HPS111 Flashcards
(20 cards)
What is psychology?
The study of behaviour and mental processes.
What are behaviours in psychology?
Observable actions and responses to the environment.
What are mental processes?
Internal states like thoughts, decision-making processes, and emotions.
Who started the first experimental psychology lab?
Wilhelm Wundt in 1879, Leipzig, Germany.
What does functionalism focus on?
Examining functions of the mind rather than its components.
What is classical conditioning?
Learning through association, proposed by Pavlov.
Who is associated with operant conditioning?
B.F. Skinner, focusing on learning through consequences.
What is the limbic system responsible for?
Emotion, motivation, memory, and regulation.
What is the cerebral cortex?
The outermost layer of the brain, involved in higher-order functions.
What are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex?
Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, and Occipital lobes.
What is the Encephalisation Quotient (EQ)?
A measure comparing brain mass to body mass to assess intelligence.
What are the components of emotion?
Physiological, cognitive, and behavioural elements.
What is selective attention?
Focusing on one source of information while ignoring others.
What is inattentional blindness?
Failing to notice visible objects when attention is directed elsewhere.
What is Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences?
A theory proposing eight independent types of intelligence.
What is sensory transduction?
The process of converting physical energy into neural activity.
What are the primary functions of the medulla oblongata?
Controlling vital functions like heart rate and breathing.
What is the role of the corpus callosum?
Connecting the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
What is the difference between sensation and perception?
Sensation is detecting stimuli; perception is interpreting them.
What are the three steps of neuronal communication?
Step A (electrical in dendrites), Step B (axon transmission), Step C (chemical at synapse).
