Psych 101 Exam 1 Flashcards
What is an excitatory signal?
Less negative on the inside to speed up the impulse
What is an action potential?
Electrical Impulse
What are the axon terminals?
Branch out to communicate, communicate through electrochemical means
What is the Somatic System?
Controls voluntary movement, afferent carries in, efferent carries out
What is the peripheral nervous system? (PNS)
Links sensory neurons with the central nervous system
What is the difference between an agonist and an antagonist?
Agonist=Pretends to be a neurotransmitter
Antagonist= Opposes the neurotransmitter
What is an inhibitory signal?
More negative on the inside to slow down the impulses
What is myelin sheath?
Increase/decreases the speed of impulses
What is an axon?
Caries messages from cells to other neurons
What are the three types of neurons?
Sensory=Carries messages from sensory organs Interneurons=Carries messages from one neuron to the next
Motorneurons= Carries out messages for us to react accordingly
What is a neuron?
Individual cells in the nervous system
What is the standard deviation?
The correlation, A could cause B/B could cause A, Does NOT explain why they are related
What is the mean?
The average
What is an experimental study?
Tells us cause and effect, has an IV and DV, experimental and control group
What is correlational research?
Relationship between 2 naturally occurring variables, no manipulation, as one increases the other one does as well, does not tell us why the relationship exists
What is observational/descriptive research?
Describes behaviour but no variables are manipulated
What are the four steps “to do” psychology?
1)Identify problem and create a hypothesis 2)Design and execute a study 3)Analyze and inteperet 4) Give results
Explain behvourism
Mind is not used, only the study of behaviour
eg. Pavlov, Watson
Explain Zeitgeist
Change to the study of behaviour rather than the study of the mind
What is the psychoanalytical theory?
Behavior is unconsciously motivated
What is natural selection?
Improve chances of survival to aid reproduction
What is functionalism?
Everything about an animal has a certain purpose
What is structuralism?
Structure of the human mind, Introspection=looking within
Describe John Lockes theory
All knowledge comes from experience, simple ideas link together to form complex ideas
What is the central nervous system?
Brain and spinal cord, extremely well protected
What is the autonomic nerve system?
Functions not requiring conscious attention (eg Sweating, blood pressure)
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
Regulates internal temp and drives hunger/thirst
What is the function of the pituitary gland?
“Master Gland”, tells other hormones to be released
What is the function of the hippocampus?
Stores memory
What is the function of the amygdala?
Emotions (Fear)
What is the function of the mid brain?
Regulates eating and drinking
What is reticular formation?
Relays general sensory arousals to different areas of the brain
What does the medulla do in the brain?
Regulates breathing, circulation and balance
What is the function of the pons in the brain?
Sleep/arousal, vitals(breathing and heart rate)
What are the three functions of the brain?
Regulate movement and function, regulate sleep cycles, control behaviour
What are the four main parts of the brain?
1)Brainstem 2)Medulla 3)Pons 4)Midbrain
