Midterm Study Guide Flashcards
Psychodynamic
A branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives & conflicts influence behavior, and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders
Social-cultural
The study on how situations and cultures affect our behavior & thinking
Cognitive
The scientific theory of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, & communicating
Debriefing
The post experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants
Sleep apnea
A sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings
Endocrine System
The body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Immune System
A system that helps protect the body against pathological effects of foreign substances, such as viruses and bacteria
Insomnia
Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep
Narcolepsy
A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks where the sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep
Medulla
The base of the brainstem, controls heartbeat and breathing
Amygdala
The bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system that are linked to emotion
Cerebellum
The “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem, processes sensory input, coordinating movement output & balance, and enabling nonverbal learning & memory
Limbic System
Neural system (hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives
Circadian Rhythm
The biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle
Sympathetic Nervous System
The division of the automatic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations (fight or flight)
Parasympathetic Nervous System
The division of the automatic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
Plasticity
The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
A technique that uses magnetic fields & radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue, can show brain anatomy
Endorphins
Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
Dopamine
“Feel-good” hormone, part of your reward system, that gives you a sense of pleasure & motivation to do something
Myelin Sheath
A fatty tissue that encases the axons of neurons, enables greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next
Dendrites
A neuron’s branches that receive messages & conduct impulses toward the cell body
Transduction
Transforming stimulus energies (sights, sounds, and smells) into neural impulses our brain can interpret
Cones
Concentrated near the retina, function in daylight and well-lit conditions and detect fine detail and colors
Rods
Detect black, white, and grey. Used when cones don’t respond
Blind Spot
The point where the optic nerve leaves the eye, creates a blind spot because there are no receptor cells there
Lens
The structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina
Context effect
Influence of surrounding objects, events, or information that change an organisms perception of a stimulus
Semicircular Canals
Three looped tubular channels in the inner ear that detect movements of the head and are essential for maintaining balance
Cochlea
Fluid-filled bone in the inner ear, sound waves trigger nerve impulses
Conduction Deafness
Hearing loss caused by damage to the system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea
Shape constancty
A type of perceptual constancy where an object is perceived as having the same shape despite being viewed from different angles
Cognitive Map
A mental representation of the layout of an environment
Shaping
Operant conditioning procedure where reinforces guide behavior closer and closer to the desired behavior
Mirror Neurons
Frontal lobe neurons that scientists believe fire while performing actions or observing others doing so. Enable imitation and empathy
Unconditioned stimulus
Stimulus that naturally triggers a response (ex. food)
Unconditioned response
An unlearned, naturally occurring response (ex. saliva)
Conditioned stimulus
An originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, triggers a conditioned response (ex. bell)
Conditioned response
A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus (ex. saliva because of bell)
Social Learning Theory
The theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating others
Operant Conditioning
A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened through a reinforcer and diminished by a punisher
Positive Punishment
Adding a negative stimulus in order to decrease behavior (ex. pain)
Negative Punishment
Taking away a rewarding stimulus in order to decrease behavior (ex. taking away a kid’s iPad)
Positive Reinforcement
Increasing behaviors by adding a pleasurable stimulus (ex. giving candy)
Negative Reinforcement
Increasing behaviors by taking away negative stimuli (ex. taking away bedtime)
Inductive Reasoning
A method of drawing conclusions by making broad conclusions based off specific observations (Bottom-up)
Deductive Reasoning
A method of drawing conclusions that is based on multiple premises (Top-down)
Prototype
A mental image or best example of a category
Procedural memories
The memory system that helps us remember how to do things like riding a bike, typing on a keyboard, or solving a math problem. It helps us remember the steps and techniques needed to perform a task.
Aptitude Test
Predicts a person’s future performance
Achievement Test
Designed to test what a person has learned
Algorithm
A methodical, logical rule that guarantees solving a particular problem
Heuristic
A simple thinking strategy that allows us to make judgements and solve problems efficiently, faster but more error prone than algorithms
Phonemes
The smallest distinctive sound unit
Morphemes
The smallest unit that carries meaning
Hindsight bias
The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it
Functional Fixedness
The inability to use an object for something other that how it is usually used
Retroactive Interference
When new information blocks the recall of old information
Proactive Interference
When old information blocks new information
Savant Syndrome
A condition where a person otherwise limited in mental ability has an exceptional specific skill
