Psych 100 Exam 1
Description, Explanation, Prediction, Control
4 Major Goals of Psychology
Psychology is: Empirical, Theoretically Diverse, Evolves in a Sociohistorical Context, Behavior is Determined by Multipal Causes, Behavior is Shaped by Cultural Heritage, Heredity and Environment Jointly Influence Behavior, and People's Experience of the World is Highly Subjective
7 Key Themes Related to Psychology
Biological Psychology
A branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior (genes)
Psychiatrist
A medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders; can prescribe medication
Reuptake
A neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron
Humanism
A philosophy in which interests and values of human beings are of primary importance
Clinical Psychologist
A psychologist trained to deal with serious mental illness; they do psychological testing, psychotherapy, and conduct research
Counseling Psychologist
A psychologist who usually helps people deal with problems of living
Functionalism
A school of psychology that focused on how mental and behavioral processes function - how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish.
Psychoanalysis
A set of techniques for exploring underlying motives and a method of treating various mental disorders
Hypothesis
A specific prediction to be tested; a theory that has not yet been confirmed
Signal Detection Theory
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. (Myers Psychology 8e p. 199)
Sensory Neuron
Afferent neurons that carry messages from sense organs (spinal cord or brain)
Amygdala
Almond shaped structure involved in emotion and memory
Visual Cortex
An area at the back of the brain that interprets signals from the eyes, makes sense of what we see
Structuralism
An early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the elemental structure of the human mind
Theory
An explanation using an integrated set of principles and the scientific method that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events
Somatosensory Cortex
Area of neurons running down the front of the parietal lobes responsible for processing information from the skin and internal body receptors for touch, temperature, body position, and possibly taste
Association Areas
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
Interneuron
Association neurons that carry messages from one neuron to another
Nerves
Bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.
Observe, Background Research, Define Terms, Form Hypothesis, Design the Study, Collect Data, Analyze Data, Report Findings, Form New Hypothesis
Steps in the Scientific Method
Terminal Buttons
Contain neurotransmitters
Peripheral Nervous System
Contains all the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord
Hindbrain
Contains the cerebellum, medulla, and pons
Limbic System
Contains the hypothalamus, thalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus
Central Nervous System
Contains the spinal cord, brain, and cerebrospinal fluid
Independent Variable
Controlled by the experimenter to see its impact on another variable
Hypothalamus
Controls homeostasis - hunger, thirst, sex, sleep; temperature; hormones; motivation; and emotional drives
Motor Neuron
Efferent neurons that carry messages from the spinal cord or brain (muscles and glands)
Wernicke's Aphasia
Individuals may speak in long meaningless sentences, add unnecessary words, and create new "words"; have difficulty understanding what they hear - auditory deficit
Midbrain
Integrates sensory processes and includes the superior colliculus, inferior colliculus, and substantia nigra
Correlational Study
Investigates the relationship between two or more variables
Behaviorism
John B. Watson contributed to this psychological perspective
Forebrain
Largest structure in the brain that contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum
Temporal Lobe
Lobe that controls auditory processing
Occipital Lobe
Lobe that controls visual processing
Frontal Lobe
Lobe that directs thought processes; reasoning decision making
Parietal Lobe
Love that controls sense of touch
Broca's Aphasia
May omit small words; problem with production of speech, able to understand language to varying degrees.
Empirical
Method of study/research based on direct observation rather than on speculation, traditional beliefs, or common sense
Efferent Neurons
Motor neurons that carry messages from the spinal cord or brain
Iris
Muscular diaphragm that controls the size of the pupil
Resting Potential
Na+ cannot enter the cell. Has a (-) charge
Autonomic Nervous System
Nerves that connect to the heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles and glands. Performs unconsciously controlled actions
Somatic Nervous System
Nerves that connect to voluntary muscles and sensory receptors. Contain afferent and efferent nerve fibers
Norepinephrine
Neurotransmitter that contributes to attention and response (adrenalin hormones)
Dopamine
Neurotransmitter that controls voluntary movements in brain neurons
Endorphins
Neurotransmitter that creates a sense of well-bein and acts as a natural pain-killer
Serotonin
Neurotransmitter that plays an important role in mood and is associated with sleep, wakefulness, and eating behavior
GABA
Neurotransmitter that produces only inhibitory responses and contributes to the regulation of anxiety and sleep
Correlation Coefficient
Numerical indication of magnitude and direction of the relationship between two variables
Acetylcholine
Only neurotransmitter between motor neurons and voluntary muscles that contributes to attention, arousal, and possible memory
Cognitive Psychology
Perspective that focuses on the mental processes involved in perception, learning, memory, and thinking
Eye Rods
Photoreceptors that control sensitivity to light and night time vision
Eye Cones
Photoreceptors that control visual acuity and color vision
Gestalt Psychology
Principles where the whole is seen as more than the sum of its parts: proximity, closure, similarity, simplicity, continuity
Dendrites
Receive signals from neighboring neurons
Reticular Formation
Runs through the midbrain and hindbrain and controls sleep, wakefulness, arousal, muscle reflexes, breathing, and pain perception
Afferent Neurons
Sensory neurons that carry messages from sense organs
Psychoanalytic
Sigmund Freud contributed to this psychological perspective
Nodes of Ranvier
Small gaps in the myelin sheath of medullated axons
Biopsychology
Specialty in psychology that studies the interaction of biology, behavior and mental process
Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, Occipital
The Four Brain Lobes
Plasticity
The ability of the brain to adapt to changes or even have one side take over the other in case of damage
Pupil
The adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters
Wilhem Wundt
The founder of Psychology
1879
The founding date of Psychology
Absolute Threshold
The minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time
Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Primary Motor Cortex
The section of the frontal lobe responsible for voluntary movement
Perception
The selection, organization and interpretation of sensory input
Just Noticeable Difference
The smallest difference in stimulation that is detectable
Sensation
The stimulation of sense organs
Evolutionary Psychology
The study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection
Trichromatic Theory of Color Vision
The theory that states there are three types of cones in our eyes: red, green, and blue
Cornea
The transparent outer covering of the eye
Behaviorism
The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).
Opponent-Process Theory of Color Vision
Three kinds of cell pairs (red-green, blue-yellow, black-white) that respond by increasing or decreasing rate of firing to different colors
Axon
Transmit signals away from the soma to other neurons, muscles, or glands
Physiology and Philosophy
Two fields Psychology was born from
Negative Correlation
Two variables vary systematically in opposite directions
Positive Correlation
Two variables vary systematically in the same direction
Dependent Variable
Variable affected by the manipulation of the Independent Variable
Center of Retina
Where cones are located in the eye
Adrenal Gland, Pituitary Gland
Where hormones are located
Periphery of Retina
Where rods are located in the eye
Synaptic Gap
Where two neurons meet to transmit neurotransmitters
Myelin Sheath
White, fatty casing on axon that acts as an electrical insulator and increases speed of neural signals
Hippocampus
Wishbone shaped structure involved in forming new memories
Sensory Adaptation
Diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation
Action Potential
If change in axon voltage exceeds threshold of excitation, axon lets in surge of Na+
Humanism
Abraham Maslow contributed to this psychological perspective
Neurotransmitters
Chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another
Behaviorism
B.F. Skinner contributed to this psychological perspective
Neuron
Basic unit of communication in the nervous system; receive integrate, and send information
Humanism
Carl Rogers contributed to this psychological perspective
Glial Cell
Cells that support the neuron, send and receive chemical signals, provides structural support, nutrition, enhanced communication speed, removal of waste. Glue that holds the neurons together
Endocrine System
Glands that secrete hormones into the blood (adrenal and pituitary)
Medulla
Part of the brain nearest the spinal cord which controls breathing, heart rate and blood pressure and other unconscious functions (alcohol detection)
Cerebellum
Part of the brain that controls coordination, equilibrium, and balance
Pons
Part of the brain that controls some aspects of sleep and arousal and connects the brain stem to the cerebellum
Auditory Cortex
The area of the temporal lobe that processes sounds
Thalamus
The brain's sensory switchboard, 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
Neuropsychology
The branch of psychology that is concerned with the physiological bases of psychological processes
