Test 1--second take Flashcards
What is psychology?
The scientific study of the brain and behaviour.
Who was William James?
A major figure of functionalism who was heavily influenced by Charles Darwin.
Who was John Watson?
A major figure of behaviourism.
Who was Freud?
A major figure of psychoanalysis who focused on internal processes of which we’re unaware.
Who was Wilhelm Wundt?
A major figure of structuralism.
What is behaviourism?
A branch of psychology that focused on uncovering the general laws of learning by looking outside the organism.
What is structuralism?
A branch of psychology that aimed to identify most basic elements of psychological experience.
What is functionalism?
A branch of psychology that aims to understand the adaptive purposes of psych characteristics.
What is the humanistic approach?
A branch of psychology that emphasises the unique qualities of humans, especially their freedom and their potential for personal growth.
What is clinical psychology?
Psychology that deals with medical issues in a clinical setting. Can not prescribe medication except in NM and LA.
What is psychiatry?
Psychology that deals with working with people experiencing temporary or self-contained problems.
What is the hindsight bias?
The “I knew it all along” bias.
After detailed study of a gunshot wound victim, a psychologist concludes that the brain region destroyed is likely to be important for memory functions. Which type of research did the psychologist use to deduce this?
case study
In an experiment to determine the effects of exercise on motivation, exercise is the:
independent variable
In order to determine the effects of a new drug on memory, one group of people is given a pill that contains the drug. A second group is given a sugar pill that does not contain the drug. This second group constitutes the:
control group
A psychologist studies the play behaviour of third-grade children by watching groups during recess at school. Which type of research is being used?
naturalistic observation
Illusory correlation refers to:
the perception of a correlation where there is none
In a test of the effects of air pollution, groups of students performed a reaction-time task in a polluted or an unpolluted room. To what condition were students in the unpolluted room exposed?
control
A professor constructs a questionnaire to determine how students at the university feel about nuclear disarmament. Which of the following techniques should be used in order to survey a random sample of the student body?
From an alphabetical listing of all students, every tenth (or fifteenth e.g.) student should be asked to complete the questionnaire.
If eating saturated fat and the likelihood of contracting cancer are positively correlated, which of the following is true?
People who are prone to develop cancer prefer foods containing saturated fat.
What is a case study?
A study of an individual over an extended period of time.
What is a survey?
A question assessment of a handful of individuals of a population.
What is naturalistic observation?
A study where the researcher engages in careful observation of behaviour without intervening directly with the subjects; it does not explain behaviour but only describes it.
What is correlation?
How two variables are related.
What is positive correlation?
As one variable increases, so does the other.
What is negative correlation?
As one variable increases, the other decreases.
What is the correlation coefficient?
The measure of the direction (positive or negative) and extent (range of a correlation coefficient is from -1 to +1) of the relationship between two sets of scores.
What is illusory correlation?
Perception of a statistical association where none exists.
What is an experiment study?
A study in which one variable is manipulated and the other is not. Can use one group of subjects who serve as their own control group.
What is the double-blind procedure?
A study in which neither the participants or the experimenters know who is receiving a particular treatment.
What is an independent variable?
The characteristic of a psychology experiment that is manipulated or changed.
What is a dependent variable?
What the experimenter measures to see whether manipulation had an effect.
Definition of mode:
The score that occurs most frequently in a distribution.
Definition of median:
The score that falls exactly in the centre of a distribution of scores.
Definition of mean:
The arithmetic average of the scores in a distribution.
What is statistical significance?
The probability of some result from a statistical test occurring by chance.
The axons of certain neurons are covered by a layer of fatty tissue that helps speed neural transmission. This tissue is:
the myelin sheath
Heartbeat, digestion, and other self-regulating bodily functions are governed by the:
autonomic nervous system
Voluntary movements such as writing with a pencil, are directed by the:
somatic nervous system
Which is the correct sequence in the transmission of a neural impulse?
dendrite –> cell body –> axon –> synapse
Which of the following is/are governed by the simplest neural pathways?
reflexes
Melissa has just completed running a marathon. She is so elated that she feels little fatigue or discomfort. Her lack of pain is probably the result of the release of:
endorphins
The effect of a drug that is an agonist is to:
mimic a particular neurotransmitter
Following Jayshree’s near-fatal car accident, her physician noticed that the pupillary reflex of her eyes was abnormal. This may indicate that Jayshree’s _____ was damaged in the accident.
autonomic nervous system
Your brother has been taking prescription medicine and experiencing a number of unpleasant side effects, including unusually rapid heartbeat and excessive perspiration. It is likely that the medicine is exaggerating activity in the:
sympathetic nervous system
Thought there is no single “control centre” for emotions, their regulation is primarily attributed to the brain region known as the:
limbic system
Damage to _____ will usually cause a person to lose the ability to comprehend language.
Wernicke’s area
Following a head injury, a person has ongoing difficulties staying awake. Most likely, the damage occurred to the:
reticular formation
The visual cortex is located in the:
occipital lobe
Jessica experienced difficulty keeping her balance after receiving a blow to the back of her head. It is likely that she injured her:
cerebellum
The nerve fibers that enable communication between the right and left cerebral hemispheres and that have been severed in split-brain patients form a structure called the:
corpus callosum
Following a nail gun wound to his head, Jack became more uninhibited, irritable, dishonest, and profane. It is likely that his personality change was the result of injury to his:
frontal lobe
A split-brain patient has a picture of a knife flashed to her left hemisphere and that of a fork to her right hemisphere. She will be able to:
identify the fork using her left hand
Dr. Frankenstein made a mistake during neurosurgery on his monster. After the operation, the monster “saw” with his ears and “heard” with his eyes. It is likely that Dr. Frankenstein “rewired” neural connections in the monster’s:
thalamus
What is a neuron?
A brain cell that specialises in communication.
What are dendrites?
Branchlike extensions that receive information from other neurons.
What is an axon?
“Tail” of the neuron that spreads out from the cell body and transmits information.
What is the cell body of a neuron?
Also called soma; it is the centre of a neuron; it builds new cell components.
What is the myelin sheath?
Tissue wrapped around the axon that helps speed neural transmission.
What is an action potential?
An abrupt wave of electric discharge triggered by a change in charge inside the axon.
What is the threshold?
The critical level to which the membrane potential must be depolarized in order to initiate an action potential.
What are neurotransmitters?
Chemical messengers that allow neuron to neuron communication.
What are endorphins?
Neurotransmitters that act as the body’s natural pain killer and produce a pleasurable sensation.
What is the central nervous system?
Made up of the brain and spinal cord; sensory information comes into and decisions come out of the CNS.
What is the peripheral nervous system?
Made up of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems; the nerves outside of the CNS.
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
Part of the autonomic nervous system that is engaged during a crisis or after actions requiring the fight or flight response.
What is the parasympathetic nervous system?
Part of the autonomic nervous system that controls rest and digestion.
What is the somatic nervous system?
System that transmits information between the CNS and the body, controlling and coordinating voluntary movement.
What is the autonomic nervous system?
System that controls the involuntary actions of our internal organs and glands; has two divisions.
What are hormones?
Molecules that influence particular organs.
What is the “all or none” value?
When the neuron action potential fires, it becomes either an all or none response. If it doesn’t hit the threshold, it will not transmit to the next neuron.
What are synaptic vesicles?
Vesicles that contain neurotransmitters that travel to the axon terminal where the neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft.
What is an antagonist?
A molecule that inhibits specific neurotransmitter sites. It has a structure similar enough to the neurotransmitter to occupy its receptor site and block its action, but not similar enough to stimulate the receptor.
What is an agonist?
A molecule that is excitatory. It is similar enough in structure to the neurotransmitter molecule that it mimics its effects on the receiving neuron.
What is the resting potential of a neuron?
When there are no neurotransmitters acting on a neuron.
What are glial cells?
Non-neural cells that perform “housekeeper” functions such as clearing out debris and excess materials. Glial cells support neurons by providing support and nutrition.
What is the frontal lobe?
The part of the cerebral cortex that assists in motor function, language, and memory.
What is the parietal lobe?
The part of the cerebral cortex that is specialised for touch and perception.
What is the temporal lobe?
The part of the cerebral cortex that plays a role in hearing, understanding language, and storing autobiographical memories.
What is the occipital lobe?
The part of the cerebral cortex that is specialised for vision.
What is an EEG?
An amplified recording of the electrical waves sweeping across the brain’s surface, measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
What is a PET scan?
A scan of a visual display of brain activity that detects a radioactive form of glucose while the brain performs a given task.
What is an MRI scan?
A scan that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of brain tissue.
What is the medulla?
Structure in the brain stem that controls heartbeat and breathing.
What is the reticular formation?
Structure in the brain stem that has an important role in controlling arousal.
What is the thalamus?
Part of the limbic system that relays information from the sense organs to the primary sensory cortex.
What is the cerebellum?
The “little brain” attached to the rear of the brain stem. It helps coordinate voluntary movements and balance.
What is the limbic system?
The emotional centre of the brain that also has a role in motivation and memory.
What is the hippocampus?
Part of the limbic system that plays a role in spatial memory; damage causes inability to form new memories.
What is the amygdala?
Part of the limbic system that plays key roles in fear, excitement, and arousal.
What is the hypothalamus?
Part of the limbic system that regulates and controls internal bodily states; controls the pituitary gland.
What is Broca’s area?
Part of the frontal lobe that is important for language production.
What is Wernicke’s area?
Part of the temporal lobe that is responsible for speech comprehension.
What is the corpus callosum?
Structure which connects the two cerebral hemispheres and allows communication between them.
What is the split brain?
When the corpus callosum is severed and each hemisphere functions independently.
Cluster of brain cells that control the circadian rhythm is the:
suprachiasmatic nucleus
When our ____ is disrupted, we experience jet lag.
circadian rhythm
Sleep spindles predominate during which stage of sleep?
stage 2
Which of the following is NOT a theory of dreaming mentioned in the text?
Dreaming is an attempt to escape from social stimulation.
A person whose EEG shows a high proportion of alpha waves is most likely:
awake and relaxed
Which of the following statements concerning hypnosis is true?
Hypnosis is in part an extension of the division between conscious awareness and automatic behaviour.
Of the following individuals, who is likely to be the most hypnotically suggestible?
Janice, an actress with a rich imagination.
A person who requires increasing amounts of a drug in order to feel its effect is said to have developed:
tolerance
Which of the following is NOT a stimulant?
alcohol
Psychoactive drugs affect behaviour and perception through:
alteration of neural activity in the brain
What is consciousness?
Our subjective experience of the world, our bodies, and our mental perspectives.
What is the circadian rhythm?
Cyclical changes that occur on a roughly 24-hour basis.
What is insomnia?
Disorder where a person has difficulty going to, staying asleep, or waking early.
What is narcolepsy?
The rapid and unexpected onset of sleep.
What is sleep apnea?
Disorder caused by the blockage of the airway during sleep.
What are night terrors?
Sudden waking episodes characterised by screaming, perspiring, and confusion followed by a return to a deep sleep.
What are nightmares?
Dreams occurring during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep that result in feelings of strong terror, fear, distress or extreme anxiety.
What is manifest content?
The actual images, thoughts and content contained within the dream.
What is latent content?
The hidden psychological meaning of the dream.
What are dreams?
Successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur subconsciously in the mind during certain stages of sleep.
What are the stages of sleep?
Stage 1, Stage 2, Stages 3 and 4, and REM sleep.
What happens during Stage 1 of sleep?
The brain produces theta waves, hypnagogic imagery, and occasionally hypnic jerks occur.
What happens during Stage 2 of sleep?
Sleep spindles and K-complexes.
What happens during Stage 3 and 4 of sleep?
The brain produces delta waves; these stages are crucial to feel rested.
What happens during REM sleep?
Brain activity similar to wakefulness, which becomes longer as the night goes on. This is the stage in which vivid dreams occur and the eyes move quickly.
What is hypnosis?
A set of techniques that provides people with suggestions for alterations in perceptions, thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
What are the different sleep theories?
Restorative and circadian.
What is the restorative theory?
The theory that sleeping is essential for revitalising and restoring the physiological processes that keep the body and mind healthy and properly functioning.
What is the circadian theory?
The theory that sleep plays no role in physiological functioning. This theory claims that we become tired when it gets dark outside and that the function of sleep is to conserve energy.
What are psychoactive drugs?
Drugs that contain chemicals similar to those found naturally in the brain.
What is tolerance?
When a drug is taken repeatedly, it takes on a reduced effect.
What is withdrawal?
Feelings of discomfort or distress when someone becomes addicted to a substance and is prevented from having access to the substance.
What is physical dependence?
When the body physiologically requires that drug to function.
What is addiction?
When a person recurrently uses a drug.
What are depressants?
Drugs that depress the effects of the CNS.
What are barbiturates?
A class of drugs that act as depressants to the central nervous system.
What are opiates?
Drugs that relieve pain and induce sleep.
What are stimulants?
Drugs that energise the CNS, increase heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure.
What are amphetamines?
CNS stimulant drugs that increase alertness, self-confidence and concentration, and decrease appetite while creating a feeling of increased energy.
What is ecstasy (MDMA)?
A hallucinogenic stimulant that causes release of huge amounts of serotonin.
What are hallucinogens?
Drugs that produce dramatic alterations in perception, mood, and thought.
