Midterm! Flashcards
Confounding variable
difference between experimental group and control group that might affect outcome, but ISN’T the ind variable.
Correlational coefficient
Numerical outcome of a study that lets researchers look at strength and direction of correlation
Effect size. How is it helpful? How do you find std deviation?
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)
Generalizability
Researchers can take conclusions derived from thwir sample and apply it to larger populations of subjects they were studying.
Hindsight bias
Tendency to believe, after hearing the outcome, that one would have been able to foresee the outcome.
Inferential stats
Stats enable researchers to draw conclusions back to the general population of subjects from the sample studied.
Random assignment
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
Random selection
Method of selecting research subjects from a population that ensures that all members of the population have an equal chance of participating
P-value
Mathematica statements that provide parameters for rsrchrs to gauge how significant their results are.
MUST BE SET BEFORE STUDY UNFOLDS
Statistical significance
Likelihood that results were due to chance. The max likelihood should be .05 or 5%
Theory
Birthplace of many hypotheses; is an attempt to explain phenomenon which allows for the making of a testable hypothesis
Functionalism
Focused on how animals’ cognitive processes helped it survive
Introspection
Method of studt that Wundt used in his lab to understand how the mind is broken down
Structuralism
Idea that the mind is broken down into component parts that can be identified and studied in order to understand bx and mental prxs.
CT scan and its best use
Uses xrays or radiation to produce cross sxn views of the brain that a computer builds to produce images
Main function of EEG scan. Best use?
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.
Main function of fMRI and its best use
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
Heritability
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.)
MRI
Uses magnetic resonance (bouncing magnetic waves across body) to create an image for soft tissues affected by injury or illness
Natural selection rests on…
The reproductive prowess of an individual of a certain species
PET scan
Uses radioactive tracers, like glucose, to see where activity is happening
Resting potential
Neuron has an imbalanced charge of -70mV to allow axn potentials develop when aided by neurotransmitters
Na-K Pump
Mechanism in neurons where resting pot is reestablished after a signal has oassed along the axong of a neuron by pushing out Na
Functon, what it deals with, what happens when you have too little and/or too much: Acetylcholine
I/E
Enables muscle axn, memort, attention, arousal
Seizures
Alzheimers
Functon, what it deals with, what happens when you have too little and/or too much: Dopamine
I/E
Mood, feelings of pleasure, mvmnt
Too little - Depression
Functon, what it deals with, what happens when you have too little and/or too much: GABA
I
Sleep, inhibits movement
Too little - seizures, tremores, insomnia
Functon, what it deals with, what happens when you have too little and/or too much: norepinephrine
E
Arousal and mood
Too little - depression
Functon, what it deals with, what happens when you have too little and/or too much: glutamate
E
Learning, memory function, nervous sys development
Too much - migraines or seizures
Functon, what it deals with, what happens when you have too little and/or too much: endorphins
I
Pain relief
N/A
Vestibular sense
Aka balance
Kinesthetic sense/awareness
Knowledge of where your body is in space/while moving
Absolute threshold
Smallest amount of stimulus you can detect 1/2 of the time
Priming
Exposure to one stimjlus can affect response to another.
Difference threshold/just noticible difference
Smallest amt of change in a stimulus that is detectable. Proportional to the size of original stimulus. related to Weber’s Law
Weber’s Law
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)
Signal Detection Theory
Theory that takes into account morivations and expectations (response criteria) in trying to predict what we will perceive
(Hit, miss, false alarms, correct rejection)
Gate control theory of pain
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).
Nerve deafness
Hair cells in cochlea are damaged, resulting in deafness.
Aka, you’re highkey screwe in regard to hearing
Hair cells do not regen
Feature detectors
Cells in visual cortez are specialized to fire upon specific visual stimuli. There are feature detectors for curves, vert/horizontal lines, motion, etc.
Chemical senses are…
Taste and smell
Sensory habituation
When a stimulus is unchanging, you will stop paying attention to it
Nonconscious level
References generally to body processes that we can’t control
Preconscious level
Those items/knowledge of ourselves that we arent currently thinking about, but could be at any moment
Sleep cycles
90 min cycles of varying levels of brain activity during sleep
Freudian dream interpretation believes….
That dreams are windows to the unconscious, presented in symbolism.
Activation synthesis theory
Dreams happen when brain takes the generally random stimulus available and tries to make sense of it
Neurocognitive theory
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.”
