Midterm!

Question 1

Confounding variable

Answer 1

difference between experimental group and control group that might affect outcome, but ISN’T the ind variable.

Question 2

Correlational coefficient

Answer 2

Numerical outcome of a study that lets researchers look at strength and direction of correlation

Question 3

Effect size. How is it helpful? How do you find std deviation?

Answer 3

Size diff between control and exp groups. Helps understand how big the difference is with respect to scores meaured. (Mean exp group-mean control=stdrd deviation)

Question 4

Generalizability

Answer 4

Researchers can take conclusions derived from thwir sample and apply it to larger populations of subjects they were studying.

Question 5

Hindsight bias

Answer 5

Tendency to believe, after hearing the outcome, that one would have been able to foresee the outcome.

Question 6

Inferential stats

Answer 6

Stats enable researchers to draw conclusions back to the general population of subjects from the sample studied.

Question 7

Random assignment

Answer 7

Assigning subjects to either control group or the exp group to ensure no one has a higher chance of getting into one or the other group

Question 8

Random selection

Answer 8

Method of selecting research subjects from a population that ensures that all members of the population have an equal chance of participating

Question 9

P-value

Answer 9

Mathematica statements that provide parameters for rsrchrs to gauge how significant their results are.

MUST BE SET BEFORE STUDY UNFOLDS

Question 10

Statistical significance

Answer 10

Likelihood that results were due to chance. The max likelihood should be .05 or 5%

Question 11

Theory

Answer 11

Birthplace of many hypotheses; is an attempt to explain phenomenon which allows for the making of a testable hypothesis

Question 12

Functionalism

Answer 12

Focused on how animals’ cognitive processes helped it survive

Question 13

Introspection

Answer 13

Method of studt that Wundt used in his lab to understand how the mind is broken down

Question 14

Structuralism

Answer 14

Idea that the mind is broken down into component parts that can be identified and studied in order to understand bx and mental prxs.

Question 15

CT scan and its best use

Answer 15

Uses xrays or radiation to produce cross sxn views of the brain that a computer builds to produce images

Question 16

Main function of EEG scan. Best use?

Answer 16

Uses electrodes to measure electrica activity along surface of brain. Produces a representation of brainwaves that look like those on an earthquake reading.

Best used for sleep research and biofeedback treatment options.

Question 17

Main function of fMRI and its best use

Answer 17

Uses magnetic waves bounced thru brain and collected by a computer to create a picture of brain activity built by detecting changes of blood flow to brain

Mainly used in research

Question 18

Heritability

Answer 18

Amt of variation of a single trait in a population that is attributed to genetics.

If HIGH - variation is due to genes (ex - eye color)
If LOW - variation is not due to genetics (ex - religion, political party, etc.)

Question 19

MRI

Answer 19

Uses magnetic resonance (bouncing magnetic waves across body) to create an image for soft tissues affected by injury or illness

Question 20

Natural selection rests on…

Answer 20

The reproductive prowess of an individual of a certain species

Question 21

PET scan

Answer 21

Uses radioactive tracers, like glucose, to see where activity is happening

Question 22

Resting potential

Answer 22

Neuron has an imbalanced charge of -70mV to allow axn potentials develop when aided by neurotransmitters

Question 23

Na-K Pump

Answer 23

Mechanism in neurons where resting pot is reestablished after a signal has oassed along the axong of a neuron by pushing out Na

Question 24

Functon, what it deals with, what happens when you have too little and/or too much: Acetylcholine

Answer 24

I/E

Enables muscle axn, memort, attention, arousal

Seizures

Alzheimers

Question 25

Functon, what it deals with, what happens when you have too little and/or too much: Dopamine

Answer 25

I/E

Mood, feelings of pleasure, mvmnt

Too little - Depression

Question 26

Functon, what it deals with, what happens when you have too little and/or too much: GABA

Answer 26

I

Sleep, inhibits movement

Too little - seizures, tremores, insomnia

Question 27

Functon, what it deals with, what happens when you have too little and/or too much: norepinephrine

Answer 27

E

Arousal and mood

Too little - depression

Question 28

Functon, what it deals with, what happens when you have too little and/or too much: glutamate

Answer 28

E

Learning, memory function, nervous sys development

Too much - migraines or seizures

Question 29

Functon, what it deals with, what happens when you have too little and/or too much: endorphins

Answer 29

I

Pain relief

N/A

Question 30

Vestibular sense

Answer 30

Aka balance

Question 31

Kinesthetic sense/awareness

Answer 31

Knowledge of where your body is in space/while moving

Question 32

Absolute threshold

Answer 32

Smallest amount of stimulus you can detect 1/2 of the time

Question 33

Priming

Answer 33

Exposure to one stimjlus can affect response to another.

Question 34

Difference threshold/just noticible difference

Answer 34

Smallest amt of change in a stimulus that is detectable. Proportional to the size of original stimulus. related to Weber’s Law

Question 35

Weber’s Law

Answer 35

Change needed for you to detect a change at all is proportional to original intensity of the stimulus

(Hearing a phone ring at a concert vs in a library)

Question 36

Signal Detection Theory

Answer 36

Theory that takes into account morivations and expectations (response criteria) in trying to predict what we will perceive
(Hit, miss, false alarms, correct rejection)

Question 37

Gate control theory of pain

Answer 37

Hi priority msgs get thru, low prioritg ones do not. Blocking pain is a function of sending a more important message thru the gate (located at spinal cord).

Question 38

Nerve deafness

Answer 38

Hair cells in cochlea are damaged, resulting in deafness.

Aka, you’re highkey screwe in regard to hearing

Hair cells do not regen

Question 39

Feature detectors

Answer 39

Cells in visual cortez are specialized to fire upon specific visual stimuli. There are feature detectors for curves, vert/horizontal lines, motion, etc.

Question 40

Chemical senses are…

Answer 40

Taste and smell

Question 41

Sensory habituation

Answer 41

When a stimulus is unchanging, you will stop paying attention to it

Question 42

Nonconscious level

Answer 42

References generally to body processes that we can’t control

Question 43

Preconscious level

Answer 43

Those items/knowledge of ourselves that we arent currently thinking about, but could be at any moment

Question 44

Sleep cycles

Answer 44

90 min cycles of varying levels of brain activity during sleep

Question 45

Freudian dream interpretation believes….

Answer 45

That dreams are windows to the unconscious, presented in symbolism.

Question 46

Activation synthesis theory

Answer 46

Dreams happen when brain takes the generally random stimulus available and tries to make sense of it

Question 47

Neurocognitive theory

Answer 47

Dreams are a form of specialized thinking that occurs under conditions of lowered sensory stimuli, reduced activity in cortex, and reduced control over thinking.

Dreams occur when brain is “quiet.”