NCSU Psychology 200 Exam 1 Review

Vitreous Humor

Clear; jellylike substance at the back of the eye; light is directed through this part of the eye to the retina

Theories

Comprehensive explanation based on observation

Cell Body (Soma)

Contains nucleus of cells

Cochlea

Contains the receptors for hearing. Stirrup bone transmits vibrations to cochlea.

Optic Chiasm

Crossover point of optic tract from eye to brain

Depressants

Decrease physiological arousal, relaxes body, impairs muscle coordination. ex. alcohol, tranquillizers

Dark Adaptation

Gradual adjustment to dark or dim lighting mediated by presence and regeneration of retinaldehydes in visual receptors. - Cons adapt faster - Rods slower but more sensitive

Nature vs. Nurture

How do differences in behaviour relate to environment and heredity?

Mind-Brain Problem

How does personal experience relate to the brain?

Narcotics

Produce drowsiness, insensitivity to pain, and decreased responsiveness to stimuli ex. opiates (morphine, heroin), marijuana

Mode

Most frequent

Types of Research Design

Natural Observations, Case Histories, Surveys, Correlational Studies

Sensorimotor Hearing Loss/Nerve Deafness

Neurological in nature. Resulting from damage to the cochlea, hair cells, or auditory nerve.

Acetylocholine

Neurotransmitter associated with arousal and learning. - Associated with Alzheimer's disease

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter associated with mood, sleep, and arousal. - Associated with depression

Somatosensation (Touch)

Refers to the process that conveys information regarding the body surface and its interaction with the environment. Processed in the somatosensory cortex of the brain

Forebrain: Hypothalamus

Regulates emotional and motivated behaviour

Blind Spot

Retinal area where the optical nerve exits the brain

Cornea

Rigid, transparent outer surface of the eye; directs light through the pupil

Mechanoreception

Skin pressure, vibration, movement, stretch

Localization of Sounds

Sound distance is estimated from volume and pitch

Inferential Statistics

Statements about a large population based on inference from a small sample

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter associated with movement, emotion, and memory. - Associated with schizophrenia, Parkinson's Disease, addiction

Endorphins

Neurotransmitter associated with plain and pleasure.

Random Sample

One in which every individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected.

Representative Sample

One that resembles the population

4 Types of Drugs

Stimulants, Depressants, Narcotics, Hallucinogens

Sensation

Stimulation of a sensory organ that will produce action potentials which then travel to the brain for processing

Iris

Structured surrounding the pupil; dilates and constricts the pupil

Biological Psychology

Study of links between biology and behaviour

Survey

Study of the prevalence of certain beliefs, attitudes, or behaviours based on people's responses to questions.

Psychology

Systematic study of behaviour and experience. We study psychology in order to understand, explain, and predict behaviour.

Mean

The average

Central Nervous System

The brain and the spinal cord

Nociception

Pain

Rhodopsin

Photosensitive pigment found in the membrane like disks of the rods.

Forebrain: Hippocampus

Vital for memory processing

Somatic

Voluntary movements of skeletal movements

Thermosensation

Warmth, Cold

Population Samples

We generalize our findings from that small number of observations to the population

Midbrain: Reticular Activating System (RAS)

- Regulates levels of arousal in brain - Send motor messages back - Visual Cortex (occipital lobe)

Operational Definitions

- Specify how we will measure something - Give a numerical value to something intangible

Natural Observations

A careful examination of what happens under more or less natural conditions

Neurotransmitters

A chemical that activates receptors on other neurons (messages)

Convenience Sample

A group chosen because of its ease of study

Correlational Studies

A measure of the relationship between two variables.

Light

A stream of massless particles called photons which form a wave

Case Histories

A thorough description of a person, including abilities and disabilities, medical condition, life history, unusual experiences, and whatever else seems relevant. Focuses on a single individual.

Visual Receptors: Cones

Adapted for colour vision, daytime vision, and detailed vision

Visual Receptors: Rods

Adapted for vision in dim light

Pupil

Adjustable opening through which light enters the eye

Action Potential

An excitation that travels along an axon at a constant strength, no matter how far it travels

Free Will vs. Determinism

Are there known causes of behaviour? Is all behaviour predictable?

Fovea

Area of greatest visual activity in human eye, concentration of cones

Sympathetic

Arouses body; uses energy. Activates for "fight or flight" response

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Axons between spinal cord and rest of body.

White Matter

Axons of cortical neurons

Stimulants

Boost energy, heighten alertness, increase activity, pleasure ex. cocaine, nicotine, caffeine, ritalin

Parasympathetic

Calms body: saves energy. - "Rest and Digest"

Axon

Carry impulses away from cell body to other neurons

Dendrites

Carry neural impulses to the cell body

Neurons

Cells that make up your nervous system

Receptors

specialized cells that convert stimuli

Number of Neurons in Nervous System

80-90 billion

Tympanic Membrane

"Ear drum"

Themes of Psychology

- "It depends" - Good science depends on good measurements, need to evaluate the quality of the evidence - Correlation does not indicate causation

Hindbrain: Medulla Oblongata and Pons

- Breathing and heart rate - Relay sensory info from brain - Relay motor messages

Hindbrain: Cerebellum

- Coordination and timing - Shifting attention - Discrimination between stimuli

Neurotransmitters and Drugs

- Many drugs work by binding to synaptic receptors - Drugs may mimic neurotransmitters or block re-uptake

Qualities of Good Hypotheses

1. Falsifiable 2. Specific

Qualities of Good Theories

1. Falsifiable: precise, evidence can be used to confirm/contradict 2. Parsimonious: small number of underlying assumptions.

Neurotransmitters Possible Outcomes

1. Re-uptake 2. Metabolized 3. Remain in Synapse 4. Signal Transmitted

2 Major Divisions of the PNS

1. Somatic 2. Autonomic

2 Subdivisions of Autonomic

1. Sympathetic 2. Parasympathetic

The McGurk Effect

Demonstrates hierarchy of perception in our senses. * Vision is the superior sense

Range Variation

Distance from lowest value to highest value

Why are drugs addictive?

Dopamine affects nucleus accumbens. - Central to attention & habit formation.

Forebrain: Amygdala

Emotional processing

P Value

Estimate of the probability that measured score would occur in the population. Probability that a relationship would occur by chance.

Standard Variation

Exceptions from the average

Mylien Sheath

Fatty insulation, speeds impulses

Lens

Flexible structure that varies in thickness enabling the eye to accommodate for multiple distances.

3 Structures of the Brain

Forebrain, Midbrain, Hindbrain

Terminal Buttons

Form junctions with other neurons

Hallucinogens

Induce sensory distractions, false sensory experiences ex. LSD, Peyote, MDMA (ecstasy: low dose stimulant, high dose hallucinogen)

Stimuli

Information from world around us

Perception

Interpretation of sensation and nervous system response

Autonomic

Involuntary movements of glands, muscles, organs (ex. heart, digestion, respiration)

Conductive Hearing Loss

Involves the loss or malfunction of mechanical components of auditory organ (ex. bones that conduct sound)

Forebrain

Left and right hemisphere of the brain. Left brain controls right side of the body and vice versa

Visual Phototransduction

Light waves hit the retina and triggers a cascade of electrochemical reactions (action potentials)

Retina

Location of visual receptors

Descriptive Statistics

Mathematical summaries of results

3 Types of Somatosensation

Mechanoreception, Thermosensation, Nociception

Forebrain: Corpus Callosum

Median of communication between left and right brain

3 Vibrating Bones of the Ear

The hammer, anvil, and stirrup

Median

The middle score

Forebrain: Cerebral Cortex

The outer covering of the forebrain/grey matter

Synapse

The specialized junction between one neuron and another. Neurotransmitters cross the synapse and travel to other neurons.

Gustation

The use of chemoreception that allows humans to perceive ingested compounds