Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

PSYCH 1200 > Chapters 1-4 > Flashcards

Chapters 1-4 Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

Summarize the scope and goals of psychology.

A

Scientific study, focusing on behaviors and mental processes
Also focuses on perspective and reality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Summarize the key characteristics of the major approaches to psychology (biological)

A

Biological: concerning the body, neuroscience, physical basis in brain for behavior and thoughts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Summarize the key characteristics of the major approaches to psychology (behavioral)

A

Behavioral: observable behavior, rejecting explanations referencing thought, John Watson and B.F. Skinner

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Summarize the key characteristics of the major approaches to psychology (psychodynamic)

A

Psychodynamic: unconscious conflicts (FREUD UGH)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Summarize the key characteristics of the major approaches to psychology (humanistic)

A

Humanistic: positive human qualities and potential, free will and personal choice

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Summarize the key characteristics of the major approaches to psychology (cognitive)

A

Cognitive: mental processes involving thinking, memory, problem solving, perception where the mind is active

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Illustrate critical thinking.

A

Thinking deeply and actively, asking questions, evaluating evidence presented (used by scientists and other professionals)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Describe the history and early foundations of psychology (structuralism)

A

Structuralism: William Wundt (FATHER OF PSYCH), focusing on the structures of consciousness and introspection (thoughts and realizations)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Describe the history and early foundations of psychology (functionalism)

A

Functionalism: William James, focused on purpose and function, Darwin Natural selection/ adaptation to environment (more practical)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Summarize the scientific method.

A

A method to study science
Observation: observing a phenomenon (curiosity, needs to be falsifiable)
Hypothesize, Test: testing through empirical research (analyzing data, operational definitions, etc.)
Conclusions: drawing conclusions (can results be replicated, reliability)
Evaluate: evaluating the theory (subject to change and peer review/publication)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Distinguish between theory and hypothesis.

A

Hypothesis: testable prediction, derived from THEORY
Theory: A principle made to explain things seen in data, etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Describe the types of research that are used in psychology.

A

Descriptive: describing a phenomenon (using observation, surveys, interviews, case studies, etc.)
Correlational: identifying relationships, correlation does NOT equal causation
Experimental: determines causation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Describe how correlational research determines the relationship between two sets.

A

Shows how two variables change together, along with the strength of the relationship (magnitude), direction of relationship (+/-)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Explain how experimental research can establish cause and effect relationships.

A

The hypothesized cause is manipulated, and then observed/measured. The effects are especially studied.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Identify possible sources of experimental bias in research.

A

The experimenter themself wanting certain results
Research participants acting a certain way because they think they have to.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Describe research settings and samples in psychological research.

A

Sample: the subset of a population being studied
Settings: could either be a research lab (professional but participants won’t be natural), or more natural/real world settings (malls, parks, etc)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Summarize ethical concerns regarding the use of animals and humans as participants.

A

Informed Consent: all participants must be aware of what’s going on in the experiment and informed properly ahead of time
Confidentiality: all data gathered on individuals must be kept confidential.
Debriefing: after the study, participants should be informed of methods used and the purpose of the study.
Deception: the debate of informing participants of the study purpose, knowing that it might change their behavior and influence the end results

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Discuss psychological and social tools that promote effective life change.

A

Consider the source of psychological info, Avoid attributing causes when none have been found

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Explain the functions of the nervous system’s main divisions (CNS)

A

CNS (central nervous system): contains brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Explain the functions of the nervous system’s main divisions (PNS)

A

PNS (peripheral nervous system): nerves that connect brain and spinal cord, carrying out the commands of the CNS.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Explain the functions of the nervous system’s main divisions (somatic)

A

Somatic Nervous System: under the PNS, conveys info about skin and muscles to CNS (pain and temp)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Explain the functions of the nervous system’s main divisions (autonomic)

A

Autonomic Nervous System: takes messages to and from internal organs, regulates heart rate, breathing, etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Explain the functions of the nervous system’s main divisions (sympathetic)

A

Sympathetic Nervous System: prepares a person for stressful situations (ANS)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Explain the functions of the nervous system’s main divisions (parasympathetic)

A

Parasympathetic Nervous System: calms body down after stressful situations (ANS)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Identify the parts of a neuron.

A

Neuron: nerve cell that controls information processing function
Cell Body: contains nucleus, Dendrites: receive info and send it to cell main body
Axon: carries info away from body onto other cells, Myelin Sheath: semipermeable, covers the axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Explain how neurons transmit information.

A

Fires messages using neural impulses, which the brain then interprets
Resting Potential: negative charge of neuron
Action Potential: wave of positive electrical charges sweeping down axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Describe how nerve cells communicate with other nerve cells.

A

Synapses: junctions between neurons, electrical info is carried in the synaptic gap.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Identify the key neurotransmitters and their functions (acetylcholine)

A

Acetylcholine: Muscle Action, Memory, and Learning.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Identify the key neurotransmitters and their functions (GABA)

A

GABA: low levels involved in anxiety

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Identify the key neurotransmitters and their functions (glutamate)

A

Glutamate: Learning and Memory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Identify the key neurotransmitters and their functions (norepinephrine)

A

Norepinephrine: released by stress

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Identify the key neurotransmitters and their functions (dopamine)

A

Dopamine: sleep, mood, attention, learning and recognition.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Identify the key neurotransmitters and their functions (serotonin)

A

Serotonin: sleep regulation, mood, learning.

34
Q

Identify the key neurotransmitters and their functions (oxytocin)

A

Oxytocin: love and human bonding

35
Q

Explain the techniques used to map and study the brain.

A

Electrical Recording: Known as EEG, it records electrical activity in the brain. It’s used to assess brain damage, epilepsy and other problems.
Other methods: CAT scans, PET scans, MRI’s, fMRI’s, and TMS

36
Q

Identify the brain’s structures (hindbrain)

A

Hindbrain: lowest portion, helps with breathing and heart rate control (medulla) and motor coordination (cerebellum).

37
Q

Identify the brain’s structures (midbrain)

A

Midbrain: communicates info between eyes and ears to the brain, reticular formation is involved in walking, sleeping, etc.

38
Q

Identify the brain’s structures (forebrain)

A

Forebrain: has the limbic system, thalamus(sort through info), basal ganglia (coordinates voluntary movements), hypothalamus (eating,sexual behavior, drinking)

39
Q

Describe the limbic system’s key structure and functions.

A

Important for both memory and emotion!!
Amygdala: awareness center and expression
Hippocampus: formation and storage of memories

40
Q

Describe the major areas of the cerebral cortex and their functions (occipital)

A

Occipital: back of head, responds to visual stimuli

41
Q

Describe the major areas of the cerebral cortex and their functions (temporal)

A

Temporal: just above ears, involved in hearing, language processing and memory

42
Q

Describe the major areas of the cerebral cortex and their functions (frontal)

A

Frontal: behind forehead, involved in voluntary muscles, intelligence and personality.

43
Q

Describe the major areas of the cerebral cortex and their functions (parietal)

A

Parietal: motor control, attention, etc.

44
Q

Explain what split-brain research reveals about the functions of the brain’s two hemispheres.

A

Left: speech and grammar (more logical)
Right: spatial perception, visual recognition, depth (more creative)

45
Q

Describe the function of the endocrine system.

A

Endocrine System: glands that regulate certain organs by releasing their chemical products into the bloodstream.
Hormones: chemical messengers manufactured by endo system.

46
Q

Describe plasticity and the brain’s capacity for recovery and repair.

A

Plasticity: ability of the brain to modify connections and re-wire itself.
Collateral Sprouting: axons on adjacent neurons grow more branches, a way of repair.
Substitution of Function: another area of the brain takes over the functions of a damaged area.
Neurogenesis: the regeneration of new neurons.
Grafts: healthy tissue implanted into brain, stem cells

47
Q

Explain how genetics increases our understanding of behavior.

A

Behavior Genetics: study of how heredity influences behavior, as well as the environment of the individual.
Genome-Wide Association Method: identifying genetic variations that are linked to particular diseases.

48
Q

Describe the basic principles of sensation and perception.

A

Sensation: process of receiving stimuli energy from external environments and transforming it into neural energy.
Perception: process of organizing and interpreting sensory info.

49
Q

Distinguish between absolute and difference thresholds.

A

Absolute: minimum amount of energy needed for a person to detect something.
Difference: the difference that has to exist between two stimuli in order for the difference between them to be detected.

50
Q

Explain sensory adaptation.

A

Sensory Adaptation: change in the responsiveness of the sensory system based on the average level of surrounding stimulation.
Adapting to settings, and other changes as you perceive them.

51
Q

Summarize the principles underlying our organization of the visual world that allow us to make sense of our environment (signal detection)

A

Signal Detection Theory: decision making of stimuli while being in the presence of uncertainty.

52
Q

Summarize the principles underlying our organization of the visual world that allow us to make sense of our environment (bottom up)

A

Bottom-Up Processing: info from external environment is sent to the brain for processing and interpretation, happens with first time info

53
Q

Summarize the principles underlying our organization of the visual world that allow us to make sense of our environment (top-up)

A

Top-Up: higher levels of cognitive processing, happens with familiar information.

54
Q

Identify the structural components of the eye.

A

Sclera: white outer eye part that gives the eye its shape and protection from injury.
Iris: colored part
Pupil: appears black, opening center of the iris
Cornea: clear membrane on outer eye part
Lens: transparent and kinda flexible
Retina: light sensitive surface that records what a person sees and converts it into a neural impulse for the brain to process.(fovea is the center)
Rods: sensitive to light, allows night vision
Cones: color perception

55
Q

Explain how the brain processes visual information.

A

Uses light and wavelengths, along with the eyes sending neural impulses to the brain in order for visual information to be processed properly.

56
Q

Compare the theories of color vision (trichromatic)

A

Trichromatic: color is a pattern of neural responses, produced by 3 receptors (green, red, blue). Color blindness depends on which of the cones are inoperative.

57
Q

Compare the theories of color vision (opponent process)

A

Opponent-Process: cells in the visual system respond to red-green and blue-yellow colors.

58
Q

Explain how the ear detects sound.

A

Hair cells of the inner ear detect information and send this information to the auditory nerve, which carries neural impulses to the brain.

59
Q

Identify the structural parts and functions of the ear (outer)

A

Outer Ear: pinna (outer visible part of ear), and the external auditory canal

60
Q

Identify the structural parts and functions of the ear (middle)

A

Middle Ear: tympanic membrane, eardrum vibrates in response to sound, while the hammer, anvil, and stirrup are the small bones in the middle ear.

61
Q

Identify the structural parts and functions of the ear (inner)

A

Inner Ear: oval window sends sound waves to the cochlea (tubular fluid filled coil that has hair cells called cilia that help with sound reception), lined with the basilar membrane.

62
Q

Describe the processes involved in the sense of touch and summarize how we experience pain.

A

Touch: detection of mechanical energy or pressure against skin, using the help of sensory fibers from receptors in the skin to send a message to the brain.
Thermoreceptors: helps with temperature detection
Pain: sensation that warns the body of harm or damage, pain receptors are located throughout the body and have a higher firing rate, they work to tell the motor system of the brain to eliminate the threat quickly.

63
Q

Describe the sensory mechanisms for smell and taste.

A

Smell: detects airborne chemicals, uses smell to decide what to eat and to track odors, using the olfactory epithelium (root of nasal cavity).
Taste: detects chemicals in saliva, papillae (small bumps on tongue) are the taste receptors, perceiving tastes as either sweet, salty, bitter or sour.

64
Q

Explain how the skin, chemical, kinesthetic, and vestibular senses work.

A

Skin: cutaneous senses are the receptors for skin for temp, touch and pain.
Chemical: smell and taste are responsible for processing chemicals in the environment, and work together at the same time usually.
Kinesthetic: concerns movement, posture, and orientation. The senses are located throughout muscle joints and fibers in the body.
Vestibular: info about balance and movement.

65
Q

Summarize the nature of consciousness.

A

Consciousness: individual awareness of external events and internal sensations under condition of arousal.
Stream of consciousness: continuous flow of thoughts, images, sensations, etc.
Higher-Level: requires attention, the most alert state, more complex functions.
Lower-Level: require little attention and rarely interfere with daily life.
Altered State: usually from drug usage
Subconscious: during wakefulness, where processes occur below the surface of awareness.
No Awareness: unconscious (knocked out, anesthesia).

66
Q

Explain how circadian rhythms impact sleep.

A

Can desynchronize/ reset a person’s biological clock.
Sleep is a way to conserve energy, and it’s restorative, along with playing a role in brain plasticity.
Lack of sleep affects attention, problem solving and moral judgment.

67
Q

Explain the cycles of sleep (N1)

A

N1 (non-REM): theta waves, and people experience sudden muscle movements (myoclonic jerks).

68
Q

Explain the cycles of sleep (N2)

A

N2 (non-REM): theta waves and sleep spindles (sudden increase in wave frequency)

69
Q

Explain the cycles of sleep (N3)

A

N3 (non-REM): delta waves (slowest), least like our brains when usually awake.

70
Q

Explain the cycles of sleep (REM)

A

R (REM sleep): REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement, and a person usually goes backwards through N3-N1 (never reaching N1) in order to fall asleep completely.

71
Q

Describe the major sleep disorders (insomnia)

A

Insomnia: the inability to sleep, more likely to occur in older adults, women, and people who are stressed and have mental illnesses.

72
Q

Describe the major sleep disorders (sleep walking/talking)

A

Sleep walking/talking: Also called Somnambulism (walking) and Somniloquy (talking). Sleepwalking happens during stages N2-3, and sleep talkers are sound asleep.

73
Q

Describe the major sleep disorders (nightmares/terrors)

A

Nightmares/Night Terrors: Nightmares are used to describe frightening dreams that awake you from REM. Night terrors (sudden arousal that wakes you) are more common in younger children, and awake them from deep sleep.

74
Q

Describe the major sleep disorders (narcolepsy)

A

Narcolepsy: overwhelming urge to sleep, regardless of where you are.

75
Q

Describe the major sleep disorders (sleep apnea)

A

Sleep Apnea: also known as snoring, stopping breathing during sleep. People with this condition wake up several times a night to breathe better but aren’t aware of it.

76
Q

Summarize the characteristics of the primary types of psychoactive drugs (depressants)

A

Depressants: slow down mental and physical activity. Examples include alcohol, barbiturates, tranquilizers, and opiates.

77
Q

Summarize the characteristics of the primary types of psychoactive drugs (stimulants)

A

Stimulants: increases activity level in the CNS, examples include caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine.

78
Q

Summarize the characteristics of the primary types of psychoactive drugs (hallucinogens)

A

Hallucinogens: modifying a person’s perceptual experience, making them see images that aren’t real. Examples include marijuana, lsd, and MDMA.

79
Q

Explain hypnosis and its effects.

A

Psychological state of altered attention, receptive to suggestions, aware of what’s going on at all times.
Used as treatments for alcoholism, migraines, etc. and can reduce pain in certain instances.

80
Q

Describe meditation

A

A peaceful state of mind not occupied by worries. All types of meditation involve focused attention (bringing awareness to one’s inner life and thoughts) and open monitoring (capacity to observe thoughts without being preoccupied).
Shows qualities of wakefulness and sleep, activates basal ganglia and prefrontal cortex.

PSYCH 1200 (1 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions