Psychology Exam #1

First psychology laboratory

- 1879 Wilhelm Wundt, university of Germany

Neuroplasticity

1) neurogenesis - production of new neurons 2) migration 3) arborization: genetically & experience -> use it or lose it 4) cell death

Which of the following coefficients of correlation indicates the WEAKEST relationship between two sets of variables? A 0.08 B -0.29 C 0.48 D -1.00

A 0.08

___________ involves information gained from direct observation. A Empirical evidence B A theoretical notation C A common-sense belief D Introspective data

A Empirical evidence

The "whole is greater than the sum of its parts" is the slogan of the A Gestalts psychologists B behaviorists C structuralists D psychoanalysts

A Gestalts psychologists

A psychiatrist does extensive interviewing and testing of a client with at least three distinct personalities . Her investigation is a A case study B controlled experiment C single-blind study D psycho-history

A case study

Cerebellum

A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills.

The structuralist school of psychology A used introspection to analyze conscious experience B relied heavily on the concept of natural selection C was concerned with experience as wholes D used dream analysis to reveal the conscious

A used introspection to analyze conscious experience

To be confident that a cause-and-effect relationship exists, it is necessary to A engage in naturalistic observation B develop a positive correlation C perform a controlled experiment D conduct a survey

C perform a controlled experiment

The six steps of the scientific method include observation, defining a problem, proposing a hypothesis, testing they hypothesis , publishing the result, and A cost-benefit analysis B anecdotal analysis C theory building D consensus review

C theory building

FMRI

Functional MRI, can image the brain working it makes electrical activity visible

MRI scan obtains an image of the brain by using

magnetic fields

MRI scan

magnetic resonance imaging scan, which uses a giant magnet to image the brain. Picks up positively charged particles.

The reflex control centers for vital life functions like heart rate and breathing are found in the

medulla

Frontal lobe

motor cortex( ability to move) & association areas

When a neuron is inactive (at rest), more of which of the following exist INSIDE the neuron

negative ions

Acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and GABA are examples of

neurotransmitters

Bodily sensations such as touch, temperature, and pressure register in the ____________ lobes.

parietal

PET

positron emission tomography scan; a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

Harriet has lost the ability to recognize faces, and she has also lost the ability to detect the emotions that other people are feeling. You would expect to find damage to her

right hemisphere

Action Potential (AP)

sending a signal by a neutron

Thalamus

sensory system

The surgical procedure of cutting the corpus callosum is done in cases of

severe epilepsy

Peripheral nervous system

somatic - voluntary control autonomic - smooth muscles & glands sympathetic - fight or flight parasympathetic - relaxation & digestion

The peripheral nervous system is composed of the

somatic and autonomic systems

Synaspe

space where two cells meet - axon meets dendrite

You are in the forest and you see a large, snarling, drooling grizzly bear running directly toward you. The adrenaline rush you feel is controlled by the

sympathetic nervous system

When a nerve impulse reaches the end of the axon, the tiny sacs that store the neurotransmitters move to the surface and release these chemicals. These tiny sacs that store the neurotransmitter are called

synaptic vesicles

The limbic system is responsible for

the control of rage, fear, sex and laughter

Membrane potential

the difference of voltage across the membrane

Which part of the brain consists of two large hemispheres, which are divided into smaller areas known as lobes?

cerebral cortex

After Phineas Gage's accident in which a metal rod entered his brain, the doctors kept notes on his behavior, used tests to measure various responses and interviewed Phineas and those who knew him. His brain injury was studied using

clinical case study

CT scan

computed tomography scan it's a specialized x-ray

Myelin =

faster transmission

Temporal lobe

hearing, association areas , vision

Endocrine system

hormones

Excitatory signals

increase voltage (more positive)

The hypothalamus, the hippocampus, they amygdala and parts of the thalamus make up the _______________ system.

limbic

Which of the following approaches is matches correctly to its view of human nature. A psychodynamic ----------positive, philosophical view B behavioristic -----------neutral, scientific, somewhat mechanistic view C humanistic ----------somewhat negative, pessimistic view D cognitive positive ----------positives, philosophical view

B behavioristic -----------neutral, scientific, somewhat mechanistic view

The ________ view is considered reductionistic and mechanistic and seeks to explain behavior through the activity of the genes, endocrine system, and one's physiology. A behavioristic B biopsychological C psychodynamic D humanistic

B biopsychological

A negative correlation means that as one variable increases the other. A increase B decreases C remains constant D increases then decreases

B decreases

Humanistic theories emphasize A internal motives, conflicts, and unconscious forces B free will and self-determination C that stimulus and response connections determine behavior D the use of rewards and punishments to shape behavior

B free will and self-determination

An educated guess about what is controlling same behavior is called a(n) A experimental control B hypothesis C experimental variable D theory

B hypothesis

Describe the 6 major current approaches to Psychology discussed in class (biological, psychodynamic, evolutionary, cognitive, humanistic and behaviorism). How do these approaches differ?

Biological: focuses on how neurophysiological, chemical events in the nervous systems produce behaviour, Evolutionary: focuses on how much has psychological processes evolved over the years. Psychodynamic: focuses on how our inner conflicts, both good and bad, have some kind of effect on our behaviors. Behaviorism: focuses on how our behaviour is largely or fully the results of how we live and experience things in life via observation by behaviourist professionals. Cognitive: focuses on how behaviour is used to infer mental events, like how our behaviours affect our ability to process new info. Humanistic: focuses on how our behaviour is determined by human experiences,problems,potentials, and ideals.

What are the central and peripheral nervous systems? What are the autonomic and somatic systems of the peripheral nervous system?

Central Nervous System: a nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. Peripheral nervous system: All of the other parts of the nervous system outside of the brain and spinal cord. Autonomic nervous system: The system of nerves carrying information to and from the internal organs and glands. Somatic Nervous Systems: the system of nerves linking the spinal cord with the body and sense organs.

What is the cerebral cortex? Do all animal species have a cerebral cortex? How are humans unique with regard to this brain structure? Describe the major areas of the cerebral cortex. What are the general functions of these areas?

Cerebral Cortex: The biggest part of the brain. Some animals have a cerebral cortex, but not all of the species. We humans are unique in regards to this brain structure is that our brains have much more cognitive capability when it is more wrinkled. One Major area of the cerebral cortex are the left hemisphere, which is use for language, calculations, time sense, and coordinating the order of complex movements. Another major area of the cortex is the right hemisphere, which is responsible for nonverbal responses, perceptual skills, visualization, recognition of patterns and faces, spacial skills, recognition and expression of emotions, and simple language comprehension.

What is the corpus callosum? What is its function?

Corpus Callosum: a thick band of nerve fibers that divides the cerebrum into left and right hemispheres. It connects the left and right sides of the brain allowing for communication between both hemispheres. The corpus callosum main function is that it transfers motor, sensory, and cognitive information between the brain hemispheres.

Who said, "Give me a dozen healthy infants.....and I'll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select....? A William James B Ivan Pavlov C Sigmund Freud D John Watson

D John Watson

The concept of natural selection was adapted to the study of human behavior by which the early psychologists? A John Watson B Carl Rogers C Edward Titchener D William James

D William James

According to the authors of your textbook, it is important to study psychology because A studying psychology can help you to understand yourself and others B study psychology can help you to interpret and evaluate the psychological topics presented in the media and on the Internet C you cannot consider yourself educated without knowing something about psychology D all of the above

D all of the above

Which of the following statements regarding the use of common sense is TRUE? A common sense has no value B common sense and personal observations usually provide all the information one needs to know about any situation C common sense statements provides systematic data D common sense often provides of vague and inconsistent pieces of information

D common sense often provides of vague and inconsistent pieces of information

Information gained from direct observation and measurement defines A introspectives data B subjective data C a scientific hypothesis D empirical evidence

D empirical evidence

A correlation coefficient of 0.0 means that there is A a strong negative relationship between the two variable B a strong positive relationship between the two variable C a perfect positive relationship between the two variable D no relationship between the two variable

D no relationship between the two variable

An advantage of naturalistic observations is that it A is free from observer bias B provides explanations for many behaviors C is not affected by presence of the observer D studies behavior in its actual setting

D studies behavior in its actual setting

Freud stressed the role of __________ in shaping our personalities. A self-actualization B conditioned response C rewards and punishments D unconscious conflicts

D unconscious conflicts

Define Empiricism. Define the science of Psychology.

Empiricism: the theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience. Stimulated by the rise of experimental science, it developed in the 17th and 18th centuries, expounded in particular by John Locke, George Berkeley, and David Hume. Psychology: the scientific study of mental and behavior process.

Imagine you are a neural signal moving from one cortical neuron to another. Describe your journey and all of the processes that occur along the way. Start at the point where the neuron you are in reaches its action potential, and a signal starts down the axon, through the synapse to the next cell (how does the message bridge the synapse?). In the next cell, describe what contributes to the probability the next cell will reach its threshold for an action potential.

My journey from 1 neuron to another is when I receive messages from neurons via the dendrites and retrieve them to the soma. The next step is that I exited the some that I was once reside in and enter the connect bridge called the axon. Then I continue on in the axon until I reach towards the end of the axon where I use the axon terminals to form connections with the dendrites and soma of the other neuron that I want to go to. Finally I will go into the new neuron by passing through the microscopic space between the neurons called the synapse. Throughout the journey, I recieve up to -50 millivolts of electrical charge needed to activate a trigger point called a threshold, signaling me that it is finally time to send the message to a new neuron. the action potential then launch me down the axon at up to 200 miles per hour all the way to axon terminals. In the next cell, the probability that this cell will reach its threshold when the neuron is recharging during a resting potential to prepare for the next action potential, and once the neuron is fully recharged, it is ready for the action potential once more; and all of this is happening very fast.

What is myelin?

Myelin: specialized glial cells that coat the axon speeding the action potential. Potential bridges the gaps in the myelin.

What is neuroplasticity? What are the ways your nervous system is plastic?

Neuroplasticity: the capacity of the brain to change in response to experience. Your nervous system is "plastic" is that it can change in terms of functionality and structure.

Define neurotransmitter and hormones.

Neurotransmitter: various chemicals released by neurons that alter activities in other neurons. Hormones: A glandular secretions that affects bodily functions or behaviour.

What are the different methods used to conduct scientific research in Psychology? What are their features, strengths and weaknesses? In what method(s) can you determine the cause of a behavior? Can you determine direction of cause when you have a correlation?

One method I could use to conduct scientific research in Psychology is surveys. The function of surveys is to ask a standard set of questions in regards to a big number of subjects. the pros is that it gathers lots of descriptive data very quickly and inexpensively, while the cons is that there are sampling errors, poorly phrased questions, and response biases can distort results. Another method useful for conducting psychological research is Correlational studies. The features of these studies is that it is a non-experimental study designed to measure the degree of relationship (if any) between 2 or more events, measures, or variables. The pros is that it helps demonstrates existence of relationships, can lead to predictions between variables, and can be used in many different settings; while the cons are that relationships are sometimes coincidental, and some studies can't determine cause-effect relationships. I can determine the cause of behaviors by using the method of either naturalistic observations, experiments or case studies. I can somehow determine the direction of the cause when I have a correlation, provided that an unknown variable didn't get in the way of the experiments and procedures.

Explain the difference between a positive correlation, negative correlation, and no relationship between 2 variables. What would correlation coefficients of +0.9, 0, or -0.9 mean about the relationship between two variables?

Positive Correlation: A statistical relationship in which increases in 1 measure are match by increase in the other. Negative Correlation: A statistical relationship in which increases in 1 measure are matched by decrease in the other. No relationship between 2 variables means that there are no negatives or positives in the strength of relationship (neither X or Y get any bigger or smaller). +0.9: near perfect positive relationship (Y gets Bigger, X gets Bigger). -0.9: near perfect negative relationship (Y gets Bigger, X gets Smaller). 0: no relationship

How are the Science of Psychology and Pseudo-Psychology different (refer to your textbook for assistance with this answer)? Discuss phrenology, palmistry, and astrology. Are they pseudo-psychology?

Pseudopsychologies change little over time because followers seek evidence that appears to confirm their beliefs and avoid evidence that contradicts their beliefs. Scientists, in contrast, actively look for contradictions as a way to advance knowledge. They are skeptical critics of their own theories. Phrenology: a greatly false system that involves examining various parts of the skull to assess personality characteristics. Palmistry: a very false system that claims lines on the hand reveals personality traits and predict the future. Astrology: a popular, yet STILL very false system that uses the position of stars and planets at the time of one's birth to determine one's personality traits and affect behavior.

Spinal cord

Responsible for transmitting information between brain and rest of body; handles simple reflexes such as pain from an injury

What is the scientific method? Define each component of the scientific method. Why are operational definitions essential to this method?

Scientific Method: a form of critical thinking based on careful collection of evidence, accurate description and measurements, precise definition, controlled observation, and repeatable results. 1. Making observations: reason is that we can see whether what we observe has either true claims or false claims. 2. Defining a problem: reason is that we can better understand and solve our observations and problems. 3. Proposing a hypothesis: reason is that a hypothesis is an educated guess and we want to see if our observations and experiments can confirm or disconfirm the hypothesis. 4. Gathering evidence/testing the hypothesis: reason is that we need all of the info that we need to see whether or not is our educated guess of the experiment true. 5. Theory Building: reason is that we won't be drowning in a sea of disconnect and inaccurate facts and concepts during our experimentations. 6. Publishing results: reason is that we can read the results of others to see if they doubt our results and to get more credibility from the science journals.

Describe the historical schools of thought in Psychology (including structuralism, Gestalt psychology, functionalism, psychodynamic approach, and behaviorism).

The historical schools of thought began when the 1st psychology lab open in 1879 by Wilhelm Wundt in order to study consciousness and sensory-perceptual systems. His student Edward Titchener form Structuralism in an attempt to expand Wundt's ideas by defining the structure of the human consciousness, which unfortunately didn't last. Gestalt psychologist use illusions to demonstrate that the fundamental units off our minds can't be analysed in small parts, only in whole units of thinking, learning, and perception. Behaviourist Watson and B.R. Skinner believes that you can't make interpretations about the processing of events, what should be measured is behavior.

What are Wernicke's and Broca's areas of the cerebral cortex? Describe the aphasias caused by damage to these areas. What is agnosia? What is the hippocampus and for what function is it specialized?

Wernicke's Area: A temporal lobe brain area related to language comprehension. Broca's Area: A language Area related to grammar and pronunciation. Aphasia happens when Wernicke's and Broca's areas got badly damage, causing him/her to suffer speech disturbance. Agnosia: the loss of the ability to recognize objects, faces, voices, or places. It is a rare disorder. People with agnosia can still think, speak, and interact with the world normally. Hippocampus: a part of the limbic system that is important for making, handling, and maintaining lasting memories.

resting potential

a cell not doing anything, has a negative charge . -65mv -> -70mv

A person who has aphasia would have impaired

ability to use language

Neuropeptides

act to regulate activity of neutrons. Some drugs act to mimic or alter the production of neuropeptides

The "all or nothing event" refers to the fact that

action potentials occur completely or not at all

Myelin covers which part(s) of the neuron?

axon

The part of the neuron that sends information to other neurons "branches out" into smaller fibers, which end in bulb-shaped parts known as

axon terminals

Hypothalamus

controls hormones, fight or flight, brain region controlling the pituitary gland

Inhibitory signal

decrease voltage (more negative)

The part of the neuron that specializes in receiving messages from other neurons is the

dendrites

Ablation

destruction or removal of large areas of the brain

An EEG records

electrical impulses in the brain

What are the exact charges (in milli-volts) of a neuron during the different stages of an action potential (include the resting state).

the exact charges of a neuron during the resting state is around -60 millivolts, about +30 millivolts when the action potential actually happens after a neuron reaches a threshold in an all-or-nothing event , and below -70 millivolts after the action potential.

In the article "Rethinking the Brain: How the Songs of Canaries Upset a Fundamental Principle of Science", what was the important discovery of F. Nottebohm? Why was it controversial? If you were a member of congress, what do you think your instructor would tell you is an important lesson to take away from this article?

the important discovery that Nottebohm made is neurogenesis, the process by which neurons are generated from neural stem cells and progenitor cells. Neurogenesis is controversial because neurogenesis overturned centuries worth of scientific theories in regards to the human brain, and such theory could be very useful in allowing advancements in the treatments of brain injuries and how to cure many different kinds of degenerate disease. If I were a member of Congress, my instructor would tell me that it is a good advice to accept a new discovery, like neurogenesis, that could actually benefit society once properly perfect for usage in the public.

Name the steps you would use to evaluate a piece of scientific research (questions we discussed in class to help you evaluate - we used these to evaluate eye movement desensitization and reprocessing).

the steps I would use to evaluate a piece of scientific research are 1. What am I being asked to believe or accept, 2. What evidence is available to support the assertion?, 3. Are there alternate ways to interpreting the evidence?, 4. What additional evidence would help to evaluate the alternatives?, and 5. What conclusions are the most reasonable?

What are the ways the brain can be studied? Explain both invasive and non-invasive techniques.

the ways that the brain can be studied are Ablation - the destruction or removal of the big areas of the brain, Electrode Stimulation - Surface, Deep Lesioning using electrodes, Single cell recording electrodes - microelectrodes, and EEG (Electroencephalogram) - network of electrodes affixed to the skull that measures the entire brain activity.

Physiology

theorized about the nature of the mind and soul - Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, associationist, and nativist.

Partiel Lobe

touch sensation, somatosenory area & association areas

Brain stem

vegetative functions

Occipital lobe

vision

Association cortex

vision, combines & processes information from the senses