Midterm Flashcards
Nature v. Nurture
how much genes contribute and how much experience and environment contribute to the development of psychological traits and behaviors
Biopsychosocial approach to human behavior
Biological: natural selection of adaptive traits, brain, hormones
Psychological: learned fears and behaviors, cognitive processing
Social-cultural: cultural and societal expectations, peer and group influences, models
Hypothesis
testable prediction
Correlation
measure of the extent to which two factors vary together; how well either factor predicts the other
Random assignment
assigning participants to experimental and control groups; minimizes preexisting differences
Placebo effect
experimental results caused by expectations alone
Independent variable
experimental factor that is manipulated; variable whose effect is being studied
Dependent variable
outcome factor; may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable
Confounding variable
factor other than independent that might produce an effect in an experiment
Neuron
nerve cell
Dendrites
neuron’s bushy, branching extensions; receive messages and conduct impulses
Axon
Neuron extension passes messages through its branches to other neurons, muscles, or glands
Myelin sheath
encases axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed
Glial cells
cells in nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; learning and thinking
Action potential
neural impulse
Synapse
junction between axon tip of sending neuron and dendrite/cell body of receiving neuron
Neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps; when released they travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, influence whether that neuron will generate neural impulse
Brainstem
oldest; automatic survival functions
Medulla
heartbeat and breathing
Thalamus
directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to cerebellum and medulla