Biological Correlates of Psychology

Question 1

Regulatory genes

Answer 1

Affect various steps from DNA -> protein altering gene expression

Question 2

Epigenetics

Answer 2

Genetic expression and associated behavior changes in response to environment

Question 3

Sensation

Answer 3

Conversion of physical stimuli into electrical signals

Question 4

Perception

Answer 4

Use of sensor info and prior knowledge to create a functional representation of the world

Question 5

Absolute threshold

Answer 5

Lowest intensity of stimuli that can be sensed

Psychological processes can modify the threshold

Question 6

Difference threshold

Answer 6

Smallest difference that can be detected

Question 7

Webber’s law

Answer 7

Change required to be detected is a fraction of original stim

Question 8

Signal detection theory

Answer 8

How organisms differentiates between signals from noise

Question 9

Attention

Answer 9

Selects sensory info for perceptual processing

Question 10

Selective attention

Answer 10

Focus on one stim and exclusion of another

Question 11

Divided attention

Answer 11

Splits perceptual resources

Question 12

Bottom up processing

Answer 12

Construction of perception from individual sensory pieces

Question 13

Top down processing

Answer 13

Brings in prior knowledge to make processing efficient

Question 14

Gesalt principle

Answer 14

Describes top down processing that organizes sensory info into distinct forms

Question 15

Constancy

Answer 15

Distinguishes between info received and change in surrounding

Question 16

Visual processing

Answer 16

Interpretation of sensory data (bottom up processing)

Question 17

Parallel processing

Answer 17

Use of multiple pathways to convey info about the same stim; at same time

Question 18

Feature detection

Answer 18

processes increasingly complex aspects of stimulus; sequential processing

Question 19

Consciousness

Answer 19

Awareness

Question 20

Alertness

Answer 20

Default state of consciousness, Beta waves

Question 21

Circadian Rhythms

Answer 21

Regulates body’s functions on predictable schedule

SCN in hypothalamus keeps body awake by inhibiting release of melatonin during the day

Question 22

Sleep Cycle

Answer 22

Stage 1: light sleep; alpha waves, wakeful
Stage 2: transition; bursts of brainwave activity
Stage 3: deep; delta waves appear
Stage 4: deepest; all delta waves

Question 23

REM sleep

Answer 23

High brain activity in stage 1 sleep

In later cycles, dreaming, consolidating memories, removes stimuli from day

Question 24

N-REM

Answer 24

Largest portion of sleep

Question 25

Sleep terrors

Answer 25

During NREM vs nightmares in REM

Question 26

Hypnosis

Answer 26

State of relaxation, focused attention, increased willingness to relinquish control over one's actions

Question 27

Meditation

Answer 27

Intentional, self-produced state of consciousness

Question 28

Agonists

Answer 28

Mimic naturally occurring NT, enhances effects

Question 29

Antagonist

Answer 29

Take up receptors of NT without activation, diminishes effects

Question 30

Reuptake inhibitors

Answer 30

Increase amount of NT in synapses

Question 31

Enzyme inhibitors

Answer 31

Prevent breakdown of NT taken up

Question 32

Stimulants

Answer 32

Increase activity of CNS | ex. epinephrine, dopamine

Question 33

Depressants

Answer 33

Decrease activity of CNS

Question 34

Hallucionogens

Answer 34

Alter sensory and perception of experience

Question 35

Drug addiction

Answer 35

Hijacks brain's reward pathway | Decreases natural occurring NT

Question 36

Declarative memory

Answer 36

Info consciously known

Question 37

Non-declarative/procedural

Answer 37

Unconscious ability to remember how to perform a task

Question 38

Sensory memory

Answer 38

Transduction of stimuli

Question 39

Short term memory

Answer 39

Holds info in consciousness Rehearsal, chunking allow info to be retained Info represented as auditory info 7 +/- 2 retained

Question 40

Working memory

Answer 40

Allows active use of info

Question 41

Long term memory

Answer 41

Held outside conscious awareness but can be recalled at any time Unlimited

Question 42

Neural plasticity

Answer 42

Ability of brain's neuronal networks to change

Question 43

Memory consolidation

Answer 43

Strengthening of neural network that represents a memory

Question 44

Long term postentiation (LTP)

Answer 44

The increased likelihood that a presynaptic input will trigger an action potential in postsynaptic neuron

Question 45

Spreading activation

Answer 45

Brings related memories to light

Question 46

Recall

Answer 46

Retrieval of memory "by scratch"

Question 47

Recognition

Answer 47

Correct identification of info that is presented

Question 48

Retrieval cues

Answer 48

Environmental stimuli or pieces of info that help recall

Question 49

Role of emotion

Answer 49

Emotions as retrieval cues

Question 50

Relearning

Answer 50

Allows for detection of long term memories that have become inaccessible to conscious recognition or recall

Question 51

Decay

Answer 51

Fading of memory, lost if not used

Question 52

Primacy effect

Answer 52

Easier to remember 1st items presented

Question 53

Recency effect

Answer 53

Easier to remember last items presented

Question 54

Interferrence

Answer 54

Similar info prevents retrieval of a memory

Question 55

Retroactive interferrence

Answer 55

New info prevents recalling old info

Question 56

Proactive interferrence

Answer 56

Old info prevents recalling of new info

Question 57

Memory construction

Answer 57

Memories can be updated with new info

Question 58

Source monitoring

Answer 58

Memory attributed to particular source

Question 59

Alzheimer's disease

Answer 59

Amyloid plaques: extracellular protein deposits | Neurofibrillary tangles: w/ in euron

Question 60

Korsakoff's syndrom

Answer 60

Nutritional deficiency in vitamin B Older memories unaffected Related to sever alcoholism

Question 61

Parkinson's disease

Answer 61

Neurodegenerative disease Deterioration of substantia nigra w/in midbrain Impaired motor abilities, dopamine deficiency