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40
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
12/19/2017

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Term
Mean
Definition
he arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores.
Term
Mode
Definition
the most frequently occurring score in a distribution; it is the simplest measure of central tendency to determine.
Term
Medians
Definition
the middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it.
Term
why do we use a random sample?
Definition
Since researchers can't study every person in the world that is of interest to them, they need to study a subset of this entire population, also known as a sample. Then, people are picked from this sample "at random" to participate in the study. It is hoped that the random sample will be representative of the entire population. Often researchers use random numbers table to help them pick participants at random
Term
Hindsight bias
Definition
the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (Also known as the I-knew-it-all along phenomenon.)
Term
Independent variable
Definition
the factor being manipulated and tested by the investigator.
Term
Dependent variable
Definition
the factor being measured by the investigator.
Term
Weak correlation
Definition
Coefficient is .1 or .2 or .3
Term
Strong correlation
Definition
Coefficient is .7 or .8 or .9
Term
Experimental group
Definition
The subgroup of the sample that receives the treatment or independent variable
Term
Control group
Definition
The comparison group; the subgroup of the sample that is similar to the experimental group in every way except for the presence of the independent variable
Term
Placebo
Definition
A physical or psychological treatment given to the control group that resembles the treatment given to the experimental group, but that contains no active ingredient
Term
Illusory correlation
Definition
Seeing a correlation when it is not there
Term
Axon Terminal
Definition
Branched end of the axon that contains neurotransmitters
- It sends the neurotransmitters to the receiving neuron's dendrites

Neurotransmitters
Term
corpus callosum
Definition
the fibers that connect the right and left hemispheres, enabling them to communicate
Term
peripheral nervous system
Definition
-all the nerves in your body other than the brain and spinal cord; all nerves not encased in bone
-divided int two categories: somatic and autonomic
Term
parasympathetic nervous system
Definition
-responsible for slowing down the body after a stress response
-carries messages to stress response system that causes body to slow down

Endocrine System
Term
PET Scan
Definition
a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
Term
function of pituitary gland
Definition
-endocrine system's master gland
-influenced by hypothalamus
-regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
Term
heritablity
Definition
the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. the heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied
Term
function of dendrites
Definition
-input fibers that carry electrical signals into a neuron from connected cells.
Term
function of medulla
Definition
heartbeat and breathing
Term
Broca's Area
Definition
in the frontal lobe, in the left hemisphere; directs muscle movements involved in speech
Term
Parietal Lobe
Definition
includes sensory cortex
Term
Cerebellum
Definition
voluntary movement and balance
Term
Temporal Lobe
Definition
auditory areas
Term
Occipital Lobe
Definition
visual areas, receives visual information from the opposite fields
Term
Hippocampus
Definition
part of the limbic system; involved in memory
Term
Association Areas
Definition
parts of the cerebral cortex not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking & speaking
Term
agonists
Definition
mimics or intensifies action of NT(neuro transmister)
Term
antagonists
Definition
opposes or blocks action of NT
Term
what are the 2 main chemical elements in action potential?
Definition
Term
describe the "all or nothing" response of a neuron
Definition
The fact that neurons fire down the complete length of the cell if a sufficient level of excitatory impulses are received

or

A biological law that states an action potential occurs either at full strength or not at all.
Term
sensation
Definition
the raw data of experience; sensory stimulation; example are eyes only register light energy and ears only register wave energy
Term
perception
Definition
the mental process of sorting, identifying, and arranging raw sensory data into meaningful patterns; Ex. how we distinguish between music and crying, how we take light and form a tree
Term
circadian rhythms
Definition
the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle.
Term
absolute thresholds
Definition
the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time
Term
gestalt
Definition
much of perception is shaped by innate factors built ino the brain; "whole"
Term
Signal Detection Theory
Definition
a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus ("signal") amid background stimulation ("noise"). Assumes there is no single absolute threshold and detection depends partly on a person's experience, expectations, motivation, and level of fatigue.
Term
visual stimuli organisation of continuity
Definition
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