Brain Flashcards
What is the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language)?
Cognitive Neuroscience
What is the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks.
Dual Processing
This consists of the processes in the mind that occur automatically and are not available to introspection, and include thought processes, memory, affect, and motivation
The Unconscious Mind
This is the part of the unconscious mind that is derived from ancestral memory and experience and is common to all humankind, as distinct from the individual’s unconscious
Collective Unconscious - (in Jungian psychology)
a condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it.
Blindsight
the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain’s natural mode of information processing for many functions
Parallel processing
failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere is what?
Inattentional Blindness
failing to notice changes in the environment.
Change Blindness
the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle
Circadian Rhythm
What is known as “quiet sleep”?
NREM
What is known as “active or paradoxical” sleep?
REM
a sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during NREM-3 sleep, within two or three hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered.
Night Tremors
a sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind.
Dream
continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk
Substance use disorder
a chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods
Psychoactive drugs
the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug’s effect.
Tolerance
drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment.
Barbituates
drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions
depressant
(popularly known as alcoholism) alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdrawal, and a drive to continue problematic use
alcohol use disorder
drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes.
Amphetamines
drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, Ecstasy, and methamphetamine) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions
Stimulants
a stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco
Nicotine
a powerful and addictive stimulant derived from the coca plant; produces temporarily increased alertness and euphoria.
coco
a synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. Produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short-term health risks and longer-term harm to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition.
Ecstasy (MDMA)
a powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system, with speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes; over time, appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels.
meth
a powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid (lysergic acid diethylamide).
LSD
psychedelic (“mind-manifesting”) drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.
Hallucinogens
the major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations.
THC
an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death (such as through cardiac arrest); often similar to drug-induced hallucinations.
Near-death experience
threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes
Chromosomes
a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins
Genes
the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection
Evolutionary psychology
the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations
Natural selection
culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations.
Social script
Because of brain plasticity, our neural tissue is ever changing and reorganizing in response to new experiences
New neurons are also born
Parents donate genes to the child
(23 Chromosomes from each)
the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.
Culture
an understood rule for accepted and expected behavior. Norms prescribe “proper” behavior.
Norm
giving priority to one’s own goals over group goals and defining one’s identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications.
Individualism
giving priority to the goals of one’s group (often one’s extended family or work group) and defining one’s identity accordingly.
Collectivism
in psychology, the biologically influenced characteristics by which people define males and females
Sex
in psychology, the socially influenced characteristics by which people define men and women.
Gender
As far as social connections are concerned, men tend to be?
Independent
As far as social connections are concerned, women tend to be?
Interdependent
Biology does not dictate gender, but it can influence it GENETICALLY by?
Males and females having differing sex chromosomes.
Biology does not dictate gender, but it can influence it PHYSIOLOGICALLY by?
Males and females having differing concentrations of sex hormones, which trigger other anatomical differences.
the sex chromosome found in both men and women.
X chromosome
How many X chromosomes do women have?
2
the sex chromosome found only in males
Y chromosome
the period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing
Puberty
What are the body structures (ovaries, testes, and external genitalia) that make sexual reproduction possible called?
Primary sex characteristics
What are the nonreproductive sexual traits, such as female breasts and hips, male voice quality, and body hair called?
Secondary sex characteristics
What is first ejaculation (around 14) called?
Spermarche
What is the first menstrual period (around 12 and a half) called?
Menarche
How do you treat a Turner Syndrome patient?
Treatment involves hormone therapy. Fertility treatment may be necessary for women who want to become pregnant.
Short stature, delayed puberty, infertility, heart defects, and certain learning disabilities are symptoms of what disease?
Turner’s Syndrome
How is Turner’s syndrome diagnosed?
Turner syndrome results from a missing or incomplete sex chromosome.
What is Turner’s syndrome?
A chromosomal disorder in which a female is born with only one X chromosome. (only females)
A genetic condition in which a male is born with an extra copy of the X chromosome
What is Klinefelter Syndrome?
How does a patient develop Klinefelter Syndrome?
Occurs only as a result of a random genetic error after conception.
T or F, Klinefelter Syndrome is inherited.
False
Low testosterone and reduced muscle mass, facial hair, and body hair are symptoms of what disease?
Klinefelter Syndrome, most males with this condition produce little or no sperm.
How is a patient treated for Klinefelter Syndrome?
Treatment may include testosterone replacement and fertility treatment.
The theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished.
Social Learning Theory
What is the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role called?
Gender Typing
- Shared human genomes
- individual genetic variations
- prenatal environment
- sex-related genes, hormones, and physiology
These are all examples of what?
Biological Influences
- Gene-environmental interaction
- Neurological effect of early experiences
- Responses evoked by our own temperament, gender, etc.
- Beliefs, feelings, and expectations
All of these are examples of what?
Psychological Influences
- Parental influences
- Peer influences
- Cultural individualism or collectivism
- Cultural gender norms
All of these are examples of what?
Socio-cultural Influences
In CONCEPTION, the fertilized egg; as it enters a 2-week period of rapid cell division and develops into an embryo (fewer than ½ survive) is called what?
Zygote
In CONCEPTION, the developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization through the second month is called what?
Embryo
The developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth is called the what?
Fetus
The spine is visible and the arms and legs are beginning to grow during around how many days during conception?
Around 40
(literally, “monster maker”) agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm
Teratogens
physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a pregnant woman’s heavy drinking. In severe cases, signs include a small, out-of-proportion head and abnormal facial features.
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation. As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner.
Habituation
Being unable to recall anything from birth to approx. 3 years old.
Infantile amnesia
What are all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating called?
Cognition
What is a concept or framework that organizes and interprets information.
a Schema
Birth to nearly 2 years is what stage of development?
Sensorimotor stage (1st)
2 to 6-7 years is what stage of development?
Preoperational Stage (2nd)
7-11 years is what stage of development?
Concrete Operational Stage (3rd)
12-adulthood is what stage of development?
Formal Operational Stage (4th)
Experiencing the world through senses and actions is called this stage of DEVELOPMENT.
Sensorimotor
Representing things with words and images; using intuitive rather than logical reasoning is at what stage in DEVELOPMENT?
Preoperational
Thinking about concrete events; grasping concrete analogies and performing arithmetical operations happens during what stage of DEVELOPMENT?
Concrete Operational
Abstract reasoning occurs during what stage of DEVELOPMENT?
Formal Operational
the principle (which Piaget believed to be a part of concrete operational reasoning) that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects
Conservation
in Piaget’s theory, the preoperational child’s difficulty taking another’s point of view.
Egocentrism
The theory of people’s ideas about their own and others’ mental states—about their feelings, perceptions, and thoughts, and the behaviors these might predict.
Theory of mind
a disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by significant deficiencies in communication and social interaction, and by rigidly fixated interests and repetitive behaviors
Autism spectrum disorder
an emotional tie with another person; shown in young children by their seeking closeness to the caregiver and showing distress on separation.
Attachment
the process by which certain animals form strong attachments during early life.
Imprinting
parents are coercive. They impose rules and expect obedience: “Don’t interrupt.” “Keep your room clean.” “Don’t stay out late or you’ll be grounded.” “Why? Because I said so.”
Authoritarian
parents are restraining. They make few demands and use little punishment. They may be indifferent, unresponsive, or unwilling to set limits.
Permissive
parents are confrontive. They are both demanding and responsive. They exert control by setting rules, but, especially with older children, they encourage open discussion and allow exceptions.
Authoritative
(Morality) Self-interest, obey rules to avoid punishment or gain concrete rewards
Preconventional Morality (before 9)
(Morality) Uphold laws and rues to gain social approval or maintain social order
Conventional Morality (early adolescence)
(Morality) Actions reflect belief in basic rights and self-defined ethical principles.
Postconventional Morality (adulthood)
What is our sense of self; according to Erikson, the adolescent task is to solidify a sense of self by testing and integrating various roles identified as?
Identity
What is the “we” aspect of our self-concept; the part of our answer to “Who am I?” that comes from our group memberships?
Social Identity
What is a period from about age 18 to the mid-twenties, when many in Western cultures are no longer adolescents but have not yet achieved full independence as adults called?
Emerging Adulthood
the time of natural cessation of menstruation; also refers to the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduce declines.
Menopause
acquired (not lifelong) disorders marked by cognitive deficits; often related to Alzheimer’s disease, brain injury or disease, or substance abuse. In older adults neurocognitive disorders were formerly called dementia
Neurocognitive disorders (NCDs)
a neurocognitive disorder marked by neural plaques, often with an onset after age 80, and entailing a progressive decline in memory and other cognitive abilities.
Alzheimer’s disease
