Modules 1-6 Flashcards
1
Q
Empirical approach
A
An evidence based method that draws on observation and experimentation
2
Q
Scientific attitude
A
Skeptics but not cynical, open minded but not gullible
Curiosity, skepticism, humility
3
Q
Critical thinking
A
Thinking that does not automatically accept arguments and conclusions. Rather it examines assumptions, appraised the source, diced a hidden biases, evaluates evidence and assesses conclusions.
4
Q
Aristotle’s approach to psychology
A
Theorized about learning and memory, motivation and emotion, perception and personality
5
Q
Birth of psychology
A
December 1879 university of Leipzig Germany. 2 men and professor willhelm Wundt created an experiment. Machine measured how quick people could hit a button after a sounds. Took longer to react when asked to hit button when consciously aware of perceiving the sound. Aware of ones awareness takes longer
6
Q
First schools of thought of psychology
A
- Structuralism- promotes by Wundt and titchener. Used introspection to reveal structure of the human mind. Reporting feelings, sensations and images. (Mental structure)
- Functionalism- promoted by William James and influenced by Darwin. Explored how mental and behavioural processes function
7
Q
Behaviourism
A
The view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behaviour without reference to mental processes.
1920-1960
Sigmund Freud
Approach focussed on environment
8
Q
Sigmund Freud
A
Psychoanalytic psychology: how our unconscious mind and childhood experiences affect our behaviour
9
Q
Humanistic psychologists
A
A historically significant perspective that emphasized human growth potential
Need for love, acceptance, and nurturing environment
10
Q
Cognitive psychology
Cognitive neuroscience
A
Study of mental processes such as occur when we perceive, learn, remember, think, communicate and solve problems
The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition
(Perception, thinking, memory and language)
11
Q
Psychology
A
The science of behaviour and mental processes
12
Q
Nature- nurture issue
A
Long-standing controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviours. Today’s science sees traits and behaviours arising from the interaction of nature and nurture
13
Q
Natural selection
A
The principle that inherited traits enabling an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will (in competition with other trait variations) most likely be passed to succeeding generations
14
Q
Evolutionary psychology
A
The study of the evolution of behaviour and the mind, using principles of natural selection
15
Q
Behaviour genetics
A
The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behaviour
16
Q
Culture
A
The enduring behaviours, ideas, attitudes, values and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
17
Q
Positive psychology
A
The scientific study of human flourishing with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive
18
Q
Biopsychosocial approach
A
An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological and social-cultural levels of analysis.
Biological- genes, mutations and natural selection
Social-cultural influences- presence of others, cultural expectations, media
Psychological influences- learned fears, emotional responses
All affect behaviour and mental processes
19
Q
Basic research
Applied research
A
Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base
Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems
20
Q
Counselling psychologists
A
Branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (school, work, or relationships) and in achieving greater well-being.
21
Q
Clinical psychologists
A
Studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders
22
Q
Psychiatrists
A
A branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical treatments as well as psychological therapy.
23
Q
Community psychologists
A
Studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups
24
Q
Testing effect
A
Enhanced memory after retrieving rather than simply rereading information
25
SQ3R
Study method incorporating five steps:
```
Survey
Question
Read
Retrieve
Review
```
26
Dualism
Body and mind are separate things 17th c
27
Phrenology
Areas of brain for certain emotions/ ideas
28
Start to psychology field
Hemholtz and Wundt led to first psych department at a university
29
Wilhelm Wundt wanted to do to psychology what…
Periodic table did for chemistry
30
Hindsight bias
The TW daft to believe after learning an outcome that one would have foresee it.
31
Theory
An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organize observations and predicts behaviour or events
32
Hypothesis
A testable prediction often implies by a theory
33
Operational definition
Carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a research study
34
Replication
Repeating the essence of a research study with different participants in different situations to see if digital findings can be reproduced
35
Preregistration
Publicly communicating planned study design, hypothesis, data collection and analysis
36
Meta-analysis
A statistical procedure for analyzing the results of multiple studies in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
37
Case study
A descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
38
Naturalistic observations
A descriptive technique of observing and recording behaviour in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation
39
Survey
Descriptive technique for obtaining the self reported attitudes or behaviours of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group.
40
Random sample
A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has equal chance of inclusion
41
Population
All those in a group being studied from which random samples may be drawn
42
Correlation
A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together and this of how well either factor predicts the other
43
Correlation coefficient
A statistical index of the relationship between two things (-1.00 to 1.00)
44
Variable
Anything that can vary and is feasible and ethical to measure
45
Scatterplots
A graphed cluster of dots each of which represent that values of two variables. The slope of the points suggest the direction of the relationship between the two variables. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation
Perfect positive correlation /
No relationship
Perfect negative correlation \
46
Illusory correlation
Perceiving a relationship where none exists or perceiving a stronger than actual relationship
47
Regression toward the mean
The tendency for extreme or unusual scores or events to fall back (regress) toward the average.
Ex: student who did extremely well or bad on a test will go back to average on a retest
48
Experiment
A research method in which an investigator manipulated one or more factors to observe the effect on some behaviour or mental process.
49
Experimental group
Control group
Group exposed to a treatment
Group not exposed
50
Double blind procedure
An experimental produce in which both research participants and research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo
51
Independent variable
Confounding variable
Dependent variable
Factor that is manipulated
Factor the might influence a studies result but is not the main factor
Outcome that is being measured
52
Debriefing
Informed consent
The post experimental explanation of a study including its purpose and any deceptions to its participants
Giving potential participants enough information about a study to enable them to choose whether to participant or not
53
Post-truth
A culture where people’s emotions and personal beliefs override their acceptance of objective facts
54
Measures if central tendency
Mode
Mean
Median
Most frequent occurring scores
Average of a distribution
Middle score
55
Range
Standard deviation
Normal curve
The different between the high test and lowest scores in a distribution
A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score
A symmetrical bell shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean (68% within 1 SD, 95% in 2 SD)
56
Statistically significant
A statement of how likely it is that a result (such as a difference between samples) occurred by chance, assuming there is no difference between the population being studied.
57
Null hypothesis
Assumption that no differences exist between groups
Alternative hypothesis= opposite
58
Who correctly located the kind in the brain
Hippocrates
59
Franz gall
I’m 1800’s proposed phrenology
Studying bumps on the skull to reveal a persons mental ability/ traits
Skull readings
60
Biological psychologists
The scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes (behaviour neuroscientists, physiological psychologists or bio psychologists
61
Neuroplasticity
The variants ability to change, especially during childhood by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based in experience
Greatest in childhood
62
Neurons (nerve cells)
Basic part of nervous system
| New neurons are born and unused ones wither away in life
63
Cell body
Dendrite
Axon
Myelin sheath
Glial cells
Contains nucleus of neuron
Branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body
Passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands
A fatty tissue layer segmental encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmutation speed as neural impulses hop form one node to the next.
Cells in nervous system that support, nourish and protect neurones. Also play role in learning, thinking and memory
64
If myelin sheath cells are diminished it causes
Loss of communication to muscles and brain if diminished
65
Action potential
A numeral impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
66
How does action potential work
Fluid outside axon membrane is positively charged sodium ions.
A resting axons fluid interior is negatively charged protein ions.
Axons fate is selectively permeable.
Positive outside and negative inside is resting potentiometer. When neuron fires, axon opens gates, sodium goes in causing depolarization which opened next gate and next.
67
Threshold
The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
68
Refractory period
A brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron had fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon retunes to its resting state
69
All-or-none response
A neurons reaction of either firing (with full strength) or not firing
70
Synapse
The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tint gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap
71
Neurotransmitter
Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap between neurons. Bind to receptors sites on receiving neurons
72
Re uptake
A neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron
Some antidepressants partially block re uptake of mood enhancing neurotransmitters
73
Endorphins
What happens if you flood the brain with opiates
“Morphine within”
Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
If you flood brain with opiates like morphine/ heroine the brain stops making its own and become deprived
74
Agonist
Antagonist
A molecule that increases a neurotransmitters action
(Mimic excitatory/ inhibitory effects)
Decrease a neurotransmitters action by blocking production or release
75
Nervous system
The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system
76
Central nervous system
Peripheral nervous system
Brain and spinal cord
The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
77
Nerves
Bundled axons that form neural cables connecting CNS with muscles, glands and sensory organs
78
3 types of neurons
1. Sensory neurons: carrying information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain/ spinal cord.
2. Motor neurons: Carey outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
3. Inter neurons: within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
79
Somatic nervous system
The dictions of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles (voluntary)
80
Automatic nervous system
Part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs (heart)
81
Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
Arouses body and mobilizing energy
Calms the body, conserving it’s energy
82
Reflexes
A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk reflex
83
Endocrine system
The body’s “slow” chemical communication system; glands and fat tissue that secrete hormones into the blood stream
84
Hormones
Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands and travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues
85
Adreal glands
A pair of endocrine glands that sits just above the kidneys and secreted hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress
86
Pituitary gland
Most influential endocrine gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
87
Body’s blood sugar is regulated by which organ
Pancreas
88
Abdominal parathyroids in endocrine system causes
Imbalance in regulation of calcium in blood
89
Multiple sclerosis is caused by
Degradation of myelin sheath
90
Guys with severed spinal cord have no genital sensation but are able to
Have erections
91
What neurotransmitter causes contractions in labour
Oxytocin
92
Abnormality in thyroid gland can cause irregular
Metabolism, moods, tiredness and weakness
93
Lesion
Tissue destruction
A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue
94
EEG
Electroencephalogram
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brains surface.
These waves are measured by electrodes places in the scalp
Researchers record waves through shower cap like hat filled with electrodes covered with conductive gel
95
MEG
A brain imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brains natural electrical activity
Special room that cancels out other magnetic signals. Person sits under head coil like in salon. While doing activists, tens of thousands of neurons create electrical pulses, which create magnetic fields
96
PET
Position emission tomography a technique for deleting brain activity that displays where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
97
MRI
Magnetic resource imaging a technique the uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer- generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.
Head out in string magnetic field, which aligns the spinning atoms of brain molecules. Radio wave pulse momentarily disorients the atoms. When atoms return to normal spin, they emit signals that provide a detailed picture of soft tissues
98
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
99
fNIRS
Functional infrared spectroscopy uses I dated light that shines into blood molecules to identify brain activity. Equipment can fit in a backpack.
With fMRI researches had 3 grips doing different tasks and bases on their brain scans could identify the activity done by each with 80% accuracy
100
Brain stem
Oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brain stem is responsible for automatic survival functions
101
Medulla
The base of the brain stem; controls heartbeat and breathing
102
Pons
Above medulla- coordinates movement and controls sleep
103
Thalamus
Above brain stem; the veins sensory control Center. Directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
Received sensory info from all senses but smell
104
Reticular formation
A nerve network that travels through the brain stem into the thalamus; filters information and plays an important role in controlling arousal
105
Cerebellum
The “little” brain at the rear of the brain stem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance and enabling nonverbal learning and memory
*has half the brains neurons -judge time, discriminate rough vs smooth, controls emotions and social behaviour
Aids in vocab, reading and ability to store information
106
Limbric system
Neural system (including the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives
107
Amygdala
Two Lima bean shaped neural clusters in the limbric system; linked to emotion.
- removed amygdala causes aggression
- removed can cause no fear
108
Hypothalamus
A neural structure is the limbric system lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp), helps harem the endocrine system via the pituitary gland and is linked to emotion and reward
-steady homeostatic state
109
Hippocampus
A neural center located in the limbric system; helps process explicit (conscious) memories- of facts and events for storage.
Decreases as we grow: further cognitive decline
110
Reward Centers have been located in regions of the
Hypothalamus
111
Cerebral cortex
The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information- processing Center.
-thin surface layer
Contains 20-23B brain nerve cells and 300T synaptic connections
112
Each hemispheres cortex is divided into 4 lines; separated by prominent…
Fissures or folds
113
Frontal lobes
Behind forehead
The portion of the cerebral cortex; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements
114
Parietal lobes
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and towards the rear that receives sensory input for touch and body position
115
Occipital lobes
Portion of cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the usual fields
116
Temporal lobes
Portion of cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear
117
Motor cortex
A cerebral cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
118
Somatosensory cortex
A cerebral cortex area at the front of the parietal loves that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
Stimulate a point on this band of tissue and a person may believe their shoulder was touched
119
Associates areas
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking and speaking
Is in all 4 lobes
120
Prefrontal lobe
Association area that enables judgement/ planning/ social interactions and processing new memories
121
Frontal lobe damage can alter
Personality and remove a persons inhibitions
122
Underside of the right temporal love enables us to recognize
Faces
123
Functional connectivity
Communication among distinct brain areas and neural networks
124
Most brain damage effects can be traces to two hard facts
1. Severed brain/ spinal cord neurons don’t regenerate
2. Some brain functions seem preassigned to specific areas
- brains plasticity allows those who are blind or dead to use brain areas not used to focus elsewhere
125
Neurogenesis
Formation of new neurons
Neural stem cells in embryos could replace damaged brain cells in adults potentially
126
Corpus callosum
The large band of neural fibres connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
127
Split brains
A condition resulting from the surgery that separates the brains two hemispheres by cutting the fibres (mainly of corpus callosum) connecting them
128
What you see with right eye is processed by which side of the brain
Left
129
Right side of the brain is better at
Inferences, copying drawings, recognizing faces, noticing differences, perceiving emotion, and expressing emotion and coordinating self awareness
130
Constraint-induced therapy
Aims to gradually reprogram brains by restraining a fully functioning limb and force into the use of a “bad” hand or “uncooperative” leg.
