Psych 101 Exam 1

Question 1

What is an excitatory signal?

Answer 1

Less negative on the inside to speed up the impulse

Question 2

What is an action potential?

Answer 2

Electrical Impulse

Question 3

What are the axon terminals?

Answer 3

Branch out to communicate, communicate through electrochemical means

Question 4

What is the Somatic System?

Answer 4

Controls voluntary movement, afferent carries in, efferent carries out

Question 5

What is the peripheral nervous system? (PNS)

Answer 5

Links sensory neurons with the central nervous system

Question 6

What is the difference between an agonist and an antagonist?

Answer 6

Agonist=Pretends to be a neurotransmitter

Antagonist= Opposes the neurotransmitter

Question 7

What is an inhibitory signal?

Answer 7

More negative on the inside to slow down the impulses

Question 8

What is myelin sheath?

Answer 8

Increase/decreases the speed of impulses

Question 9

What is an axon?

Answer 9

Caries messages from cells to other neurons

Question 10

What are the three types of neurons?

Answer 10

Sensory=Carries messages from sensory organs Interneurons=Carries messages from one neuron to the next
Motorneurons= Carries out messages for us to react accordingly

Question 11

What is a neuron?

Answer 11

Individual cells in the nervous system

Question 12

What is the standard deviation?

Answer 12

The correlation, A could cause B/B could cause A, Does NOT explain why they are related

Question 13

What is the mean?

Answer 13

The average

Question 14

What is an experimental study?

Answer 14

Tells us cause and effect, has an IV and DV, experimental and control group

Question 15

What is correlational research?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What is observational/descriptive research?

Answer 16

Describes behaviour but no variables are manipulated

Question 17

What are the four steps “to do” psychology?

Answer 17

1)Identify problem and create a hypothesis 2)Design and execute a study 3)Analyze and inteperet 4) Give results

Question 18

Explain behvourism

Answer 18

Mind is not used, only the study of behaviour

eg. Pavlov, Watson

Question 19

Explain Zeitgeist

Answer 19

Change to the study of behaviour rather than the study of the mind

Question 20

What is the psychoanalytical theory?

Answer 20

Behavior is unconsciously motivated

Question 21

What is natural selection?

Answer 21

Improve chances of survival to aid reproduction

Question 22

What is functionalism?

Answer 22

Everything about an animal has a certain purpose

Question 23

What is structuralism?

Answer 23

Structure of the human mind, Introspection=looking within

Question 24

Describe John Lockes theory

Answer 24

All knowledge comes from experience, simple ideas link together to form complex ideas

Question 25

What is the central nervous system?

Answer 25

Brain and spinal cord, extremely well protected

Question 26

What is the autonomic nerve system?

Answer 26

Functions not requiring conscious attention (eg Sweating, blood pressure)

Question 27

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

Answer 27

Regulates internal temp and drives hunger/thirst

Question 28

What is the function of the pituitary gland?

Answer 28

"Master Gland", tells other hormones to be released

Question 29

What is the function of the hippocampus?

Answer 29

Stores memory

Question 30

What is the function of the amygdala?

Answer 30

Emotions (Fear)

Question 31

What is the function of the mid brain?

Answer 31

Regulates eating and drinking

Question 32

What is reticular formation?

Answer 32

Relays general sensory arousals to different areas of the brain

Question 33

What does the medulla do in the brain?

Answer 33

Regulates breathing, circulation and balance

Question 34

What is the function of the pons in the brain?

Answer 34

Sleep/arousal, vitals(breathing and heart rate)

Question 35

What are the three functions of the brain?

Answer 35

Regulate movement and function, regulate sleep cycles, control behaviour

Question 36

What are the four main parts of the brain?

Answer 36

1)Brainstem 2)Medulla 3)Pons 4)Midbrain