PY Exam 1

The neuron must be depolarized to this level (charge) to fire - remember, this is an all-or-none phenomenon

-55mv(aka action potential)

Muscle movement, memory, arousal, attention. relays messages from neurons to muscles, thus enabling movement

Acetylcholine

This approach focuses entirely on consequences, such as rewards and punishments, in order to mold people - that environmental factors alone affect behavior, and that we should restrict ourselves to studying only observable behavior.

Behavioral perspective

Which individual provided early evidence for the left hemisphere's role in speech production?

Broca

This imaging technique, used also as a medical diagnostic tool, provides what is basically an x-ray of the brain (with inferior detail compared with other scanning techniques)

CT/CAT scan

This pioneer of evolutionary psychology is known for natural selection and research in genetic differences.

Charles darwin

In this type of research method, the researcher examines relationships between variables as they exist (no manipulation)

Correlational method

phrenology, the now discredited brain "science"2 that achieved enormous popularity at the beginning of the 19th century through its founder, German neuroanatomist

Franz Joseph Gall

Promotes communication between neurons.an excitatory neurotransmitter, so its main job is to kick neurons into action (make them fire)

Glutamate

This perspective focused more on conscious experiences, even though they are more subjective, and holds that free will and conscious choice are essential aspects of the human experience.

Humanistic perspective

Dr. Thomas is preparing to conduct a research study on individuals with traumatic brain injuries. In order to document the extent of injury, subjects will undergo brain imaging at the start of the study. If Dr. Thomas is interested in documenting structural damage to the brain, which imaging technique should she use for the study?

MRI

creates magnetic field that passes through the brain. computer analyzes electromagnetic response creating cross-sectional images(more superior in detail than CT

MRI

this woman was the first to complete all doctoral requirements in psychology at Harvard, and established a research laboratory examining memory & personality - and was the first female president of the APA

Mary Whiton Calkins

These are the chemical messengers of the nervous system

Neurotransmitters

regulating arousal and sleep. plays an important role in maintaining attention . help prepare the body for stressful situations

Norepinephrine

This is the part of the nervous system that fosters daily processes and builds reserves of energy - the rest & digest function

Parasympathetic nervous system

These brain lobes, located on the sides of the brain, contain the somatosensory cortex that aids in processing sensory information

Parietal lobes

This term describes the state of the neuron where there is a greater concentration of positively charged ions outside the cell, giving the cell a slightly negative charge (-70 mV).

Resting potential

This person is known for the ideas of psychoanalysis and free association

Sigmund Freud

As part of a laboratory experiment in his psychology course, Miguel is observing the activity of a recording electrode on the axon of a neuron. As an action potential occurs, what might Miguel observe?

The electrical charge of the neuron will go from negative to positive before returning to resting potential.

This person opened the 1st psychology lab and used introspection to conduct his research.

Wilhelm Wundt

Known for shifting the focus of psychology to the functions of behavior (functionalism)

William James

While conducting an experiment with a split-brain patient, an image of a screwdriver will be flashed in a split-brain patient's right visual field. Based on research in this area, it is expected that the patient will be:

able to name the object

An image of a dinner fork is flashed in a split-brain patient's left visual field. The patient will be:

able to point with left hand

increase the normal activity of a neurotransmitter

agonists

This almond shaped structure in the limbic system lays an important role in aggression, rage, and fear

amygdala

Decrease the normal activity of a neurotransmitter

antagonists

Drugs or chemicals that block the activity of neurotransmitters, such as caffeine blocking adenosine, are known as this

antagonists

After a brain injury, a class of glial cells called _____ restores the barrier between the brain and blood.

astrocytes

projecting from the cell body is a long, skinny, tube-like structure called an........which sends signals away from the cell body

axon

neuron generally has one axon with branches ending in......-It is through these.......that messages are sent to other neurons

axon terminals

A psychologist who focuses on studying people's observable and measurable actions rather than on sensations, feelings, and consciousness or unconsciousness takes the _____ perspective.

behavioral

A report describes the harrowing experiences of 33 trapped Chilean miners. Rare phenomena such as these may be studied using the _____ method.

case study

Correlational research cannot provide information about _____ but it can provide _____.

causation; a description of a relationship

In a small preliminary study of sixth graders, Britton et al. (2014) found that replacing detention with mindful meditation has resulted in better behavior. The results of this study illustrate which goal of psychology?

change

This approach is interested in studying thinking, learning, memory, attention

cognitive perspective

type of extraneous variable that changes in sync with the independent variable

confounding variable

tiny, branchlike fibers that receive messages from sending neurons

dendrites

outcome of manipulation of the independent variable

dependent variable

Those neurotransmitters that are not reabsorbed may drift out of the synapse through a process called

diffusion

Coordination of muscle movement, attention, pleasure

dopamine

a group of naturally produced opioids that regulate the secretion of other neurotransmitters

endorphins

If enough sending neurons signal the receiving neuron to pass along the message, their combined signal becomes.....and the neurons fire

excitatory

unforeseen factor that could interfere with the outcome

extraneous/third variable

Inhibits communication between neurons. inhibitory (puts the brakes on firing)

gaba

The cell body of a neuron contains the standard components found in most human cells, including structures that nourish the cell and a nucleus containing

genetic material

Neurons transmit information up and down the body, and they need a little support and nurturing to get the job done-hold neurons together and maintain the structure of the nervous system

glial cells

Positive psychology has its roots in the _____ perspective.

humanistic

Part of the endocrine system, this brain structure helps regulate many bodily functions, including hunger, thirst, sleep cycles, body temperature, etc

hypothalamus

reaserchers manipulate this one

independent variable

Before collecting data, a researcher must collect this from a participant, where participants must be given enough information to make a decision about participation.

informed consent

These are the most common types of neurons in the body (and are very important for reflexes)

interneurons

The neuron is encased in a membrane that....., allowing only some of the ions to pass in and out of its channels

is selectively permeable

The notion that specific brain regions are in charge of certain activities is known as

localization of function

Many axons are surrounded by a........a fatty substance that insulates the activities occurring within, speeding the transmission of neural messages down the axon

myelin sheath

The firing of a neuron is facilitated by the

myelin sheath

specialized cells that communicate with each other through electrical and chemical signals. the building blocks of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves

neurons

Following surgery, Christina's brain reorganized itself and established new connections. Christina's brain demonstrated:

neuroplasticity

Dr. Villatte is overseeing a naturalistic observation study of children's aggression. He notices that male and female research assistants vary in how they rate the aggressiveness of girls' behaviors. Dr. Villatte suspects the presence of _____ bias.

observer

A placebo is intended to minimize _____ expectations; a double-blind procedure is intended to minimize _____ expectations.

participant; experimenter

Judging the topography of a person's head was a core part of

phrenology

The difference between the number of negative and positive charges being held back by the membrane produces

potential energy

Antwon is an industrial/organizational psychologist who advises a petroleum company on selecting offshore oil rig workers who will most likely comply with safety regulations. Antwon is pursuing psychology's goal of:

prediction

an activity that resembles science but is not supported by objective evidence

pseudoscience

This approach is interested in studying the unconscious mind and how it might influence our behavior

psychoanalytic perspective

A great method of controlling for confounds, where all participants have an equal chance at being placed into a specific group (control or experimental group, for instance)

random assignment

The majority of these neurotransmitters drift across the synaptic gap and come into contact with

receptor sites

The process in which a stimulus causes an involuntary response is known as:

reflex arc

Neurotransmitters that latch onto receptors may be reabsorbed by the sending axon terminal in a process known as

reuptake

This is the term for a subset of individuals from a population

sample

Mood, appetite, aggression, sleep

serotonin

This perspective examines how behaviors and attitudes are shaped, and often focuses on the influences of factors like age, ethnicity, gender, lifestyle, among others

sociocultural perspective

_____ was an early school of psychology that used introspection to determine the most basic elements of the mind.

structuralism

where the axon terminal of a sending neuron meets a dendrite of a neuron or other type of cell receiving its signal

synapse

separates where the axon terminal of a sending neuron meets a dendrite of a neuron or other type of cell receiving its signal

synaptic gap

The _____ may be considered the brain's sensory relay station.

thalamus

In a recent study Leiserowitz et al. (2014) asked half of their participants about harm to their families from "global warming" and the other half about harm to their families from "climate change." Their results illustrated that:

the wording of the question influences how people respond

This is a general framework for a concept or set of concepts - it accounts for relationships among events/findings to make them more understandable and predictable

theory

Christina is suffering from Rasmussen's encephalitis. In addition to causing seizures this disease also causes problems with:

thinking