Psych

Front 1

Define psychology and explain why it is more than just "common sense".

Back 1

Definition: The scientific study of the human mind and mental states, and of human and animal behavior.
It explains a behavior through data or information obtained through a series of properly planned experiments while common sense explains it through observation without any proof.

Front 2

Summarize the steps of the scientific method.

Back 2

o Ask a Question
o Design a study
o Analyze Your Data & Draw a Conclusion
o Report Your Results

Front 3

List the 4 goals of psychology.

Back 3

Describe, explain, predict and change behavior

Front 4

Distinguish between dependent and independent variables.

Back 4

This is also called an experimental variable. It is the variable being manipulated in the experiment in order to show the effect to the other variable. This is also called the response variable. It is the variable being observed in the experiment.

Front 5

Control groups

Back 5

They are not manipulated. They are the foundational point for which to compare the experimental group against.

Front 6

Experimental groups

Back 6

The group being treated or otherwise manipulated for the sake of the experiment.

Front 7

Placebo effect

Back 7

The beneficial effect in a patient following a particular treatment that arises from the patient's expectations concerning the treatment rather than from the treatment itself.

Front 8

Experimenter bias

Back 8

a process where the scientists performing the research influence the results, in order to portray a certain outcome.

Front 9

Explain what a correlation coefficient is and what it measures.

Back 9

A correlation is a number between -1 and +1 that measures the degree of association between two variables. A positive value for the correlation implies a positive association. A negative value for the correlation implies a negative or inverse association.

Front 10

Mean

Back 10

are the sum of the numbers divided by the number of numbers. This is also known as average and commonly being used by the psychologist to get the norms in setting standards

Front 11

Median

Back 11

is the midpoint of a distribution: the same number of scores are above; as below it.

Front 12

Mode

Back 12

is the most frequently occurring value

Front 13

Explain statistical variability and why it is important

Back 13

• It gives you an idea of the variability of your data. If you do an experiment in science lab, for example, and you do the experiment 5 times, and every time, you get the measurement "5", the average is 5, and there is no dispersion. Now imagine you do the experiment, but get the answers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9. The average is still 5, but look at that spread. How confident are you NOW about the measurement?

Front 14

Explain the functions of the 3 basic components of a neuron.

Back 14

The cell body, the axon, and the dendrites
The main parts are Cell Body, Axon (message sender), Myelin Sheath (covering the Axon to increase communication speed), Dendrites (message receivers), and the Synaptic Gap (neurotransmitters fill this gap to send message to adjacent Neuron.

Front 15

Explain the significance of the myelin sheath

Back 15

it's not only an insulator
but it increase the speed of conduction

Front 16

Explain how information is communicated between neurons.

Back 16

Once an electrical impulse has reached the end of an axon, the information must be transmitted across the synaptic gap to the dendrites of the adjoining neuron. In some cases, the electrical signal can almost instantaneously bridge the gap between the neurons and continue along its path.

Front 17

Distinguish between agonists, antagonists, and reuptake blockers.

Back 17

Agonists often mimic the action of a naturally occurring substance. Whereas an agonist causes an action, an antagonist blocks the action of the agonist
A reuptake (or recycled) inhibitor (RI) is also known as a transporter blocker. Neurotransmitters send messages then go back to Axon. So using this causes them to be unable to return to the axon, which extends the life. They keep sending the message. Example: Antidepressant medication

Front 18

Identify the major divisions of the nervous system

Back 18

• The central nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.
• The peripheral nervous system. The PNS is subdivided into:
o the autonomic nervous system (involuntary control of internal organs, blood vessels, smooth and cardiac muscles), consisting of the sympathetic NS and parasympathetic NS.
o The somatic nervous system (voluntary control of skin, bones, joints, and skeletal muscle).

Front 19

Name and describe the functions of the 3 structures that make up the brainstem and explain the role of the cerebellum.

Back 19

Midbrain: processing auditory and visual sensory information
Pons: hindbrain structure that connects the medulla to the 2 cerebellum; helps coordinate movement on each side of the body.
Medulla: hindbrain structure that controls vital life functions such as breathing and circulation.
Cerebellum: control of balance, muscle tone, and coordinated muscle movement.

Front 20

Identify the 4 lobes and the location and function of each of the major centers of the cerebral cortex.

Back 20

The frontal lobe is located at the front of the brain and is associated with reasoning, motor skills, higher lever cognition, and expressive language.
The parietal lobe is located in the middle section of the brain and is associated with processing tactile sensory information such as pressure, touch, and pain.
The temporal lobe is located on the bottom section of the brain. This lobe is also the location of the primary auditory cortex, which is important for interpreting sounds and the language we hear. The hippocampus is also located in the temporal lobe, which is why this portion of the brain is also heavily associated with the formation of memories.
The occipital lobe is located at the back portion of the brain and is associated with interpreting visual stimuli and information.

Front 21

Explain why a stroke is so serious and what must occur in the brain for there to be some recovery from brain damage.

Back 21

The brain is deprived of Oxygen or blood; there may be a loss of motor function, speech and comprehension skills.
Functional plasticity is the brain’s ability to shift functions from damaged to undamaged brain areas.