Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
125 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Studies the link between biology and psychological events
|
Biological psychology
|
|
Nerve cell
|
Neuron
|
|
Fibers that receive info and pass it to cell body
|
dendrites
|
|
Passes messages to other cells
|
Axon (or axon terminal)
|
|
Brief electrical charge that passes down the axon in an all-or-nothing fashion
|
Action Potential
|
|
The net level of excitatory signals needed to trigger the action potential
|
Threshold
|
|
Gap between neurons
|
Synapse, or synaptic gap
|
|
Molecules that cross the synaptic gap and bind to receptors on other neurons
|
Neurotransmitters
|
|
Neurotransmitter molecules that respond to pain and vigorous exercise, creating "runner's high"
|
Endorphins
|
|
Electrical cables formed by bundles of axons
|
Nerves
|
|
Gather sensory input from tissue and send it to brain and spinal chord for processing
|
Sensory neurons
|
|
Carry instructions from central nervous system to tissue
|
Motor neurons
|
|
Process information within the central nervous system
|
interneurons
|
|
Nervous system that gathers info for the CNS and also sends messages from the CNS to tissue
|
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
|
|
Subsystem of the PNS that controls voluntary muscle movement
|
Somatic nervous system
|
|
Subsystem of the PNS that controls involuntary actions such as breathing
|
Autonomic nervous system
|
|
Subsystem of the Autonomic nervous system that causes the body to become excited
|
Sympathetic nervous system
|
|
Subsystem of the Autonomic nervous system that calms the body and conserves energy
|
Parasympathetic nervous system
|
|
Nervous system containing the brain and spinal chord
|
Central Nervous System (CNS)
|
|
Automatic response to stimuli
|
Reflex
|
|
Slower message system that communicates information via hormones
|
Endocrine system
|
|
Chemical messengers of the endocrine system
|
Hormones
|
|
These secrete adrenaline in exciting situations
|
Adrenal glands
|
|
Small but important gland in the brain that triggers other glands and influences growth
|
Pituitary gland
|
|
Oldest and innermost region of the brain
|
Brain stem
|
|
Swelled portion of the brain stem where the spinal chord enters the skull, controls heartbeat and breathing
|
Medulla
|
|
Switchboard of the brain that routes sensory input such as eyesight, hearing, etc. (not smell).
|
Thalamus
|
|
"Netlike" network of neurons spanning the brain stem, causes the body to become aroused
|
Reticular formation
|
|
"little brain", coordinates voluntary motion, modulates emotion, and discriminates sounds and textures
|
Cerebellum
|
|
Neural system located between the older brain and the cerebral hemispheres
|
Limbic system
|
|
Part of the limbic system, it influences aggression and fear
|
Amygdala
|
|
Part of the limbic system, this "pleasure center" controls feelings of hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior. It also controls the pituitary gland.
|
Hypothalamus
|
|
Destruction of brain tissue
|
Lesion
|
|
Provides an amplified readout of brainwaves
|
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
|
|
Depicts brain activity by showing concentrations of glucose
|
Positron Emission Tomography (PET scan)
|
|
Uses magnetic fields to display the brain
|
Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI)
|
|
Uses magnetic fields to display the brain while also showing how the brain functions
|
Functional MRI
|
|
The outer layer of the brain, it serves as the body's ultimate control and information-processing center
|
Cerebral Cortex
|
|
Part of the cerebral cortex, they are located behind the forehead and control speech, planning, muscle movements, and judging
|
Frontal lobes
|
|
Part of the cerebral cortex, they are located at the top rear of the head and receive sensory input for touch and body position
|
Parietal lobes
|
|
Part of the cerebral cortex, they are located at the back of the head and receive information from the visual fields
|
Occipital lobes
|
|
Part of the cerebral cortex, they are located just above the ears and process auditory information
|
Temporal lobes
|
|
Thin band across the top of the cerebral cortex that sends messages to the body
|
Motor Cortex
|
|
Thin band across the top of the cerebral cortex that receives messages from the body
|
Sensory Cortex
|
|
Part of the cerebral cortex, these areas integrate information and link sensory input with stored memories
|
Association areas
|
|
An impaired use of language
|
Aphasia
|
|
Located in the left frontal lobe, associated with impaired speaking
|
Broca's Area
|
|
Located in the left temporal lobe, associated with impaired understanding
|
Wernicke's area
|
|
The ability of the brain to self-modify and reorganize after injury
|
Plasticity
|
|
The forming of new neurons
|
Neurogenesis
|
|
Band of fibers that connect the hemispheres of the brain
|
Corpus callosum
|
|
The result of a severed corpus callosum
|
split brain
|
|
The study of observable behavior
|
Behaviorism
|
|
Focuses on current environmental influences
|
Humanistic Psychology
|
|
Studies the link between brain activity and mental activity
|
Cognitive Neuroscience
|
|
Science of behavior and mental processes
|
Psychology
|
|
Issue regarding biology versus environment
|
Nature/Nurture
|
|
Combines psychology's 3 main levels of analysis
|
The Biopsychosocial approach:
1. Biological factors 2. Psychosocial factors 3. Social-cultural factors |
|
A sub-field of psychology, it builds the knowledge base
|
Basic research
|
|
A sub-field of psychology, it tackles practical problems
|
Applied research
|
|
A sub-field of psychology, it helps people cope with challenges and crises
|
Counseling psychology
|
|
A sub-field of psychology, it treats mental, emotional and behavior disorders
|
Clinical psychology
|
|
A sub-field of psychology, it is practiced by MDs who prescribe drugs and otherwise treat physical causes of psychological disorders
|
Psychiatry
|
|
SQ3R
|
Tip for studying psychology:
Survey Question Read Rehearse Review |
|
The I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon
|
Hindsight bias
|
|
The questioning of assumptions and claims
|
Critical thinking
|
|
Part of the scientific method, it is an organized set of observations used to predict behaviors and events
|
Theory
|
|
Part of the scientific method, it is a testable prediction
|
Hypothesis
|
|
Part of the scientific method, it is a precise description of a procedure used to avoid bias and allow for replication
|
Operational definition
|
|
Part of the scientific method, it is the process of repeating a study using operational definitions
|
Replication
|
|
One of the 3 types of descriptive research, it examines a small N (1 or 2 people)
|
Case study
|
|
One of the 3 types of descriptive research, it is a less in-depth look at several cases at onces (a big N)
|
Survey
|
|
One of the 3 types of descriptive research, it is the process of recording behavior in a naturally-occurring environment
|
Naturalistic observation
|
|
The group of people/things that are being generalized about in an experiment
|
Population
|
|
The act of behaving differently (better) when one knows they are being observed
|
Hawthorne Effect
|
|
Traits or behaviors that are related to each other in some way
|
Correlation
|
|
A perceived but non-existent correlation
|
Illusory correlation
|
|
A study that manipulates a variable
|
Experiment
|
|
The assigning of study groups in order to achieve unbiased results
|
Random Assignment
|
|
The study group that receives the treatment
|
Experimental group
|
|
The study group that receives a placebo
|
Control group
|
|
Allows neither the participants or the researchers to know who belongs to which study group
|
Double-blind procedure
|
|
The phenomenon of an inert substance resulting in a patient's medical improvement
|
Placebo effect
|
|
The manipulated factor in an experiment
|
Independent variable (IV)
|
|
The measured or resultant factor in an experiment
|
Dependent variable (DV)
|
|
Shared ideas and behaviors passed to future generations
|
Culture
|
|
A measure of central tendency, it is the most frequently occurring data
|
Mode
|
|
A measure of central tendency, it is the average of all data
|
Mean
|
|
A measure of central tendency, it is the midpoint, or 50th percentile
|
Median
|
|
A measure of variation, it is the distance from the lowest to the highest
|
Range
|
|
A measure of variation, it is a measure of the distance from the mean value
|
Standard deviation
|
|
A measure of variation, it is a bell-shaped curve showing the standard deviation
|
Normal curve
|
|
A number between -1 and +1 showing the strength and direction of a relationship
|
Correlation coefficient
|
|
Phrase meaning that extraordinary events tend to be followed by more ordinary ones
|
Regression toward the mean
|
|
Study of different groups at the same time
|
Cross-sectional study
|
|
Study of the same group at different times
|
Longitudinal study
|
|
An observed difference that is probably not due to chance variation between samples
|
Statistical significance
|
|
Receiving end of the neuron
|
Dendrites
|
|
Cell's life-support center
|
Cell body
|
|
Covers the axon of some neurons and speeds neural impulses
|
Myelin sheath
|
|
Re-absorption of excess neurotransmitter molecules
|
reuptake
|
|
Neurotransmitter that enables muscle action, learning, and memory
|
Acetylcholine (ACh)
Alzheimer's disease: ACh-producing neurons deteriorate |
|
Neurotransmitter that influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion
|
Dopamine
Excess dopamine: Schizophrenia Starved of dopamine: Parkinson's |
|
Neurotransmitter that affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal
|
Serotonin
Undersupply linked to depression. Prozac raises serotonin levels |
|
Neurotransmitter that helps control alertness and arousal
|
Norepinephrive
Undersupply can depress mood |
|
Neurotransmitter that lessens pain and boosts mood
|
Endorphins
|
|
Drug that affects synaptic communication by excitation
|
Agonist
|
|
Two ways that agonists excite
|
1. Mimicking neurotransmitter
2. Blocking reuptake |
|
Drug that affects synaptic communication by inhibiting
|
Antagonist
|
|
Two ways that antagonists inhibit
|
1. Blocking neurotransmitter on receiving neuron
2. Inhibiting the release of neurotransmitters |
|
Gland affecting metabolism
|
Thyroid
|
|
Brain region linked to memory
|
Hippocampus
|
|
Father of psychology
1st psych lab & experiment in 1879 University of Leipzig Seeking to measure “atoms of mind” |
Wundt
|
|
Psychologist that explores the link between the brain and the mind
|
Biological
|
|
Psychologist that studies changing abilities from the womb to the tomb
|
Developmental
|
|
Psychologist that studies how we perceive, think, and solve problems
|
Cognitive
|
|
Psychologist that investigates our persistent traits
|
Personality
|
|
Psychologist that explores how we view and affect one another
|
Social
|
|
Psychologist that studies and helps individuals in school
|
Educational
|
|
Psychologist that studies and advises on behavior in the workplace
|
Industrial / Organizational
|
|
Does correlation equal causation?
|
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
Weakness of descriptive research
|
No control of variables; single cases may be misleading
|
|
Weakness of correlational research
|
Does not specify cause and effect
|
|
Weakness of experimental research
|
Sometimes not feasible; results may not generalize to other contexts; not ethical to manipulate certain variables.
|
|
APA's ethical guidelines for people
|
Informed consent
Freedom to withdraw Confidentiality Protection from harm Debrief |