Answer 5

the variable that is hypothesized and manipulated by experimenter

Question 6

dependent variable

Answer 6

the variable that is hypothesized to be affect by the independent variable and measure by experimenter.

Question 7

random assignment

Answer 7

a control measure in which participants are randomly assigned to groups in order to equalize participants characteristics across the experiment.

Question 8

random sampling

Answer 8

used in surveys

Question 9

the neuron

Answer 9

responsible for information transmission throughout the nervous system. receiving sending, and integrating information within the brain and system.

Question 10

glial cells

Answer 10

constitute the support system for neurons

Question 11

dendrites

Answer 11

the fibers that project out of the cell body like branches of a tree, they receive info from other neurons and pass on to the cell body

Question 12

cell body

Answer 12

contains the nucleus of the cell and other biological machinery that keeps the cell alive, decided to pass info on or not

Question 13

axon

Answer 13

conduct info from cell body to the axon terminals to trigger the transmission of information

Question 14

the electrical impulse

Answer 14

part of the neuronal communication, receiving the message by the dendrites from another neuron

Question 15

excitatory

Answer 15

the inputs telling the neuron to generate an electrical impulse

Question 16

inhibitory

Answer 16

telling the neuron to not generate an electrical impulse

Question 17

myelin sheath

Answer 17

white matter, layer of white fat substance, composed, of glila cells that wrap around the neuron axons.

Question 18

neurotransmitter

Answer 18

chemical transmitting info reaches the sending neuron axon, causes vessels to open and the neurotransmitter molecules come out and go in throughout he synaptic gap

Question 19

REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep

Answer 19

crucial stage of the sleep cycle characterized by rapid movement of the eyes, increased brain activity, and vivid dreaming. Here’s a closer look at REM sleep

Question 20

NREM Stage 1 (Light Sleep)

Answer 20

Transition from wakefulness to sleep. The body starts to relax, and brain waves begin to slow down. This stage is very light sleep, and it’s easy to wake someone up during this time.
Decreased heart rate and muscle activity; eye movements slow.

Question 21

NREM Stage 2 (Light Sleep)

Answer 21

Lasts about 10-25 minutes in the first cycle, longer in subsequent cycles.
This stage represents a deeper relaxation. Brain waves continue to slow, with occasional bursts of rapid activity called sleep spindles. It is harder to be awakened compared to Stage 1.

Question 22

NREM Stage 3 (Deep Sleep)

Answer 22

Lasts 20-40 minutes, typically longer in the first sleep cycle.
Also known as slow-wave sleep (SWS) or delta sleep, this is the deepest stage of sleep. It’s crucial for physical restoration and growth.

Question 23

Sleep Cycle

Answer 23

A complete sleep cycle lasts about 90-120 minutes and typically repeats 4-6 times during a full night’s sleep. As the night progresses, the duration of REM sleep increases while deep sleep decreases.

Question 24

caffeine

Answer 24

Consuming caffeine, especially in the afternoon or evening, can make it harder to fall asleep. It can prolong the time it takes to transition from wakefulness to sleep. Reduced Sleep Duration: Caffeine can decrease total sleep time, as it may lead to more frequent awakenings during the night.

Question 25

Alcohol

Answer 25

Alcohol can decrease the duration of REM sleep, which is important for memory consolidation and emotional regulation. This can lead to more fragmented sleep and less restorative rest.

Question 26

perception

Answer 26

Perception is the process by which we interpret and make sense of sensory information from the world around us. It involves several key components:

Question 27

Sensation

Answer 27

Sensation is the process of detecting and responding to stimuli from the environment through our sensory organs. It serves as the first step in the broader process of perception. Here are the key aspects of sensation:

Question 28

Absolute Threshold

Answer 28

The minimum intensity of a stimulus that can be detected 50% of the time. For example, the faintest sound a person can hear.

Question 29

Difference Threshold (Just Noticeable Difference, JND)

Answer 29

The smallest change in stimulus intensity that can be detected. This can vary depending on the original intensity of the stimulus.

Question 30

Sensory adaptation

Answer 30

refers to the decrease in sensitivity to a constant stimulus over time. For example, when you enter a dark room, your eyes may initially struggle to see, but after a few moments, you adjust and can see better.

Question 31

wavelengths

Answer 31

Different wavelengths correspond to different colors. For example, shorter wavelengths correspond to blue/violet light, while longer wavelengths correspond to red light. In sound, different wavelengths correspond to different pitches. Longer wavelengths produce lower pitches, while shorter wavelengths produce higher pitches.

Question 32

retina

Answer 32

The retina is a thin layer of tissue located at the back of the eye, lining the inside of the eyeball.

Question 33

Rods

Answer 33

Responsible for vision in low light; they detect brightness but not color.

Question 34

Cones

Answer 34

Function in brighter light and are responsible for color vision. They are concentrated in the fovea, the area of the retina responsible for sharp central vision.

Question 35

Fovea

Answer 35

The central part of the retina, where cone density is highest, providing the sharpest vision and color perception.

Question 36

Cochlea

Answer 36

A spiral-shaped, fluid-filled structure that converts mechanical vibrations into electrical signals. It contains hair cells that respond to sound.

Question 37

Hair cells

Answer 37

Hair cells are specialized sensory cells found in the inner ear, playing a critical role in both hearing and balance. Here’s an overview of their structure and function, they are located in the Cochlea

Question 38

Bottom-up

Answer 38

Bottom-up processing refers to the way our brains build perceptions from the smallest pieces of sensory information. It starts with the raw data collected by sensory receptors (like the eyes, ears, and skin) and then assembles this information to form a complete perception.

Question 39

Top down processing

Answer 39

Top-down processing refers to the way our brains use existing knowledge and context to make sense of incoming sensory data. It emphasizes how our expectations and prior experiences shape our perceptions.