Chapter 3

Question 1

Reflex

Answer 1

Relatively simple, automatic response to a stimulus

Some only a single gland or set of muscles
Blink in response to puff of air

Question 2

Startle Response

Answer 2

A defensive reaction to a sudden, unexpected stimulus

Involves the automatic tightening of skeletal muscles as well as various hormonal and visceral (internal organ) changes

Involve the coordinated action of several body parts

Question 3

Orienting Response

Answer 3

We automatically position ourselves to facilitate attending to a stimulus

Can involve a major body movement

Turn when we hear a loud noise behind us

Question 4

Flexion Response

Answer 4

Automatically jerk our hand or foot away from a hot or sharp object that we have inadvertently contacted

Question 5

Reflex Arc

Answer 5

A neural structure underlying some reflexes that consists of a sensory neuron, an inter neuron, and a motor neuron

Question 6

Fixed Action Pattern

Answer 6

A fixed sequence of responses elicited by a specific stimulus

Spider building web, geese flight pattern

Question 7

Sign Stimulus or releaser

Answer 7

The specific stimulus that elicits a fixed action pattern

Beta male gets defensive around other males

Question 8

Species-Specific Behaviors

Answer 8

Fixed action patterns tend to be unique to certain species

Question 9

Habituation

Answer 9

A decrease in the strength of an elicited behavior following repeated presentations of the eliciting stimulus

Stop attending to low intensity background noises (air conditioner)

Question 10

Sensitization

Answer 10

An increase in the strength of an elicited behavior following repeated presentations of the eliciting stimulus

Soldiers dont habituate to gunshots, they become more startled and react

Question 11

Low Intensity Stimulus

Answer 11

Typically results in habituation

Ticking of a clock

Question 12

High Intensity Stimulus

Answer 12

Typically results in sensitization

Gun shots in army

Question 13

Intermediate Intensity Stimulus

Answer 13

Often results in initial period of sensitization, followed by habituation

Shooting at a shooting range, arcade room

Question 14

Long Term Habituation

Answer 14

The response slowly decreases as a result of repeated stimulation, and the ability to respond then slowly recovers in the absence of stimulation

Occurs when presentation is widely spread (train coming through backyard)

Question 15

Short Term Habituation

Answer 15

The response quickly decreases as a result of repeated stimulation and the ability to respond then quickly recovers in the absence of stimulation

Occurs when presentations are narrowly spaced (kid next door banging a drum)

Question 16

Dishabituation

Answer 16

Habituated responses can also reappear following the presentation of a seemingly irrelevant novel stimulus

Notice the balloon squeak again after shown a picture of a spider

Question 17

Opponent Process Theory of Emotion

Answer 17

Proposes that an emotional event elicits two competing processes

A or B process

Shock causes heart rate to increase (a process), body tries to decrease heart rate (b process).
Purpose of b process is to counter the sudden increase, thus maintaining a state of internal balance (homeostasis)

Question 18

A-process

Primary process

Answer 18

Directly elicited by an event

Correlates closely with emotional event

Question 19

B-process

Opponent process

Answer 19

Is elicited by the a-process and serves to counteract the a-process

Slow to increase and slow to decrease

With repeated presentations of the emotional event, the b-process increases in both strength and duration

Question 20

Elicit

Answer 20

A behavior that is drawn out by a preceding stimulus

-sneeze caused by dust, jump when balloon pops

Involuntary behavior

Also known as respondent behaviors