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psychology > chapter prologue-2 > Flashcards

chapter prologue-2 Flashcards

1
Q

What is psychology?

A

It is a science that uses evidence-based methods and requires scientific attitude (curiosity, skepticism, humility)

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2
Q

Critical Thinking def

A

examines assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions

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3
Q

Behaviorism

A

scientific study of observable behavior

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4
Q

Psychology def

A

science of behavior and mental processes

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5
Q

Behavior def

A

any action that can be observed or recorded

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6
Q

Mental processes

A

internal, subjective experience inferred from behavior

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7
Q

Evolutionary psychology

A

focuses in how humans are alike because of common biology and evolutionary history

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8
Q

Behavior genetics

A

focuses in differences related to differin genes and interests

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9
Q

cross-cultural psychology

A

focuses on how culture shapes behavior but recognizes that some underlying processes are universal

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10
Q

gender psychology

A

focuses on differences; males and females are overwhelming similar

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11
Q

positive psychology

A

focuses on human flourishing

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12
Q

Sources of of intuition over estimation

A

-hindsight bias
-overconfidence
-tendency to perceive patterns in random events

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13
Q

hindsight bias

A

after knowing and outcome, you think you know it confidently

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14
Q

post-truth

A

describing a modern culture where people’s emotions and personal beliefs often override their acceptance of objective facts
-false news, repetition, powerful examples, group identity

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15
Q

scientific method

A

observations, theories, hypothesis, replication

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16
Q

descriptive research

A

systematic, objective observation of people
-case study
-naturalistic observation
-survey and interviews
-big data
-random sampling

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17
Q

case study

A

lose representatives, good for rare studies, based on one person

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18
Q

naturalistic observation

A

watch nature, hard bc you might miss out

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19
Q

big data

A

search histories, big trends, twitter data

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20
Q

random sampling

A

representative sample, everyone is represented

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21
Q

correlation (general def)

A

-observation that two traits or attributes are related to each other; no causation

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22
Q

correlation (scientific def)

A

-measure of how closely two factors vary together, or how well you can predict a change in one from observing a change in one from observing a change in the other

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23
Q

strength (absolute value) (on graph)

A

-btwn 1-0
-0=not correlated
-1=correlated
-look at the number to determine

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24
Q

Direction (+/-) (graph)

A

(+) covary in the same direction; positive correlation
(-) inversely correlated; negative correlation
-look at (+/-) to determine if same or inverse

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25
Q

illusory correlation

A

think they are correlated, but they are not

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26
Q

regression toward the mean

A

-tendency for extreme or unusual scores or events to fall back (regress) toward the average

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27
Q

Phrenology

A

-bumps on the skin
-tells us about the brain’s localized function
-wrong

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28
Q

localization of function

A

-various brain regions have particular functions
-correct

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29
Q

neuroplasticity

A

-brain is able to change throughout life by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
-as you get older, plasticity declines

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30
Q

neuron

A

nerve cell

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31
Q

dendrites

A

neuron’s extensions that receives and integrates messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body

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32
Q

axon

A

segmented neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

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33
Q

Gial cells (glia)

A

support, nourish, and protect neurons
-play a role in thinking, ;earning, memory

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34
Q

synapse

A

meeting point btwn neurons

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35
Q

refractory period

A

resting pause

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36
Q

threshold

A

level of stimulation required to trigger a neutral response

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37
Q

All-or-none response

A

neurons response to firing with full strength or not firing at all

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38
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap btwn neurons, bind to receptor sites of the receiving neurons

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39
Q

reuptake

A

neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

40
Q

myelin sheath

A

covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses

41
Q

Action Potential

A

transmission of an electrical signal due to neuron stimulation that reaches the threshold

42
Q

SSRI

A

Selective serotonin reuptake (depression inhibitor)

43
Q

Acetycholine (ACh) (neurotransmitter)

A

memory and movement

44
Q

Endorphins (neurotransmitter)

A

pleasure and pain

45
Q

Depolarization

A

loss of the inside/outside charge difference

46
Q

Dopamine (neurotransmitter)

A

-movement, learning, attention, positive emotion
-too much leads to schizophrenia

47
Q

serotonin (neurotransmitter)

A

-mood, hunger, sleep, arousal
-linked to depression

48
Q

Norepinephrine (neurotransmitter)

A

-alertness
-can depress mood

49
Q

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) (neurotransmitter)

A

-inhibitory neurotransmitter
-undersupply linked to seizures

50
Q

Glutamate (neurotransmitter)

A

-excitatory neurotransmitter
-memory

51
Q

Agonist

A

molecules that increases a neurotransmitters action

52
Q

Antagonists

A

decrease neurotransmitter’s action by blocking production/release

53
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

the brain and spinal cord

54
Q

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

Sensory and motor neurons
-somatic system
-autonomic system

55
Q

somatic system

A

-sensory input
-motor output (controls skeletal muscle)
-voluntary

56
Q

Autonomic system

A

-Sympathetic (emotions, flight/flight)
-Parasympathetic (calming)
-involuntary

57
Q

Sensory neurons

A

carry messages from the body’s tissues to the brain for processing

58
Q

Motor neurons

A

carry instructions from the brain to tissue

59
Q

Interneurons

A

-within the brain and spinal cord
-supports in carrying messages

60
Q

simple reflex

A

-governed by neural pathways
-bypasses the brain

61
Q

Endocrine system

A

-body’s slow chemical communication system
-secretes hormones into the bloodstream
-hormones outlast the effect of neural messengers

62
Q

Adrenal glands

A

-on top of kidneys
-release epinephrine and norepinephrine

63
Q

epinephrine

A

-increases heart rate/BP/blood sugar

64
Q

pituitary gland

A

-endocrine system most influenced gland
-pea-sized structure located in the core of the brain
-influences hypothalamus
-regulates growth
-master gland

65
Q

Feedback system

A

brain, pituitary, other glands, hormones, body and brain

66
Q

lesion def

A

destroy

67
Q

optogenetics

A

technique that allows neuroscientists to control the activity of individual neurons

68
Q

EEG (Electroencephalogram)

A

-amplified readout of the waves
-record electrical activity

69
Q

MEG (Magnetoencephalography)

A

-measures magnetic fields from the brains natural electrical activity

70
Q

Positron emission tomography (PET)

A

-detects brain activity that displays where a radioactive form of glucose goes while brain performs task
-see changes across times

71
Q

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A

reveals blood flow therefore brain activity, show brain function and structure

72
Q

older brain structures

A

-don’t have outermost cerebral cortex
-does have brainstem

73
Q

Brainstem

A

-crossover point (brain connects with opposite side of the body)
-responsible for automatic survival function
- Medulla, pons

74
Q

medulla

A

-located at the base of the brainstem
-controls heartbeat and breathing

75
Q

pons

A

sits above the medulla and helps coordinate movement

76
Q

Thalmus

A

-sensory control center
-relay station for sensory messages to the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
-area at the top of the brainstem
-influences multitasking

77
Q

reticular formation

A

-nerve network running through the brainstem and thalamus
-controls arousal

78
Q

cerebellum (little brain)

A

-have 2
-processes sensory input
-coordinates voluntary movements and life sustaining functions
-helps process and store information outside of awarness

79
Q

limbic system

A

-sits between the brains older parts and its cerebral hemispheres
-above brain stem
-includes hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalmus
-linked to emotions, memory, drives
-controls pituitary gland

80
Q

Amygdala

A

-two bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system
-linked to negative emotion

81
Q

hypothalamus

A

-neural structure lying below the thalamus
-directs maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp)
-governs endocrine system via pituitary gland
-linked to emotion and reward (hunger and sexual arousal)

82
Q

Hippocampus

A

-part limbic system
-processes conscious, explicit memories
-decreases in size and function with age

83
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

-Body’s ultimate control and information processing center
-two hemispheres (each has 4 lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal)

84
Q

motor cortex

A

-rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
-can cause body part movement
-no sensory receptors

85
Q

frontal lobe

A

-controls impulse and control
-motor cortex in the back of lobe
-is not fully developed till 25

86
Q

parietal lobe

A

sensory cortex (front of lobe)

87
Q

temporal lobe

A

control Hearing

88
Q

occipital lobe

A

controls vision

89
Q

somatosensory cortex

A

-front of the parietal lobe
-registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

90
Q

visual cortex

A

-occipital lobes
-located at the rear of the brain
-receives input from your eyes

91
Q

auditory cortex

A

-part of the temporal lobes
-located above the ears
-recieves info from the ears

92
Q

prefrontal cortex

A

-enables judgement, planning, social interactions, processing new memories
-damage to it can alter personality and remove a person’s inhibition

93
Q

responses to damage

A

-severed brain and spinal cord neurons usually do not regenerate
-neuroplasticity may occur after serious damage
-master stem cells can develop into any type of brain cell

94
Q

corpus callosum

A

-only connects the two sides of the brain by neural fibers

95
Q

left brain

A

-where action is
- quick exact interpretations of language
-speaking
-explanation
-reason, invention

96
Q

right brain

A

-faces
-drawing
-excels in making inferences
-recognizes faceds
-facilitates self-awareness

97
Q

split-brain

A

two halves of the brain are separated
-may be due to epilepsy
-info sharing takes place

psychology (12 decks)

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