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The scientific study of behaviour and mental processes in humans. |
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Any externally expressed action made by a living person (or animal) that can be directly observed. |
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Person (subjective) thoughts, feelings and ways of thinking and feeling that cannot be directly observed. |
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A research method used to test a hypothesis under controlled conditions in order to measure the effects. of an independent variable(s) on a dependent variable(s). |
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Independent Variable (IV) |
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The variable in an experiment that is systematically, changed or varied by the experimenter in order to measure its effect on the dependent variable. |
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A variable in an experiment that is observed and measured and is expected to change as a result of the manipulation of the independent variable. (Participant's response) |
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The condition in an experiment in which the independent variable is present; may also be used to refer collectively to all the conditions of the experiment. |
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The condition in an experiment in which the independent variable is absent or the Participants are treated differently to those in the experimental group/condition; it is a standard of comparison for the experimental condition. |
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A research hypothesis that states how the variables being studied will be observed, manipulated and measured; also refers to the population from which the sample has been selected. |
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Any variable other than the independent variable that can cause a change in the dependent variable and therefore affect the results of the experiment in an unwanted way. |
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A variable other than the independent variable that has an unwanted effect on the dependent variable, making it impossible to determine which of the variables produce the change in the dependent variable. |
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Individual Participant Differences |
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The differences in personal characteristics and experiences of the individual participants in an experiment; also called participant variables. |
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When a participant's response is changed by their belief that they are receiving some kind of experimental treatment. |
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The change in a participant's response because of the researcher's expectations, biases or actions, rather than the effect of the independent variable. |
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When performance in an investigation is influenced by the specific order in which the conditions, treatments or tasks are presented to or experienced by participants. |
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The influence that an experimental treatment or task has on performance in a treatment or task that follows it. |
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In laboratory-based research, the lack of realism and differences to real-life settings. |
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The process of selecting participants for a research study. |
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A group that is a subset or portion of a larger group chosen to be studied for research purposes. |
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The larger group from which a sample is drawn for a research study. |
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Selecting participants who are readily available without any attempt to make the sample representative of a population (i.e. opportunity sampling) |
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A procedure for selecting a group of participants from the population of research interest that ensures each member of the targeted population has an equal chance of being chosen to be part of the sample. |
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A research sample in which everyone in the target population does not have an equal chance of being selected. |
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A sampling procedure that involves dividing the population to be sampled into distinct groups (strata) then selecting a separate sample from each stratum in the same proportions that they occur in the population of research interest. |
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Stratified-random Sampling |
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A sampling procedure that involves identifying all the people with each subgroup (stratum) of research interest, then randomly selecting samples of proportionate size from within each subgroup. |
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The group of participants in an experiment who are exposed to the independent variable. |
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The group of participants in an experiment who are not exposed to the independent variable; it provides a standard against which the performance of the experimental group can be compared in order to determine the effects of the independent variable on the dependent variable. |
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A procedure for assigning participants to various groups in an experiment which ensures that each person has an equal chance of being selected for any of the groups and that different groups are equivalent in important characteristics of participants. |
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Arranging the order that the conditions of a repeated-measures experiment are experienced by participants so that each condition occurs equally often in each position; commonly used to control order effects. |
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A procedure in an experiment to ensure participants are not aware of the group (or condition) to which they have been allocated and therefore the experimental treatment (the IV). |
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A procedure in an experiment to ensure that the participants and the researcher directly involved with the participants are unaware of the conditions to which the participants have been allocated. |
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Standardised Instructions |
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Definition
Identical instructions (directions) given to participants, as relevant to the specific group (condition) to which they have been assigned. |
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Use and administration of the same procedures for participants, as relevant to the specific group (condition) to which they have been assigned. |
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An experimental research design that uses the same participants in both the experimental and control groups (or conditions); (aka within-participants or within-subjects design). |
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Matched-participants Design |
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Definition
An experimental research design in which pairs of participants who are very similar in a characteristic(s) that can influence the dependent variable, are selected and then allocating to a different group (the experimental or control group); aka matched subjects or matched groups design. |
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Independent-groups Design |
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An experimental research design in which each participant is randomly allocated to one of two or more entirely separate (independent) groups; aka between-participants or between-subjects design. |
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Information about the qualities or characteristics of what is being studied. |
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Information about the quantities or amounts of what is being studied. |
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An in-depth investigation of behaviour or event in an individual, a small group or a situation. |
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Any means by which a phenomenon, such as spoken or written responses, test scores and brain wave recordings. |
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A research method involving collection of data by carefully watching and recording behaviour as it occurs. |
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An observational study in which a researcher views a natural occurring behaviour in an inconspicuous manner so that their presence (or procedures) does not influence the behaviour being observed. |
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Non-participant Observation |
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Definition
When a researcher does not participate in or tries to conceal their presence during an observational study. |
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When a researcher participates in an observational study and attempts to be mistaken by the participants as being part of the group or situation being observed. |
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A participant's written or spoken responses to questions, statements or instructions presented by the researcher. |
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A set of written questions designed to draw out self-report information from participants on a research topic. |
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A data-collection procedure used to obtain self-report information on a research topic. |
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Statistics used to analyse, organise, summarise and describe important features of data so that they can be more easily interpreted and communicated. |
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Mathematical procedures used to judge whether the results of a sample would also occur in the population form which the sample was drawn; also used to estimate how likely it is that the results obtained for a study occurred by chance. |
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Measure of Central Tendency |
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Definition
A score which indicated the 'central' or 'average' value in a set of scores. |
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A score that is the arithmetical average of all the individual scores (or measures) in a set of scores. |
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The middle score (or mid-point) in a set of scores. |
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The most frequently occurring score in a set of scores. |
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An indication of how likely it is that the results obtained from research could have occurred by chance. |
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A decision or judgment about the meaning of the results of a research investigation. |
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A decision or judgment about how widely the findings of a study can be applied. |
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In research, the consistency, dependability and stability of results obtained from the study. |
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The interrelatedness of items in a psychological test for measuring the same ability or trait. |
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The extent to which a characteristic or behaviour relates to that being assessed or investigated. |
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The soundness of the research design and procedures used to conduct the study. |
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How well research findings can be generalised or applied beyond the specific participants and settings used in a study. |
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Standards that guide individuals to identify good, desirable or acceptable conduct. |
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Spontaneous electrical activity emitted by the brain; four types of brain waves associated with different states of consciousness or activities are alpha, beta theta and delta waves. |
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Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) |
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Definition
A physiological response that indicates the change in the resistance of the skin to an electrical current (electrical conductivity of the skin) |
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Altered State of Conscious (ASC) |
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Definition
A condition of awareness that is distinctly different from normal waking consciousness in terms of awareness and experience, and the quality or intensity of sensations, perceptions, thoughts, feelings and memories. |
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When information-processing involves little conscious awareness and mental effort, and minimal attention, and does not interfere with the performance of other activities. |
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When information-processing involves conscious alert awareness and mental effort focuses on achieving a particular goal. |
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Electroencephalograph (EEG) |
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Definition
A device that detects, amplifies, and records electrical activity of the brain. |
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Definition
An altered state of consciousness in which attention shifts from external stimuli to internal thoughts, feelings and imagined scenarios. |
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The internal attempt to bring about a deeply relaxed state. |
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A concept used to describe specific psychological activity or pattern of activity that is believed to occur or exist but cannot be directly observed or measured. |
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A concentration of mental activity that involves focusing on specific stimuli and ignoring other stimuli. |
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Normal Waking Consciousness |
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Definition
State of consciousness associated with being awake or aware of one's thoughts, memories, feelings and sensations from the outside world. |
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Definition
The awareness of objects and events in the external world and of our own existence and mental experiences at any given moment. |
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Definition
A regularly occurring altered state of consciousness that typically occurs spontaneously and is primarily characterised by a loss of conscious awareness. |
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A sleep problem that disrupts the normal NREM-REM sleep cycle; types of disorder include insomnia, hypersomnia and sleep apnea. |
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An intensive study of a sleeping person involving simultaneous monitoring and recoding of various physiological responses during sleep. |
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Definition
A device that detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity of muscles. |
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Definition
A device that measures eye movements or eye positions by detecting, amplifying and recording electrical activity in eye muscles that control eye movements |
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Definition
A record of an individual’s sleep and waking time activities over a period of time; also known as a sleep log. |
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Non-rapid-eye-movement sleep; has four stages that constitutes about 80% our sleep and can be distinguished by characteristic brain-wave patterns. |
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Definition
In relation to brain waves, the number of brain waves per second. |
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Definition
In relation to brain waves, the intensity of brain waves as shown by the size of the peaks and troughs of the brain-wave pattern from a baseline of zero activity. |
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Rapid-eye-movement sleep during which the eyeballs rapidly move beneath closed eyelids; constitutes about 20% of our sleep and is the period in which most dreaming occurs. |
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Definition
Naturally occurring bodily processes and functions that follow a predictable 24- hour cycle of changes (e.g. the sleep- wake cycle, core body temperature and blood sugar level). |
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In adolescence, a shift forward of the normal onset time of the sleep period, resulting in sleepiness at a later time. |
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Definition
Accumulated nightly sleep loss that is owed and needs to be made up. |
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An explanation of the purpose of sleep that proposes that sleep provides ‘time out’ to recover from and repair the wear and tear on the body caused during waking time. |
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Following a period of lost REM sleep, spending more time than usual in REM sleep when next asleep. |
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An explanation of the purpose of sleep that proposes that sleep evolved to enhance survival by protecting an organism, making it inactive during the part of the day when it is most dangerous to move about. |
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Definition
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A very short period of drowsiness or sleeping that occurs while a person appears to be awake. |
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Central Nervous System (CNS) |
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Definition
A major branch or subdivision of the human nervous system comprising the brain and spinal cord. |
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Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) |
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Definition
All parts of the nervous system that lie outside the central nervous system; links the central nervous system to all other parts of the body. |
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Definition
The coiled outer layer of the brain’s cerebral hemispheres that is involved with information-processing activities such as perception, language, learning, memory, thinking and problem-solving, as well as the planning and control of voluntary bodily movements. |
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Definition
The two almost-symmetrical ‘halves’ of the brain called the left and the right cerebral hemispheres; separated by a groove running from the front to the back of the brain, but connected at several points by the corpus callosum and other smaller nerve strands. |
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Definition
A band of nerve tissue that connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres enabling the exchange of information and coordination of their activities. |
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Definition
Four anatomical areas of the brain, or divisions of each cerebral hemisphere, called the frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal lobes; each lobe is associated with different sensory and motor functions and more complex mental functions. |
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A general term used to describe parts of the cerebral hemispheres other than those that have specialised functions. |
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A part of the cerebral cortex that has a specialised sensory function; different sensory areas are located in different lobes (e.g. the primary visual cortex is located in the occipital lobe) |
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Definition
The largest of the four lobes in each cerebral hemisphere, which occupies the upper forward half of each hemisphere and it involved in her mental abilities. |
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Definition
A strip of neural tissue at the rear of the frontal lobe of each cerebral hemisphere that is specifically involved in controlling voluntary bodily movements through its control of skeletal muscles. |
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Definition
A specialised area of the brain located in the left frontal lobe that coordinates movement of muscles involved in speech production and supplies this information to appropriate motor cortex areas. |
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Definition
A language disorder resulting from damage to Broca’s area and involving production of speech that consists of very short sentences comprising mostly verbs and nouns. |
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Definition
One of the four lobes in each cerebral hemisphere of the brain; receives and processes sensory information from the body and other sensory areas in the brain; also involved in spatial perception and memory. |
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Primary Somatosensory Cortex |
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Definition
A strip of neural tissue in the parietal lobe of each cerebral hemisphere that receives and processes information from the skin and body, enabling perception of bodily sensations, including touch, pressure and temperature, and information about muscle movement and the position of limbs. |
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Definition
One of the four lobes in each cerebral hemisphere of the brain; primarily involved in vision. |
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Definition
Neural tissue in the occipital lobe that receives and processes visual information from the eyes. |
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Definition
One of the four lobes in each cerebral hemisphere of the brain; primarily involved with hearing, but also plays an important role in memory and other mental processes. |
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Definition
A strip of neural tissue at the rear of the frontal lobe of each cerebral hemisphere that is specifically involved in controlling voluntary bodily movements through its control of skeletal muscles. |
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Definition
A specialised area usually in the left temporal lobe that is involved with comprehending the sounds of human speech. |
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Definition
A speech impairment resulting from damage to Wernicke’s area and involving difficulties with speech comprehension and in producing fluent speech. |
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Hemispheric Specialisation |
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Definition
The specialisation and dominance or greater control of certain functions by each the left and right cerebral hemisphere. |
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Definition
An area in the lowest part of the brain where the spinal cord enters the skull. |
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Definition
Part of the reticular activating system in the brain that runs through the centre of the brainstem and upward through the midbrain to the forebrain; involved in sleep and arousal. |
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Reticular Activating System (RAS) |
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Definition
A network of neurons that extends in many directions from the reticular formation to different parts of the brain and to the spinal cord; involved in maintaining and regulating cortical arousal. |
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Definition
A brain structure that filters information from the sense and transmits the information to the cerebral cortex; receives inputs form all the major sense I (except smell); it also receives information from the reticular formation about state arousal, therefore influencing wakefulness and level of alertness. |
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Definition
A part of the central nervous system that connects the brain to other parts of the body through the peripheral nervous system; major functions are to transmit sensory information to and motor information from the brain. |
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Definition
The part of a neuron that transmits information from the neuron to other neurons or to the cells in muscles or glands. |
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Definition
Thin extension of a neuron that looks like a ‘branch’ and is specialised to receive information from other neurons. |
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Definition
A specialised nerve cell that detects and sends messages from sense organs and sense receptor sites to higher brain centres via the spinal cord. |
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Definition
A neuron that transmits information within the CNS and interconnects messages from sensory and motor neurons |
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Definition
A specialised neuron that carries messages away from the central nervous system towards the muscles, organs and glands, thereby enabling bodily movements, and activating internal organs and glandular secretions. |
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Definition
A term that collectively describes language disorders, but often used more specifically to refer to a language disorder apparent in speech (comprehension or production), writing or reading produced by injury to brain areas specialised for these functions. |
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Definition
An attentional disorder caused by damage to areas of the parietal lobe, usually in the right hemisphere, and characterised by behaviour indicating a failure to notice anything either on the left or right side of the body and external environment. |
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Definition
Surgical cutting of the corpus callosum and sometimes other connecting nerves to separate the two cerebral hemispheres. |
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Definition
The mental process of organising and interpreting information from the sense into meaningful objects and events. |
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An irregularity in perception, usually involving an inconsistency between the perceptual experience and physical reality. |
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Definition
The perceptual illusion of movement of a physically stationary visual stimulus following exposure to visual motion; the stationary stimulus appears to move in the opposite direction to the original (physically moving) stimulus. |
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Definition
The difficulty observers have in noticing a large change in a visual scene. |
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A failure to notice something in a scene when the same scene continually remains in sight and there is not reliance on memory. |
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Definition
A perceptual experience in which stimulation of one sense produces additional unusual experiences in another sense. |
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Definition
A brain-scanning technique that captures detailed images of the brain. |
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Definition
A brain-scanning technique that captures images of the brain ‘at work’ (as well as brain structure). |
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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) |
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Definition
A direct brain-stimulation technique that delivers a magnetic pulse through the skull and temporarily activates or disrupts the activity of neurons in a specific area of the cerebral cortex |
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Definition
A direct brain-stimulation technique using the transcranial magnetic stimulation procedure for repeated delivery of a magnetic pulse; see transcranial magnetic stimulation. |
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Computerised Axial Tomography (CAT) |
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Definition
A neuroimaging technique that produces a computer-enhanced image of a cross-section of the brain from X-rays taken from different angles that is primarily used to study brain structure; the image is called a computerised tomogram scan (CT scan) or computerised axial tomogram scan (CAT scan). |
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) |
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Definition
A neuroimaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to vibrate atoms in the brain’s neurons to produces a detailed image of the brain (or body) |
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Positron Emission Tomography (PET) |
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Definition
A neuromimaging technique that provides computer-generated images of the ‘working’ brain (function) by tracking blood flow (through glucose used by active neurons); also provides images of structure. |
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Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) |
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Definition
A neuroimaging technique that provides computer-generated images of the ‘working’ brain (function) by tracking blood flow (through glucose use by active neurons); it is like PET but uses a longer-lasting radioactive tracer; also provides images of structure. |
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Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) |
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Definition
A neuroimaging technique that provides computer-generated images of the ‘working’ brain (function) by detecting changes in oxygen levels in the blood flowing through the brain; based on standard MRI. |
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Definition
Storage and retrieval of information acquired through learning. |
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Definition
The process of converting information into a useable form that can be stored and represented in memory. |
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Definition
The process of locating and recovering stored information from memory so that we are consciously aware of it. |
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Term
Atkinson-Shiffrin multi-store model |
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Definition
A model that represents memory as consisting of three separate components called the sensory register, the short-term store and the long-term store, and distinguishes between the structural features and control processes of memory. |
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Term
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Definition
In the Atkinson-Shiffrin multi-store model, a built-in, fixed feature of memory that does not vary from one situation to another. |
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Term
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Definition
In the Atkinson-Shiffrin multi-store model, an activity that is consciously performed to assist the memory process, such as attention and maintenance rehearsal. |
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Definition
The entry point of memory in which the stimuli that bombard the senses are retained in their original sensory form for a very brief time. |
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Definition
Visual sensory memory that stores visual images in their original sensory form for between 0.2 and 0.4 seconds. |
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Definition
Auditory sensory memory that stores sounds in their original sensory form for up to three or four seconds. |
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Term
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Definition
A memory system or sub-system(s) with limited storage capacity and duration in which information is lost rapidly unless it is rehearsed; it is a mental ‘workbench’ that allows us to manipulate information entering from sensory memory or retrieved from long-term memory; also called working memory. |
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Term
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Definition
A sub-system of memory in which information we are consciously aware of is actively ‘worked on’; information from sensory memory is processed here and information is retrieved from long-term memory to be used in working memory; also called short-term memory. |
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Term
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Definition
The grouping of bits of separate information into a larger unit that can be remembered as a single unit. |
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Definition
The process of actively manipulating information so that it can be retained in memory. |
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Definition
Repetition of information so that it can be kept in short-term (or working) memory for longer than the usual maximum of about 18 seconds. |
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Definition
The process of linking new information in a meaningful way with information already stored in memory or with other new information to aid its storage and retrieval form long-term memory. |
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Definition
A form of elaborative rehearsal in which new information to be remembered is linked to personal experiences and situations to enhance encoding and aid retention. |
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Term
Craik and Lockhart’s levels of processing framework |
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Definition
A conceptual description of memory that emphasises that the depth at which information is processed during learning determines how well it is stored; levels of processing range from very shallow to very deep. |
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Term
Baddeley and Hitch’s model of working memory |
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Definition
A multi-component model of working memory that describes its structure and function in terms of three separate but interacting components called the phonological loop, the visuo-spatial sketchpad and the central executive; a fourth component called the episodic buffer was added later by Baddeley. |
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Definition
A component of Baddeley and Hitch’s model of working memory that stores a limited number of speed-like sounds for a short period of time. |
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Definition
A component of Baddeley and Hitch’s model of working memory that temporarily stores a limited amount of visual and spatial information for a brief time. |
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Definition
In Baddeley and Hitch’s model, the working component of working memory that controls attention, integrates information and coordinates the flow of information between the working memory system and long-term memory. |
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Definition
A component of Baddeley and Hitch’s model of working memory (added in 2000) that enables all its components to interact with long-term memory |
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Definition
The relatively permanent memory system that holds vast amounts of information for a long period of time. |
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Definition
The long term memory of skills and thought processes for how to do something’ also called implicit memory. |
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Term
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Definition
The long-term memory system for specific facts and events that can be brought consciously to mind and explicitly ‘declared’; its two sub-types are called episodic memory and semantic memory. |
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Definition
A declarative long-term memory system that stores information about specific events or personal experiences. |
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Definition
A declarative (explicit) long-term memory system that stores information about the world. |
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Definition
A description of the organisation of information in long-term memory in terms of overlapping networks (grids) of interconnected concepts (nodes); activating one node during retrieval increases the likelihood that associated nodes become activated. |
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Definition
A research finding that the free recall of items in a list is best for items at the end of the list, then the beginning, and worst for items in the middle of the list. |
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Definition
The serial position effect of superior recall for items at the beginning of a list. |
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Definition
The serial position effect of superior recall for items at the end of a list. |
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Definition
A tubular curved structure in the lower region of the temporal lobe of each hemisphere; believed to play an important role in memory. |
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Definition
The inner surface area towards the middle of the temporal lobe that includes the hippocampus, the amygdale and other cortical tissue. |
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Definition
The proposal that structural changes to neurons in the brain occur after learning takes place as information is encoded from short-term to long-term memory. |
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Definition
Any brain damage that impairs the normal functioning of the brain, either temporarily or permanently. |
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Neurodegenerative disease |
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Definition
A disease characterised by a progressive decline in the structure, activity and function of brain tissue. |
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Definition
Loss of memory, either partial or complete, temporary or permanent |
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Loss of memory only for information or events occurring after the trauma that causes amnesia. |
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A neurodegenerative disease involving severe memory disorders associated with damage to brain structures and areas involved with memory; occurs mainly in individuals who are long-term alcoholics. |
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Definition
Loss of memory only for information or events occurring before the trauma that caused the amnesia. |
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Definition
A general term for a variety of symptoms of a large group of illnesses or neurodegenerative diseases that cause a progressive decline in mental functioning. |
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A neurodegenerative disease involving the gradual widespread degeneration of brain neurons, causing increasingly severe memory loss and gradual deterioration of mental abilities, personal skills and behaviour. |
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Definition
The inability to retrieve previously stored information. |
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A graph showing a characteristic pattern (rate and amount) of forgetting that occurs over time for a wide variety of materials under different conditions. |
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Definition
A measure of memory that involves reproducing information that has been stored in memory with few cues to assist retrieval. |
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Definition
A method of measuring the amount of information retained in memory; three measures are recall, recognition and relearning. |
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Definition
Reproducing information from memory in any order, without the assistance of cues. |
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Definition
Reproducing information from memory by using a prompt to assist retrieval. |
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Definition
A measure of memory based on learning information again that has been previously learned and stored in LTM. |
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Definition
A stimulus that assists the process of locating and retrieving information stored in memory. |
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Definition
An explanation of forgetting due to the lack of or failure to use the right cue to retrieve information stored in memory; the information is not lost forever but it simply cannot be retrieved at that moment. |
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Definition
The feeling of being aware of knowing something and being confident that it will be remembered, but unable to retrieve the information at that point in time. |
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Definition
An explanation that proposes that forgetting in long-term memory occurs because other memories interfere with retrieval of what you are trying to recall, particularly if the other memories are similar to the one you are trying to remember. |
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Definition
When new information interferes with the ability to remember old information. |
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Definition
When information learned previously interferes with the ability to remember new information. |
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Definition
When forgetting in long-term memory arises from a strong motive or desire to forget, usually because the experience is too disturbing or upsetting to remember. |
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An unconscious process (defence mechanism) through which an individual blocks a memory of an event or experience from entering conscious awareness because of the anxiety associated with recall; said to be a type of motivated forgetting. |
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Definition
A type of motivated forgetting in which individuals actively keep a memory out of conscious awareness by choosing not to attend to or think about it. |
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Definition
An explanation of forgetting based on the assumption that when something new is learned, a memory trace or neural imprint of the experience that contains the stored information is formed in the brain; the trace gradually fades over time through disuse unless it is reactivated by being used. |
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A question that is phrased in such a way as to suggest what answer is desired or to lead to the desired answer. |
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A cue for memory retrieval based on environmental factors in the specific situation in which a memory was formed. |
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A cue for memory retrieval based on an individual’s internal physiological and/or psychological state at the time the memory was formed. |
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A technique for enhancing or improving memory. |
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A mnemonic device that involves composing a pronounceable word from the first letters of a sequence of words to be remembered. |
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Definition
A mnemonic device that involves making verbal associations for items to be remembered by constructing phrases containing words that begin with the first letters of the information to be remembered. |
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Definition
A mnemonic device that involves memorising a rhyme that includes mental pegs on which you ‘hang’ the material to be remembered. |
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Definition
A mnemonic device that uses a well-learned sequence of locations as a series of cues for the information to be remembered. |
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