Biological Correlates of Psychology

Question 1

bottom up processing

Answer 1

–construct perceptions from individual pieces of information provided by sensory processing

Question 2

top down processing

Answer 2

–use prior knowledge to make perceptions more efficient

Question 3

Gestalt principles

Answer 3

–describe the top-down processing that organizes sensory information into distinct forms (objects)

Question 4

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

Answer 4

• -located in the hypothalamus
• -regulates the timing of many of the body’s circadian rhythms
• -maintains the drive for wakefulness by inhibiting release of melatonin by the pineal gland
• -later in the day, SCN firing decreases, which increases the release of melatonin

Question 5

Stage 1 of sleep

Answer 5

–includes alpha waves

Question 6

alpha waves

Answer 6

–are associated with a state of wakefulness, but one that is more relaxed than the fully alert state

Question 7

Stage 2 of sleep

Answer 7

–full transition to sleep

Question 8

Stage 3 of sleep

Answer 8

–delta waves are first seen, reflecting the transition to deep sleep

Question 9

delta waves

Answer 9

–much longer than alpha waves and reflect deep sleep

Question 10

Stage 4 of sleep

Answer 10

–deepest sleep. Dominated by delta waves.

Question 11

REM sleep

Answer 11

• -rapid eye movement sleep
• -a sleep stage of high brain activity
• -makes up a significant portion of sleep in later sleep cycles
• -this is when the brain relives stimuli experienced in the day, consolidates information into memory, discards less important information
• -accompanied by dreaming

Question 12

non-REM sleep

Answer 12

• -occupies the largest portion of sleep
• -brain activity is much lower than in REM sleep
• -lack of dreaming

Question 13

stimulants

Answer 13

• -raise the level of activity in the central nervous system
• -often the result of increasing the amount of epinephrine and dopamine in the synapse
• -ex: Meth, Ritalin

Question 14

depressants

Answer 14

• -cause a decrease of activity in the central nervous system
• -ex: Xanax, heroin

Question 15

hallucinogens

Answer 15

• -characterized by an alteration of sensory and perceptual experience
• -ex: LSD, Ketamine

Question 16

Memory

Answer 16

the representation and maintenance of information by the nervous system

Question 17

Declarative memory

Answer 17

Involves information that is consciously known, such as the memory of specific lifetime events and the knowledge of facts

Question 18

Non-declarative/procedural memory

Answer 18

The ability to remember how to perform a task. Ex; ride a bike

Question 19

sensory memory

Answer 19

• -The first phase of memory formation
• -The temporary stage for incoming sensory stimuli
• -After sensory memory, information moves into short-term memory of is lost
• -Information that receives attention gains access to short-term memory and therefore consciousness, while information that is not the focus of attention is lost.

Question 20

short-term memory

Answer 20

• -holds items in conscious awareness
• -Information held in short-term memory can be manipulated. ex: answering a test question.
• -encoded by physical transduction
• -unlimited storage for sensory memory

Question 21

working memory

Answer 21

• -a type of short-term memory
• -The combination of memory storage and active use is working memory
• -Most people can only hold 5 to 9 pieces of information in working memory at a time
• -Encoded by rehearsal

Question 22

How do we keep items active in working memory?

Answer 22

1. Rehearsal

2. “Chunking”

Question 23

long-term memory

Answer 23

• -This information is maintained outside of conscious awareness and can be called back into working memory when needed.
• -There is no limit to the amount of information that can be stored in long-term memory
• -Encoded through giving information meaning

Question 24

long-term potentiation

Answer 24

• -the molecular process underlying the formation of long-term memories through the strengthening of synapses
• -describes the increase in likelihood that presynaptic input will trigger an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron

Question 25

Retrieval

Answer 25

–the process of pulling memories from long-term memory back into working memory

Question 26

Semantic networks

Answer 26

–system relating concepts together that allows us to organize memory in long-term storage

Question 27

spreading activation

Answer 27

–When one memory gets triggered, related memories are brought to mind through spreading activation

Question 28

recall

Answer 28

–the retrieval of memory “from scratch”

Question 29

recognition

Answer 29

–the correct identification of information that is presented

Question 30

retrieval cues

Answer 30

• -environmental stimuli or pieces of information that are associated with the memory being sought
• -aid in both recall and recognition

Question 31

priming

Answer 31

• -a type of retrieval cue
• -occurs outside of conscious awareness and causes activation of semantic networks
• -Used extensively in marketing, where certain words or images are used to make consumers more likely to purchase certain products (without them really realizing they are being cued)

Question 32

role of emotion in memory retrieval

Answer 32

• -emotion serves as a retrieval cue

- -memory retrieval is strongest when the emotional state during retrieval is similar to that of memory formation

Question 33

Processes that aid in retrieval of memories

Answer 33

1. Clustering/chunking

2. Mnemonics

Question 34

relearning

Answer 34

–the fact that relearning material takes less time and effort than the first time implies that seemingly “lost” memories are stored somewhere

Question 35

decay

Answer 35

• -the process of memory fading
• -occurs when information in working memory is not encoded into long-term memory
• -typically effects working memory and sensory memory, whereas the forgetting of information in long-term memory is often due to problems with retrieval

Question 36

primacy effect

Answer 36

–recall of items at the beginning of a list is stronger than in the middle

Question 37

recency effect

Answer 37

–recall of items at the end of a list is stronger than in the middle

Question 38

retroactive interference

Answer 38

• -affects successful memory retrieval

- -when newly learned material prevents successful retrieval of related older memories

Question 39

proactive interference

Answer 39

–when previously held knowledge prevents successful retrieval of more newly learned information

Question 40

source monitoring

Answer 40

• -when a person attributes a memory to a particular source
• -This can affect memory construction. Ex: I believe a specific person told a story, and then I draw conclusions about that story based on the characteristics of the source.

Question 41

two major brain areas involved in memory

Answer 41

1. hippocampus

2. prefrontal cortex