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Psych 111 - Test 1
First Test
99
Psychology
Undergraduate 2
10/06/2011

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Term
Behaviorist Perspective
Definition
-Focus on observable behavioral responses
-The environment impact on a person's actions
Term
Cognitive Perspective
Definition
-Reintroduced how one things affects behavior and responses
-The mental processes involved in knowing
-How one understands and then thinks about solving problems
-MIND IS A COMPUTER
Term
Biological Perspective
Definition
-Understand the mind and behavior through biological processes in the brain
-Electrical and chemical processes of neurons
-Localization of function
-Phineas Gage
Term
Weber's Law
Definition
The threshold is directly proportional to the magnitude of the stimulus to which the comparison is being made
Term
Fechner's Law
Definition
Larger and larger increases in physical energy are required to produce equal increases in perception
- Light bulb experiment
Term
Frequency Theory
Place Theory
Definition
Nerve impulses sent to the brain match the frequency of sound waves
Different areas of the basilar membrane are sensitive to different frequencies
Term
Signal Detection Theory
Definition
Various factors influence our sensory judgment; often a process of decisions in addition to sensation
Term
Trichromatic Theory
Definition
Three types of cell receptors in the retina; cones most sensitive to red, blue, or green. Couldn't explain afterimages
Term
Opponent Process Theory
Definition
Each cone responds to two different wavelengths; red/green, blue/yellow, black/white
Term
Dual Process Theory
Definition
It takes both theories to explain color vision; combines trichromatic process theory with dual process theory
Term
Absolute Threshold (sense Modality)
Definition
Vision - Candle flame at 30 miles on a clear night
Hearing - Watch ticking at 20 feet in quiet room
Taste - 1 tsp of sugar in 2 gallons of water
Smell - 1 drop of perfume in 6(3) room apartments
Touch - Wing of bee on cheek dropped from 1 cm
Term
Tastes
Definition
Sweet, sour, salty, bittter, and umami (meaty)

9000 buds
Term
Cochlea
Basilar Membrane
Definition
the inner ear which is a fluid-filled tunnel with hairs that are sound receptors

holds auditory receptors
Term
Optic Chiasm
Definition
Where the optic nerves from each eye cross over and pass info to opposite sides of brain
Term
Cornea
Pupil
Iris
Lens
Definition
-Where light waves enter eye
-Behind cornea, adujust to control amount of light entering
-Surrounds and controls pupil with muscles
-Behind pupil, thinner for distance, thicker for close
Term
Retina
Definition
Contains specialized sensory neurons
Optic disk - a hole which yields a blind spot
Contains rods and cones
Term
Olfactory Receptors
Pheremones
Definition
Humans have 40 million; detect smell
Chemical signals found in natural body scents
Term
Hypothesis
Definition
A proposed relationship between two variables
Term
Theory
Definition
A systematic way of organizing and understanding observations
Term
Independent Variable
Definition
Aspect manipulated by the experimenter
Term
Dependent Variable
Definition
Measured to assess any change in response to the manipulation of IV
Term
Reliability
Definition
Do I get consistent results over time?
Term
Validity
Definition
Does it measure what it is supposed to measure?
Term
Experimental
Definition
Conduct lab studies
Term
Physiological
Definition
looks at genetic influences and factors on behavior
Term
Cognitive
Definition
explores higher level mental processes like memory and creativity
Term
Counseling
Definition
deal with the problems of everyday life
Term
Physiometric
Definition
looks at the measurement of behavior through the development of psychological tests
Term
Personality
Definition
studies personality traits and their stability over time
Term
Health
Definition
interaction between psychological factors and physical well-being
Term
Positive Psychology
Definition
Psychology that examines the positive attributes of psychology such as adaptions and creativity
- Look at objective experiences of positive emotions, traits, and social elements of functioning
Term
Social Psychology
Definition
studies the responses of an individual or group across situations; studies altruism and bystander behavior
Term
Educational
Definition
studies how to create the best learning environment
Term
Industrial/Organizational
Definition
studies how issues of morale, job satisfaction, and productivity can be improved in a workplace
Term
Forensic Psychology
Definition
interact with legal systems involving competency, custody, and risk assessment
Term
Clinical
Definition
diagnose and treat emotional problems
Term
Neuropsychology
Definition
focus on disorders, trauma, and dementia
Term
Variable
Definition
anything which can be measured or described
Term
Extraneous Variable
Definition
variable other than IV which can impact the result
- time of day, sunlight, etc
Term
Categorical Variable
Definition
a variable with a fixed meaning or attribute
Term
Continuous Variable
Definition
a variable which can be measured across a continuum
Term
Naturalistic Observation
Definition
Observing one's behavior in their natural environment
-Describes but does not explain behavior
Term
Survey Method
Definition
Using a large sample size with questionaires and interviews
-Can have response bias
Term
Correlational Studies
Definition
Explores the relationship between two variables using a numerical value
- (-1) negative relationship
- (0) no relationship
- (1) positive relationship
Term
Case Studies
Definition
In-depth study of an individual or small group
- can not be used to make generalizations on a small scale
- susceptible to researcher bias
Term
Reponse Set
Definition
A consistent patter of response that shows a pattern
Term
Experimenter Bias
Definition
Research expectations may impact the interpretation of the results
Term
Placebo Effect
Definition
expectancies can impact subjective experiences
Term
Social Desirability
Definition
give answers which are "correct" or "appropriate", but not true
Term
Demand Characteristics
Definition
subjects behaving in a manner they think would be expected of them in the experiment
Term
Glial Cells
Definition
hold the neurons in place, nourish and insulate neurons
Term
Absolute Refractory Period
Definition
Minimum amount of time a neuron must rest in between another action
Term
Sensory or Afferent Neurons
Definition
carry info to the brain from the body
Term
Dendrites
Definition
receive messages in the neuron and transmit them to the cell body (soma)
Term
Synaptic Vessicles
Definition
Release neurotransmitters which bind to the dendrite receptor site
- can excite or inhibit
Term
Cell Body(Soma)
Definition
keeps neurons alive; controls growth and determines releases
Term
Motor or Efferent Neurons
Definition
carry info to the body from the brain
Term
Neurotransmitters
Definition
chemical substances which carry info across the synaptic gap to the next neuron
Term
Axons
Definition
Transmit messages from the cell body to another neuron, muscle, or gland
-insulated by myolin sheath
=end in terminal buttons
Term
Synapses
Definition
the gaps between neurons
Term
Mirror Neurons
Definition
neurons which are activated by performing an action or by seeing another perform same action
- Dysfunction linked to autistic behavior
Term
Adrenal Hormones
Definition
involved in emotions, stress (cortisol)
Term
Hormones
Definition
manufactured by endocrine glands and released into the blood stream
- can be classified as neurotransmitters at times
Term
Androgens/Estrogens
Definition
Masculine/Feminine
Term
Endorphines
Definition
Natural opiates that the brain releases to reduce pain and promote pleasure
Term
Norepinephrine
Definition
learning, memory, and emotion, excite heart muscles, intestines, and urogenital tract, involved in alertness and wakefulness
Term
Melatonin
Definition
regulates biological rhythm
Term
Dopamine
Definition
involved in learning, memory, and pleasurable emotion
- High levels associated with schizophrenia, low leves with Parkinsons
Term
GABA (gamma amino butyric acid)
Definition
inhibitory neurotransmitter, low levels linked with anxiety
-Anti-anxiety drugs increase inhibitory effects of this
Term
Glutamate
Definition
excitatory transmitter widely distributed and implicated in memory formation
Term
Serotonin
Definition
Involved with mood, sleep, depression
Term
Acetylcholine
Definition
muscle action memory and attention. Emotion and cognition. Some receptors stimulated by nicotine
Term
Cerebellum
Definition
balance and coordination of movement; analyzes sensory info
-cut into two hemispheres
Term
Tectum
Definition
involved in auditory and visual responses
Term
Amygdala
Definition
evaluates sensory info linked to fear responses emotional events
Term
Hippocampus
Definition
formation and storage of new memories
Term
Limbic System
Definition
loosely interconnected structures involved in emotions; no clear boundaries
Term
Thalamus
Definition
relays motor impulses out of the brain; directs incoming sensory messages to higher centers
Term
Tegmentum
Definition
controls some motor functions, regulates awareness and attention and some autonomic funtions
Term
Pituitary Gland
Definition
master gland governed by the hypothalamus
Term
Hypothalamus
Definition
FIGHTING, FLEEING, FEEDING, FUCKING
Term
Septal Area
Definition
pleasure area of the brain; lesions may create rage reactions
Term
Pon
Definition
regulates sleeping, waking, and dreaming
Term
Medulla
Definition
regulates autonomic funtions such as breathing, muscle tone, reflexes
- can't survive if destroyed
Term
Reticular Formation
Definition
modulates muscle reflexes, pain perception, active in states or arousal
- damage can result in comas
Term
Somatic Nervous System
Definition
sensory nerves relay info from the skin and muscles to the CNS
Term
Autonomic Nervous System
Definition
Fight or flight responses
- WOrks automatically
- Takes messages to and from the body's organ monitoring breathing, heart rate and digestion
Term
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Definition
slows actions down, conserves bodily resources
Term
Peripheral Nervous System
Definition
Everything outside of brain and spinal cord that handles input and output of CNS to rest of body
Term
Sympathetic Nervous System
Definition
mobilizes body for action, stops digestion, increases oxygen to blood
Term
FMRI
Definition
assess changes in blood oxygen to areas of the brain
Term
Electrode Method (EEG)
Definition
detect electrical activity of neurons; look at brain waves across events
Term
CT Scans
Definition
multiple x-rays of successive slces of the brain; looks at brain structure
Term
PET scans
Definition
records biochemical changes in the rbain as they occur by injecting radioactive solutions in brain
Term
MRI
Definition
uses magnetic fields and radio frequencies which produce vibrations; forms structural view of the brain
Term
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Definition
stimulates areas of the brain using magnetic pulses to explore the brain functioning/behavior
Term
Sleep Apnia
Narcolepsy
Insomnia
Definition
snoring/sleep attack/can't sleep
Term
Occipital Lobe
Definition
contains the visual cortex
Term
Parietal Lobe
Definition
somatosensory cortex; receives information about senses
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