Psych Test

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wilhelm wundt

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founder of psychology 1879

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structuralism

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used introspection (people telling about their thoughts and feelings) to understand the structure of the human mind. (wundt and titchener)

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functionalism

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explored how mental and behavioral processes function. how they enable organisms to adapt and survive.

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behaviorism

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the belief that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior as opposed to mental process. (watson and skinner)

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humanistic psychology

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one of the two groups that shot off from behaviorism. it is the belief that people's free will and desire to be good and grow play a big role in their actions. (rogers and maslow)

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cognitive neuroscience

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the second group that shot off from behaviorism. the study of brain activity linked with cognition (perception, thinking, memory, and language)

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basic research

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pure research that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.

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applied research

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scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

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counseling psychology

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assists normal people with everyday issues.

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clinical psychology

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studies and assists people with disorders.

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positive psychology

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the scientific study of human functioning geared toward discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help people thrive

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critical thinking

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thinking that researches information as opposed to just accepting statements.

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theory

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an explanation of organized observations and predictions using a set of principles.

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operational definition

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a definition of research variables using the procedures used to calculate those variables.

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naturalistic observation

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observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations with manipulation.

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independent variable

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the variable that is manipulated in an experimental design. the variable whose effect is being studied.

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confounding variable

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a factor other than the independent variable that may effect the outcome of the experiment.

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dependent variable

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the unmanipulated variable whose outcome may change with the manipulation of the independent variable

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neuron

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a nerve cell

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dendrite

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bushy part of cell, receives messages from other cells

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axon

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passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons muscles and glands

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terminal branches of axon

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forms junctions with other cells

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myelin sheath

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covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses

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neural impulse (action potential)

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an electrical charge that travels down the axon

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threshold

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the level of stimulation required in order to trigger a neural impulse

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synapse

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the junction between the axon and dendrite where messages are passed through. (synaptic gap)

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neurotransmitters

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chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap. they bind to receptor sites on the dendrite, which will influence whether or not that neuron will generate a neural impulse.

types of neurotransmitters: acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin.

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endorphins

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neurotransmitters that are linked to pain control and pleasure.

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nervous system

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the body's speedy electrochemical communication system

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central nervous system (CNS)

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the brain and spinal cord

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peripheral nervous system (PNS)

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the system that connects the body and the CNS

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nerves

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bundles of axons that connect the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs.

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sensory neurons

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neurons that carry information from the body to the brain

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motor neurons

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neurons that carry information from the brain to the body

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interneurons

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neurons within the CNS that communicate internally and intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs

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somatic nervous system

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within the PNS. controls the voluntary movements of the skeletal system

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autonomic nervous system (ANS)

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within the PNS. controls self-regulated action of internal organs and glands.

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sympathetic nervous system

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within the ANS. arouses the body

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parasympathetic nervous system

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within ANS. calms the body

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endocrine system

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the body's slow chemical communication system. a set of glands that secretes hormones into the blood stream.

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hormones

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chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands that travel through the blood stream and affect other tissues

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adrenal gland

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triggers a release of adrenaline

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pituitary gland

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the most influential gland in the endocrine system. under influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland regulates the and controls of other endocrine glands.

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brainstem

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the oldest part and central core of the brain. it begins where the spinal cords swells as it enter the skull. the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions.

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medulla

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base of the brainstem, it controls heartbeat and breathing

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pons

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helps coordinate movement

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thalamus

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the brains sensory router, located on top of the brainstem. it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.

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reticular formation

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a nerve network that travels through the brainstem, controlling the body's arousal. it also helps deliver information within the brain.

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cerebellum

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little brain at the rear of brainstem, functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.

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limbic system

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neural system made up of the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus. it is located below the cerebral hemispheres and is associated with emotions and drives

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amygdala

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linked to emotion

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hypothalamus

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a neural structure lying below the thalamus. it directs severe maintenance activities (e.g eating), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland and is linked to emotion and reward. it helps maintain a homeostatic (stable) life

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cerebral cortex

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the intricate fiber of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres. the body's ultimate control and information system

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frontal lobes

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controls speaking and muscle movement

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parietal lobe

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top back of brain. receives sensory input for touch and body position

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occipital lobe

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bottom back of brain. deals with vision

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temporal lobe

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bottom front. by the temple. deals with hearing

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motor cortex

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rear of frontal lobe. controls voluntary movement.

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sensory cotex

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front of parietal lobe. registers and processes body touch and movement sensation

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association areas

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areas in cerebral cortex that is involved in higher functions like learning, remembering, speaking and thinking.

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plasticity

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the brains ability to change when damaged.

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neurogenesis

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the formation of new neurons

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corpus callosum

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large band of neural fibers that connect the two sides of the brain and carries messages between them

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split brain

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the severing of the corpus callosum through surgery. it separates the two hemispheres

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blind sight

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the condition where a person can visually respond to a stimulus without consciously experiencing it

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selective attention

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the focus of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus

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inattentional blidness

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failing to see visible objects due to attention to something else

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change blindness

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inability to notice change in an enviroment

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circadian rythym

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our body's natural clock

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REM sleep

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rapid eye movement. the part of sleep in which one dreams

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alpha waves

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the slow brain waves of a relaxed awake state

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delta waves

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the large slow brain waves associated with deep sleep

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insomnia

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the inability to fall asleep

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narcolepsy

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uncontrollable sleep attacks

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sleep apnea

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chocking on one's break while asleep

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manifest content

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the remembered story line of a dream (freud)

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latent content

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the underlying meaning of the dream (freud)

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REM rebound

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the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation

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sensation

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the way we receive and represent stimulus energies from our enviroment

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bottom up processing

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analysis that starts with sensory receptors and words up to the brains integration of sensory information

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top down processing

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information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, like when we construct perceptions based on experiences and expectations

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absolute threshold

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the minimum stimulation needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time

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priming

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the activation of certain associations that predispose one's perceptions, memory, or response

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difference theshold

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the minimum difference between two stimuli needed to differentiate it 50% of the time

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webers law

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the principle that in order to perceive a difference, two stimuli need to differentiate by a minimum percentage

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sensory adaption

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diminished sensitivity as a constant stimulus

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retinal disparity

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the greater disparity the farther away the object must be

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classical conditioning

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a type of learning in which one learns to link two stimuli together

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extinction

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the diminishing of a conditioned response

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generalization

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once a response has been taught for a related stimulus to cause a response

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associative learning

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learning that certain events occur together

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operant conditioning

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a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher