Midterm Study Flashcards
Introspection
“Looking inward,” self-reflecting and reporting on immediate sensations and feelings. Used in structuralist theory to explore structural elements of the human mind. Associated with Edward Bradford Titchener.
Psychology’s Current Perspectives (7)
Neuroscience, Evolutionary, Behavior genetics, Psychodynamic, Behavioral, Cognitive, Social-cultural
Neuroscience (perspective)
How the body and brain enable emotions, memories and sensory experiences
Evolutionary (perspective)
How the natural selection of traits promoted the survival of genes
Behavior genetics (perspective)
How much our genes and our environment influence our individual differences
Psychodynamic (perspective)
How behavior springs from unconscious drivers and conflicts
Behavioral (perspective)
How we learn observable responses
Cognitive (perspective)
How we encode, process, store and retrieve information
Social-cultural (perspective)
How behavior and thinking carry across situations and cultures
Correlation
A measure of the extend to which two factors vary together, and thus of who well either factor predicts the other
Positive correlation: Both factors go in the same direction (Oreo sales go up, sugar intake of the average American goes up as well)
Negative correlation: Factors go in opposite directions (increased study rates, decrease in failing grades)
Correlation coefficient
A statistical index of the relationship between two things from -1 to +1
What is the most important thing to remember about correlational studies?
Correlation is not causation!!!
Illusory correlation
A perceived but nonexistence correlation; when we believe there is a relationship between two things, we are likely to notice and recall instances that confirm our belief
Ex. The presumption that infertile couples who adopt become more likely to conceive; we’re less likely to notice those who adopt and never conceive
Independent variable
The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied
Dependent variable
The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable
Mean
The arithmetic average of a distribution
Median
Middle score in a distribution
Mode
The most frequently occurring score/s in a distribution
Range
The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution
Standard deviation
A computed measurement of how much scores vary around the mean score
Neuron
A neuron cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
Sensory neuron
Neurons that cary incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
Motor neuron
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
Interneurons
Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
Action potential
A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Resting potential
When there’s a positive charge outside of the neuron and a negative charge inside of a neuron
Depolarize
When there is an influx of Na+ ions into the neuron upon the firing of a neuron, temporarily changing charges
Refractory period
Period during which Na+ ions are pumped back outside of the neuron, returning to its resting state
Threshold
The level of stimulation required to trigger a nuclear impulse
Synapse
Junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron
Synaptic gap
Tiny gap at the synapse, between two neurons
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons; travel across synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, influencing whether that neuron generates a neural impulse
Summarize the process of neurotransmission.
1) Electrical impulses (action potentials) travel down a neuron’s axon until reaching the synapse
2) When an action potential reaches an axon terminal, neurotransmitter molecules are released. These molecules cross the synaptic gap to bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron. This allows electrically charged atoms to enter the receiving neuron and excite or inhibit a new action potential.
3) The sending neuron reabsorbs excess neurotransmitter molecules (re-uptake).
Re-uptake
A neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron
Central Nervous System
The brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System
The sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
Somatic Nervous System
The division of the PNS that controls the body’s skeletal muscles, AKA skeletal nervous system
Autonomic Nervous System
The part of the PNS that controls the glands and the muscles of internal organs, includes the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system
Sympathetic Nervous System
Division of the ANS that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Division of the ANS that calms the body, conserving its energy
Endocrine System
The body’s “flow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Hormones
Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through bloodstream and affect tissues
Adrenal glands
A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress
Pituitary glands
The endocrine system’s most influential gland; under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
Electroencephalogram
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
PET
A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
MRI
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy. AKA magnetic resonance imaging.