Action potential properties is an all or nothing response, it either fires, or it doesn't.

    Intensity-An action potential stays the same throughout the length of the Axon

1) play role in the formation of myelin and the blood brain barrier 

2)responds to injury 

3) removes debris 

4) enhances learning and memory 

Excitatory neurotransmitters- are more likely to send message to other neurons

inhibitory- less likely to send message

Medulla regulates breathing, heartbeat, and other vital function

Pons connects cortex to the cerebellum and triggers dreams 

Thalamus- (brains switchboard)

Receives sensory input (except smell) and sends info to specialized regions of the brain

Hypothalamus-

regulates some emotions (Fleeing, Fighting, Feeding, Fuckin)

Hippocampus-

Amygdala-

the corpus callosum is what connects the two hemispheres of the brain.

making plans and judgement, speaking, and muscle movements

(don't take an exam without your frontal lobes)

Registers and process body sensation 

(don't get a massage without your Parietal lobes)

processes visual information 

(don't go see a movie without your occipital lobes)

processes auditory information and some speech

(don't turn on the radio without your temporal lobes)

Sensation- detection of physical energy by sense organs which then send information to the brain

Perception is the brains interpretation of raw sensory inputs 

Bottom-up processing is taking in information from the senses and trying to make sense of it.

Top-down- begin with some sense of what is happening and apply it to incoming information.

hit- when stimulus is present and response is present

false alarm- stimulus is absent but response is present

miss- stimulus is present but response is absent

correct rejection- stimulus is absent and response is also absent

activation is greatest when stimulus is first detected 

(walking outside and its really bright but your eyes adjust)

the ability of the brain to simultaneously processes incoming stimuli of different quality

We perceive objects as wholes

within their overall context

memory- retention of information over time 

sensory memory

extremely brief storage of sensory input

most sensory input never enters short term memory 

short-term memory 

1)brief memory for material that you are currently processing 

2)keeps information active and accessible 

3)helps coordinate ongoing mental activities 

long-term memory 

1)contains memory for experiences and knowledge collected over a lifetime 

2)has a very large capacity 

3) memories are distributed 

the capacity of working memory is typically limited to 7 items

without rehearsal items decay quickly. almost zero after 15 seconds  

organizing information into meaningful subgroups 

increases the amount of information that can fit in short term memory

Encoding- getting info in 

Storage- keeping info

Retrieval- getting info out 

Implicit memory- retrieval independent of conscious reflection. Also referred to as "non declarative memory"

Explicit memory- memories we retrieve intentionally and of which we have conscious memory

Visual- what something looks like 

(is the word in capital letters? TABLE)

Acoustic- what something sounds like 

(does the word rhyme with MAT? STAR)

Semantic- What something means 

(does the word refer to a plant? CACTUS)

Recall- generating previously remembered information (essay test)

Recognition- Selecting previously remembered information from an array of options (multiple choice)

Relearning- Faster learning of previously learned information (works even without awareness) 

Proactive interference- material learned earlier disrupts recall of material learned after 

"I cant take in any more information"

Retroactive interference- material learned later disrupts retrieval of material learned earlier 

"to much has happened since I studied it"

Fluid intelligence- The capacity to learn new ways of solving problems of two capacities 

Crystallized intelligence- The accumulated knowledge of the world we gain over time

1) linguistic- Excels in words, languages. (poetry, writers) 

2) logical mathematical- Excels in math, logical thinking. (bankers, accountants)

3) visual spatial- excels in shapes, designs graphic and visualization (designer and Engineer)

4)musical- Excels in performing and composing musical pieces (singer, composer)

5)Body Kinesthetic- Excels in performing sports, physical activities (actors, athletes)

6) inter personal-Ability to organize people, group activities and social relationship. (leaders, social workers)

7) intra personal- ability to understand ones inner feelings. self realization and to know about ones self (philosopher, clergy) 

8) Naturalistic- loves plants, animals and nature, understands natural world. (biologist, conservationist)

9) concerned with inner life of mind body and soul. understanding spirituality (spiritual leaders)  

analytical- book smart

practical- street smart

creative- creativity 

they calculate IQ using the Wechsler adult intelligence scale 

consist of 15 subtest that give 5 scores 

the deviation IQ test eliminates age effects by compares each person to what is normal to his or her own age group

Language- a form of communication whether spoken, written, or signed that is based on a system of symbols 

1) Phonemes- categories of sound our vocal apparatus produces 

2) Morphemes 

smallest units of meaning in a language 

convey information about semantics meaning derived from words and sentences 

can be full words (dog) or modifiers (re)

3) Syntax 

set of rules of a language by which we construct sentences 

morphological markers- grammatical elements that modify words to change meaning

4) Extra linguistic information  

elements of communication that aren't part of the content of language but are critical to interpreting its meaning 

(facial expressions, tone of voice)

attribution- an explanation why we or others engaged in a  certain behavior 

dispositional- causes is internal to the person 

situational- cause is external to the person

Normative social influence- People conform because they fear social rejection or to gain social approval 

Informational social influences- people conform because they accept the opinions of others 

pluralistic ignorance- members of a group mistakenly believe that everyone in the group feels a certain way or holds a certain belief 

Diffusion of responsibility- reduction in feelings of personal responsibility in the presence of others

(im sure someone else will call 911)

any behavior intended to harm another person who is motivated to avoid it 

Direct- Target is present

Indirect- Target is not present 

reactive- "Hot" emotional reaction (hulk)

proactive- "cold" motivated by other means  (killer)

active- Taking action

passive- failing to take action 

social facilitation theory: Tendency to perform differently in the presence of others than when alone 

social loafing- the tendency for people to put in less effort in group 

abnormal 

distress 

dysfunction/impairment

generalized anxiety- persistent for at least six months, and in which the individual is unable to specify the reason for the anxiety 

phobic disorder- irrational, overwhelming, persistent fear of a particular object or situation 

obsessions- recurrent and persistent distress- causing thoughts 

compulsions- Repetitive behaviors driven by the obsession

major depressive disorder- depressive episodes, major changes in sleep patterns, weight level, and loss of interest in pleasurable activities

bipolar disorder- alternating between depression and mania, manic episode, the opposite emotional extreme of depression 

typically characterized by euphoria, grandiose self esteem, and over activity 

illogical automatic negative thoughts 

identify and challenge automatic thoughts 

reflective, open minded dialogue less directive 

Perceived burdensomeness 

"people would be better off without me"

thwarted belongingness 

"I don't feel connected to others"

acquired capability 

develops over time through experience of or exposure to painful/provocative events 

borderline personality disorder- marked by unstable moods, behavior, and relationships 

problems regulating emotions and thoughts 

impulsive and reckless behavior 

unstable relationships with other people

antisocial personality disorder- long term patterns of manipulating, exploiting, or violating the rights of others 

law breaking behavior

impulsive behavior 

physical fights 

stealing/lying 

breaking and entering 

severe disorder of thought and emotion associated with a loss of contact with reality 

delusions- strongly held, fixed beliefs with no basis in reality 

hallucinations - sensory perception that occur in the absence of external stimuli 

our cognitive assessment of events is often the source of our distress 

Ex. (im never going to get better)

Harm- it is wrong to harm another person or animal

Fairness-karma

liberty- all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities 

group loyalty- building of strong group bonds 

authority- respect for those above you 

purity- feeling physically and mentally clean or pure from corruption