N's in Glossary Flashcards
narcissism
excessive self-love and self-absorption
narcolepsy
a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks
natural selection
the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passe on to succeeding generations
naturalistic observation
observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation
nature-nurture issue
the longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors.
near-death experience
an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death; often similar to drug-induced hallucinations
negative reinforcement
increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, when removed strengthens a response
nerves
bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
nervous system
the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of peripheral and central nervous systems
neurogenesis
the formation of new neurons
neuron
a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons
neutral stimulus (NS)
a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning
nicotine
a stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco
night terrors
a sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance if being terrified; occur during NREM-3 sleep
