Midterm 1 Flashcards
Lateralization
Linking traits to specific areas of the brain. Different hemispheres have different specializations.
Dualism
The belief that the soul and body are interactive but seperate
Localization of function
Principle that specific parts of the cortex are specialized for specific functions.
Structuralism
Elemental components of the mind
Functionalism
Emphasized that psychological functions were developed by evolution for their function and adaptive purpose.
Forgetting Curves
Made by Hermann Ebbinhaus; made up of nonsense syllables with no internal process inference.
Modularity hypothesis
Cognitive skills are mutually independent of other skills.
Nativism
The ability to learn the structure of a language is an innate mental program and independent of other skills.
Serial Processing
One level of processing to the next in order.
Parallel Processing
Processing things simultaneously, like identifying someone’s face by taking in their eyes lips and nose all at once.
Transformation of information
As information travels through the system it changes its code or form. Environmental input -> sense -> STS -> LTS.
Cell Body
Also known as the soma, containes the nucleus of the cell.
Dendrites
Receives messages from other neurons and accepts electrical signals.
Axon
Sends messages as electricity. The message is conducted down the axon as an electrical impulse.
Myelin Sheath
Fatty covering of the axon to protect it from degradation. Speeds conduction of the message down the axon.
Synapse
End of the axons, contain synaptic terminals that are gaps between neurons that allow for the release of neurotransmitters.
Cerebellum
Coodrinated motor movement, skill learning, and some aspects of implicit and procedural memory.
Frontal Lobe
Involved in motor control, planning, decision-making, working memory, selective and focused attention, and langauge production.
Temporal Lobe
Involved in object recognition, memory, hearing, and speech perception.
Occipital Lobe
Vision
Parietal Lobe
Somatosensory cortex, spatial attention, detection of movement, and sensory integration.
Broadmanns’ Cytoarchitectonic Map
Map of areas of the brain based on cellular morphology and organization. Each part of the brain is slightly different from the area next to it.
CT/CAT Scan
X-ray technique that produces cross section pictures of the brain. Does not provide information on brain activity.
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Electrodes placed on the scalp and electrical activity is recorded in graphic form. Gathers information on which parts of the brain are electrically active.