Chapter 1 Flashcards
Neuroanatomy
The study of the structure of the nervous system.
Neurochemistry
The study of the chemical bases of neural activity.
Neuroendocrinology
The study of the interactions between the nervous system and the endocrine system.
Neuropathology
The study of nervous system disorders.
Neuropharmacology
The study of the effects of drugs on neural activity.
Neurophysiology
The study of the functions plane activities of the nervous system.
Experiment
The method used by scientists to study causation.
Comparative approach
The study of biological processes by comparing different species.
Between-subjects design
In an experiment, a different group of subjects is tested under each condition.
Within-subjects design
In an experiment, testing the same group of subjects under each condition.
Independent variable
Difference between conditions in an experiment.
Dependent Variable
The variable measured by the experimenter to assess the effect of the independent variable.
Confounded Variable
Unintended difference in an experiment.
The Coolidge Effect
The fact that a copulating male who becomes incapable of continuing to copulate with one sex partner can often recommence copulating with a new sec partner.
Quasiexperimental Studies
Studies of groups of subjects who have been exposed to the conditions of interest in the real world.
Case Studies
Studies that focus on a single case or subject.
Generalizability
The degree to which results can be applied to other cases.
Pure Research
Motivated primarily by the curiosity of the researcher. Done for the sole purpose of acquiring knowledge.
Applied Research
Intended to bring about some direct benefit to humankind.
Physiological Psychology
The division of biopsychology that studies the neural mechanisms of behavior through the direct manipulation and recording of the brain in controlled experiments. Surgical and electrical methods are most common.
Psychopharmacology
Similar to psychological psychology, except that it focuses on the manipulation of neural activity and behavior with drugs.
Neuropsychology
The study of the psychological effects of brain damage in human patients.
Psychophysiology
The division of biopsychology that studies the relation between physiological activity and psychological process in human subjects.
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
The usual measure of brain activity is the scalp EEG.
The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
The division of the nervous system that regulates the body’s inner environment.
Cognitive Neuroscience
The youngest division of biopsychology. Cognitive neuroscientists study the neural bases of cognition (thought, memory, attention, and complex perceptual processes).
The six major divisions of biopsychology
Psychological psychology
Psychopharmacology
Neuropsychology
Psychophysiology
Cognitive Neuroscience
Comparative Psychology
Converging Operations
When different approaches are focused on a single problem in such a way that the strengths of one approach compensate for the weaknesses of others.
Korsakoff’s Syndrome
The primary symptom is severe memory loss.
Scientific Inference
The empirical method that biopsychologists and other scientists use to study the unobservable.
Biopsychology
The scientific study of the biology of behavior.
Morgan’s Canon
The rule that states: when there are several possible interpretations for a behavioral observation, give precedence to the simplest one.
Zeitgeist
The general intellectual climate of our culture.
