Psychology (chapter 1-6)

A neurocognitive disorder caused by neural plaques and marked by a progressive decline in memory is called

Alzheimer's disease.

Jane is explaining how neurons communicate to her friend. How should she best define threshold for her friend?

It is the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

A reflex refers to

a simple, automatic response to sensory stimulation.

Gender typing refers to the acquisition of

a traditional masculine or feminine role.

The minimum amount of stimulation a person needs to detect a stimulus 50 percent of the time is called the

absolute threshold.

Compulsive substance use or dysfunctional behavior patterns despite harmful consequences is an indication of

addiction

The classic case of railroad worker Phineas Gage best illustrated that frontal lobe damage can

alter one's personality.

The limbic system consists of the

amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus.

The school of thought in psychology that turned away from the study of consciousness during the first half of the last century was

behaviorism

Mr. Hernandez triggered a rooting reflex in his infant son by touching him on the

check

With the approach of night, our body temperature begins to drop. This best illustrates the dynamics of the

circadian rhythm.

The perceptual tendency to fill in gaps in order to perceive disconnected parts as a whole object is called

closure.

Visual perceptions of objects often change when the objects are viewed in different surroundings. This best illustrates

context effects.

Failing to understand the norms of the community into which we have recently moved is most likely to contribute to

culture shock.

Peggy has been asleep for almost three hours. Her heart rate increases, her breathing becomes more rapid, and her eyes move rapidly under her closed lids. Research suggests that Peggy is

dreaming

The simultaneous processing of information on separate conscious and unconscious tracks is called

dual processing.

Twin and adoption studies have been most helpful for teasing apart the influences of

heredity and environment.

The wavelength of visible light determines its

hue

Older adults who feel satisfied when reflecting on their lives demonstrate what Erikson called a sense of

integrity.

THC, the active ingredient in ________, is classified as a ________.

marijuana; hallucinogen

Lawrence Kohlberg focused on the development of

moral reasoning

The retinal image of an object decreases as the object retreats. This is especially important for perceiving the object's

motion.

The speed at which a neural impulse travels is increased when the axon is encased by a(n)

myelin sheath.

Evolutionary psychology studies the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of

natural selection.

The process of forming new neurons within the brain is called

neurogenesis

The brain's ability to change by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience is known as

neuroplasticity.

Which of the following is NOT considered a stimulant?

opiates

The part of the brainstem that helps to coordinate movements and control sleep is called the

pons

Chemical substances that alter perceptions and moods are called ________ drugs.

psychoactive

Premature infants who are regularly touched and massaged are more likely than their unstimulated counterparts to show signs of

rapid weight gain.

Three steps that are basic to all sensory systems include the ________ of information to the brain.

receiving, transforming, and delivering

Sedentary older adults randomly assigned to aerobic exercise programs exhibit

reduced risk of significant cognitive decline.

Evolutionary psychology is most likely to emphasize that human adaptiveness to a variety of different environments has contributed to human

reproductive successes

Norms are best described as

rules for socially acceptable behavior.

Infants develop a fear of strangers at about 8 months of age because they can't assimilate unfamiliar faces into their

schemas.

Children's sense that their parents are trustworthy and dependable is most indicative of

secure attachment.

While engrossed in studying for his psychology course, Juan isn't easily distracted by the sounds of the TV or even by his sisters' conversation. This best illustrates

selective attention.

Fluid-filled ________ that look like a three-dimensional pretzel are involved in our sense of equilibrium.

semicircular canals

The social roles assigned to women and men

shift over time and differ from one culture to another

As the retinal image of a friend running toward you becomes larger, it is unlikely that the friend will appear to grow larger. This best illustrates the importance of

size constancy.

In which of the following disorders does the person repeatedly stop breathing while asleep?

sleep apnea

Place theory suggests that

the pitch we hear is related to the place where the cochlea's basilar membrane is stimulated.

Object permanence is the understanding that

things continue to exist even when they are not perceived.

The corpus callosum is a wide band of axon fibers that

transmits information between the cerebral hemispheres.

The amygdala is responsible for the regulation of

emotion

Hormones are the chemical messengers of the

endocrine system.

The study of influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change is called

epigenetics

Environmental events can "turn on" genes, ensuring that they are

expressed

Adolescents begin to use abstract reasoning skills when they achieve the intellectual summit that Piaget called

formal operations.