M Flashcards
A condition in which the head is abnormally large in relation to the rest of the body
Macrocephaly
A relatively large type of nonneural central nervous system cell (glia), including astrocytes, cells of the ependyma, and oligodendrocytes
Macroglia
In ecological systems theory, the level of environmental influence that is most distal to the developing individual and that affects all other systems
- It includes the values, traditions, and sociocultural characteristics of the larger society
Macrosystem
In hearing, a patch of sensory tissue in the utricle and saccule of the inner ear that provides information about the position of the body in relation to gravity
- This contains sensory hair cells whose processes (stereocilia) are embedded in a gelatinous matrix (cupula) containing calcareous particles (otoliths)
- When the orientation of the head changes, the relatively dense otoliths respond to gravity, causing the gelatinous mass to shift and the stereocilia to flex, which triggers nerve impulses in the hair cell fibers
Macula
A small spot in the retina that is in direct alignment with the optics of the eye
- It contains a yellow pigment and a central depression, the fovea centralis
Macula Lutea
Dystrophy of the macula lutea, which affects both eyes and causes progressive loss of central vision
Macular Degeneration
An obsolete name for mental illness or for legal insanity
Madness
The belief that events or the behavior of others can be influenced by one’s thoughts, wishes, or rituals
- This is typical of children up to 4 or 5 years of age, after which reality thinking begins to predominate
Magical Thinking
A noninvasive diagnostic technique that uses the responses of hydrogen in tissue molecules to strong magnetic impulses to form a three dimensional picture of body organs and tissues, particularly the brain, with more accuracy than computed tomography
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
The measurement of the magnetic fields arising from the electrical activity of the brain, using a device called a magnetoencephalograph
Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
A psychophysical procedure in which the participant makes subjective judgements of the magnitude of stimuli by assigning them numerical values along a scale
Magnitude Estimation
The part of the visual system that projects to or originates from large neurons in the two most ventral layers (the magnocellular layers) of the lateral geniculate nucleus
- It allows the rapid perception of movement, form, and changes in brightness but is relatively insensitive to stimulus location and color
Magnocellular System
The consistent total effect of a particular independent variable on a dependent variable over all other independent variables in an experimental design
- It is separate from, but may be obscured by, an interaction effect
Main Effect
The placement of children with disabilities into regular classroom environments on a part time basis, such that they attend only some regular education classes during the school day and spend the remaining time in special education classes
- The aim is to offer each child the opportunity to learn in an environment that has the highest probability of facilitating rehabilitation efforts and supporting academic growth
Mainstreaming
Repeating items over to maintain them in short term memory, as in repeating a telephone number until it has been dialed
- According to the levels of processing model of memory, this does not effectively promote long term retention because it involves little elaboration of the information to be remembered
Maintenance Rehearsal
A depressive disorder in which the individual has experienced at least one major depressive episode but has never experienced a manic episode, mixed episode, or hypomanic episode
Major Depressive Disorder
An episode of a mood disorder in which, for at least 2 weeks, the individual has either persistent depressed mood or anhedonia as well as at least four other symptoms
- These other symptoms include: poor or increased appetite with significant weight loss or gain; insomnia or excessive sleep; psychomotor agitation or psychomotor retardation; loss of energy with fatigue; feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt; reduced ability to concentrate or make decisions; and recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, or attempted suicide
- All of these symptoms cause significant distress or impair normal functioning (social, occupational, ect)
Major Depressive Episode
A condition in which biological traits or behavior patterns are detrimental, counterproductive, or otherwise interfere with optimal functioning in various domains, such as successful interaction with the environment and effectual coping with the challenges and stresses of daily life
Maladaptation
Inability to maintain effective relationships, function successfully in various domains, or cope with difficulties and stresses
Maladjustment
A linguistic error in which one word is mistakenly used for another having a similar sound, often to ludicrous effect, as in she was wearing a cream casserole (for camisole)
Malapropism
A culture bound syndrome found in Puerto Rico that is similar to amok
Mal de pelea
Persistent or recurrent delay in, or absence of, male orgasm during sexual stimulation that produces arousal
Male Orgasmic Disorder
Describing a condition that gets progressively worse or is resistant to treatment, particularly a tumor that spreads to other sites by invading and destroying neighboring tissues
Malignant
The deliberate feigning of an illness or disability to achieve a particular desired outcome
- For example, it may take the form of faking mental illness as a defense in a trial or faking physical illness to win compensation
- This is distinguished from factitious disorder in that it involves a specific external factor as the motivating force
Malingering