2.8: The Adaptable Brain: Neural Fluidity Flashcards
Plasticity
Our brain’s ability to reorganize itself after an accident or tragedy OR modify itself in response to experience/a change.
Since the brain is constantly forming new pathways, it can sometimes overcome a stroke or damage and regain skills that had been previously lost through this reorganization.
Neurogenesis
The growth and formation of new neurons, which can grow and form new connections.
It can heal the brain.
Consciousness
Our awareness of ourselves and the environment.
There are different states of consciousness: Spontaneously, Physiologically, and Psychologically.
Spontaneously
Daydreaming, Drowsiness, & Dreaming.
Physiologically
Hallucinations, Orgasm, & Food/Oxygen Deprivation.
Psychologically
Sensory Deprivation, Hypnosis, & Meditation.
Mere-Exposure Effect
Describes our preference in old stimuli (that we’ve seen before) over new stimuli.
For example, a group of participants were given were shown two lists of terms separated by time. However, even if they couldn’t remember the words from the first list, they still reported to prefer the first list over the second.
Priming
When people tend to respond more quickly and accurately to questions they have already seen even if they don’t remember them.
Blind Sight
When people who are blind can still accurately describe the path of an object they cannot see, demonstrating that a level of consciousness does not involve visual information.
How Did Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud Divide Human Consciousness?
Preconscious, Unconscious, & Conscious.
Preconscious
Out of your awareness, but anything within your preconscious could easily be recalled.
Unconscious
A level of consciousness that includes all of your “unacceptable” thoughts and feelings, often sexual.
You are processing this information unconsciously or without any awareness.
Conscious
Everything you see, hear, touch, taste, or smell.
