PSY 120 EXAM 1: CHAPTERS 1,2,3&4

falsifiable

able to be disproven by experimental results

validity

accuracy of a given result in measuring what it is designed to measure

soma

cell body

semipermeable membrane

cell membrane that allows smaller molecules or molecules without an electrical charge to pass through it, while stopping larger or highly charged molecules

neuron

cells in the nervous system that act as interconnected information processors, which are essential for all of the tasks of the nervous system

physical dependence

changes in normal bodily functions that cause a drug user to experience withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of use

cause-and-effect relationship

changes in one variable cause the changes in the other variable; can be determined only through an experimental research design

autonomic nervous system

controls our internal organs and glands

longitudinal fissure

deep groove in the brain's cortex

somatosensory cortex

essential for processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch, temperature, and pain

double-blind study

experiment in which both the researchers and the participants are blind to group assignments

single-blind study

experiment in which the researcher knows which participants are in the experimental group and which are in the control group

opiate/opioid

one category of drugs that has strong analgesic properties; opiates are produced from the resin of the opium poppy; include heroin, morphine, methadone, and codeine

halluncinogen

one of a class of drugs that results in profound alterations in sensory and perceptual experiences, often with vivid hallunications

parinsomnia

one of a group of sleep disorders characterized by unwanted, disruptive motor activity and/or experiences during sleep

codeine

opiate with relatively low potency often prescribed for minor pain

population

overall group of individuals that the reseachers are interested in

temporal lobe

part of cerebral cortex associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language; contains primary auditory cortex

occipital lobe

part of the cerebral cortex associated with visual processing; contains the primary visual cortex

parietal lobe

part of the cerebral cortex involved in processing various sensory and perceptual information; contains the primary somatosensory cortex

frontal lobe

part of the cerebral cortex involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language; contains motor cortex

lucid dream

people become aware that they are dreaming and can control the dream's content

placebo effect

people's expectations or beliefs influencing or determining their experience in a given situation

rapid eye movement sleep (REM)

period of sleep characterized by brain waves very similar to those during wakefulness and by darting movements of the eyes under close eyelids

non-REM

period of sleep outside periods of rapid eye movement sleep

opinion

personal judgments, conclusions, or attitudes that may or may not be accurate

biopsychosocial model

perspective that asserts that biology, psychology, and social factors interact to determine an individual's health

humanism

perspective within psychology that emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans

all-or-none

phenomenon that incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to reach the threshold of excitation

Broca's area

region in the left hemisphere that is essential for language production

correlation

relationship between two or more variables; when two variables are correlated, one variable changes as the other does

somatic nervous system

relays sensory and motor information to and from the CNS

replicate

repeating an experiment using different samples to determine the research's reliability

cognitive psychology

study of cognitions, or thoughts, and their relationship to experiences and actions

epigenetics

study of gene-environment interactions, such as how the same genotype leads to different phenotypes

Biopsychology

study of how biology influences behavior

personality psychology

study of patterns of thoughts and behaviors that make each individual unique

meta-analysis

study that combines the results of several related studies

participants

subjects of psychological research

random sample

subset of a larger population in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected

sample

subset of individuals selected from the larger population

mutation

sudden, permanent change in gene

ology

suffix that denotes "scientific study of"

cerebral cortex

surface of the brain that is associated with our highest mental capabilities

methadone

synthetic opioid that is less euphorogenic than heroin and similar drugs; used to manage withdrawal symptoms in opiate users

confirmation bias

tendency to ignore evidence that disproves ideas or beliefs

homeostasis

tendency to maintain a balance, or optimal level, within a biological system

hypothesis

tentative and testable statement about the relationship between two or more variables

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

that shows changes in metabolic activity over time

Gestalt Psychology

was very influential in Europe. takes a holistic view of an individual and his experiences.

theory

well-developed set of ideas that propose an explanation for observed phenomena

Maslow and Rogers

were influential in shaping humanistic psychology

debriefing

when an experiment involved in deception, participants are told complete and truthful information about the experiment at its conclusion

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

helix-shaped molecule made of nucleotide base pairs

Wundt and James

helped create psychology as a distinct scientific discipline

latent content

hidden meaning of a dream, per Sigmund Freud's view of the function of dreams

pons

hindbrain structure that connects the brain and spinal cord; involved in regulating brain activity during sleep

medulla

hindbrain structure that controls automated processes like breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate

cerebellum

hindbrain structure that controls our balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills, and it is thought to be important in processing some types of memory

melatonin

hormone secreted by the endocrine gland that serves as an important regulator of the sleep-wake cycle

computerized tomography scan (CT)

imaging technique in which a computer coordinates and integrates multiple x-rays of a given area

wernicke's area

important for speech comprehension

phenotype

individual's inheritable physical characteristics

threshold of excitation

level of charge in the membrane that causes the neuron to become active

survey

list of questions to be answered by research participants--given as a paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally--allowing researchers to collect data from a large number of people

disseratation

long research paper about research that was conducted as a part of the candidate's doctoral training

chromosome

long strand of genetic information

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

magnetic fields used to produce a picture of the tissue being imaged

axon

major extension of the soma

inter-rater reliability

measure of agreement among observers on how they record and classify a particular event

empirical method

method for acquiring knowledge based on observation, including experimentation, rather than a method based only on forms of logical argument or previous authorities

random assignment

method of experimental group assignment in which all participants have an equal change of being assigned to either group

archival research

method of research using past records or data sets to answer various research questions, or to search for interesting patterns or relationships

reticular formation

midbrain structure important in regulating the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity

ventral tegmental area

midbrain structure where dopamine is produced: associated with mood, reward, and addition

substantia nigra

midbrain structure where dopamine is produced; involved in control of movement

polygenix

multiple genes affecting a given trait

glial cell

nervous system that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including neuronal insulation and communication, and nutrient and waste transport

reuptake

neurotransmitter is pumped back into the neuron that released it

correlation coefficient

number from -1 to +1, indicating the strength and direction of the relationship between variables, and usually represented by r

fact

objective and verifiable observation, established using evidence collected through empirical research

naturalistic observation

observation of behavior in its natural setting

clinical or case study

observational research study focusing on one or a few people

psyche

Greek word for soul

PhD

(doctor of philosophy) doctoral degree conferred in many disciplinary perspectives housed in a traditional college of liberal arts and sciences

PsyD

(doctor of psychology) doctoral degree that places less emphasis on research-oriented skills and focuses more on application of psychological principles in the clinical context

critical thinking, use of scientific method, and critical evaluation of sources of information

What skills were mentioned to which psychology students would be exposed?

fight of flight response

activation of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system, allowing access to energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity so that we might fight off a given threat or run away to safety

dominant allele

allele whose phenotype will be expressed in an individual that possesses that allele

postdoctoral training program

allows young scientists to further develop their research programs and broaden their research skills under the supervision of other professionals in the field

prefrontal cortex

area in the frontal lobe responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning

forensic psychology

area of psychology that applies the science and practice of psychology to issues within and related to the justice system

counseling psychology

area of psychology that focuses on improving emotional, social, vocational, and other aspects of the lives of psychologically healthy individuals

clinical psychology

area of psychology that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and other problematic patterns of behavior

sport and exercise psychology

area of psychology that focuses on the interactions between mental and emotional factors and physical performance in sports, exercise, and other activities

suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

area of the hypothalamus in which the body's biological clock is located

peer-reviewed journal article

article read by several other scientists(usually anonymously) with expertise in the subject matter, who provide feedback regarding the quality of the manuscript before it is accepted for publication

range of reaction

asserts our genes set the boundaries within which we can operate, and our environment interacts with the genes to determine where in that range we will fall

parasympathetic nervous system

associated with routine, day-to-day operations of the body

consciousness

awareness of internal and external stimuli

terminal button

axon terminal containing synaptic vesicles

Sigmund Freud

believed that understanding the unconscious mind was absolutely critical to understand conscious behavior. He relied on dream analysis, slips of the tongue, and free association as means to access the unconscious.

circadian rhythm

biological rhythm that occurs over approximately 24 hours

central nervous system (CNS)

brain and spinal cord

sleep regulation

brain's control of switching between sleep and wakefulness as well as coordinating this cycle with the outside world

dendrite

branch-like extension of the some that receives incoming signals from other neurons

gyrus

bump or ridge on the cerebral cortex

wakefulness

characterized by high levels of sensory awareness, thought, and behavior

neurotransmitter

chemical messenger of the nervous systme

hormone

chemical messenger released by endocrine glands

meditation

clearing the mind in order to achieve a state of relaxed awareness and focus

limbic system

collection of structures involved in processing emotion and memory

jet lag

collection of symptoms brought on by travel from one time zone to another that results from the mismatch between our internal circadian cycles and our environment

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

committee of administrators, scientists, and community members that reviews proposals for research involving human participants

Institutional Animal Care and Use Community (IACUC)

committee of administrators, scientists, veterinarians, and community members that reviews proposals for research involving non-human animals

cross-sectional research

compares multiple segments of a population at a single time

lateralization

concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions

inductive reasoning

conclusions are drawn from observations

peripheral nervous system

connects the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, organs and senses in the periphery of the body

reliability

consistency and reproducibility of a given result

insomnia

consistent difficulty in falling or staying asleep for at least three nights a week over a month's time

personality trait

consistent pattern of thought and behavior

heterozygous

consisting of two different alleles

homozygous

consisting of two identical alleles

sulcus

depressions or grooves in the cerebral cortex

operational definition

description of what actions and operations will be used to measure the dependent variables and manipulate the independent variables

statistical analysis

determines how likely any difference between experimental groups is due to chance

continuous positive airway pressure

device used to treat sleep apnea; include a mask that fits over the sleeper's nose and mouth, which is connected to a pump that pumps air into the person's airways, forcing them to remain open

membrane potential

difference in charge across the neuronal membrane

evolutionary psychology

discipline that studies how universal patterns of behavior and cognitive processes have evolved over time as a result of natural selection

diabetes

disease related to insufficient insulin production

hindbrain

division of the brain containing the medulla, pons, and cerebellum

midbrain

division of the brain located between the forebrain and the hindbrain; contains the reticular formation

antagonist

drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitter

agonist

drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter

stimulant

drug that tends to increase overall levels of neural activity; includes caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine

depressant

drug that tends to suppress central nervous system activity

psychotropic medication

drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance

action potential

electrical signal that moves down the neuron's axon

psychological dependence

emotional, rather than a physical, need for a drug which may be used to relieve psychological distress

pineal gland

endocrine structure located inside the brain that releases melatonin

myelin sheath

fatty substance that insulates axons

euphoric high

feelings of intense elation and pleasure from drug use

William James

first american psychologist and was a proponent of functionalism. He relied on introspection.

stage 1 sleep

first stage of sleep; transitional phrase that occurs between wakefulness and sleep; the period during which a person drifts off to sleep

Behaviorism

focus on observing and controlling behavior

psychoanalytic theory

focus on the role of the unconscious in affecting conscious behavior

Functionalism

focused on how mental activities helped an organism adapt to its environment

hypothalamus

forebrain structure that regulates sexual motivation and behavior and a number of homeostatic processes; serves as an interface between the nervous system and the endocrine system

stage 4 sleep

fourth stage of sleep; deep sleep characterized by low frequency, high amplitude delta waves

genotype

genetic makeup of an individual

empirical

grounded in objective, tangible evidence that can be observed time and time again, regardless of who is observing

experimental group

group designed to answer the research question; experimental manipulation is the only difference between the experimental and control groups, so any difference between the two are due to experimental manipulation rather than chances

sudden infant death syndrome

infant (one year old or younger) with no apparent medical condition suddenly dies during sleep

generalize

inferring that the results for a sample apply to the larger population

biological rhythm

internal cycle of biological activity

sympathetic nervous system

involved in stress-related activities and functions

positron emission tomography

involves injecting individuals with a mildly radioactive substance and monitoring changes in blood flow to different regions of the brain

John Watson

is often considered the father of behaviorism

cataplexy

lack of muscle tone or muscle weakness, and in some cases complete paralysis of the voluntary muscles

forebrain

largest part of the brain, containing the cerebral cortex, the thalamus, and the limbic system, among other structures

hemisphere

left or right half of the brain

intospection

process by which someone examines their own conscious experience in an attempt to break it into its component parts

informed consent

process of informing a research participant about what to expect during an experiment, any risks involved, and the implications of the research, and then obtaining the person's consent to participate

American Psychological Association

professional organization representing psychologists in the United States

receptor

protein on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach

cognitive-behavioral therapy

psychotherapy that focuses on cognitive processes and problem behaviors that is sometimes used to treat sleep disorders such as insomnia

deception

purposely misleading experiment participants in order to maintain the integrity of the experiment

sleep spindle

rapid burst of high frequency brain waves during stage 2 sleep that may be important for learning and memory

electroencephalography (EEG)

recording the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp

attrition

reduction in number of research participants as some drop out of study over time

experimenter bias

researcher expectations skew the results of the study

sleep debt

result of insufficient sleep on a chronic basis

deductive reasoning

results are predicted based on a general premise

developmental psychology

scientific study of development across a lifespan

psychology

scientific study of the mind and behavior

stage 2 sleep

second stage of sleep; the body goes into deep relaxation; characterized by the appearance of sleep spindles

pituitary gland

secretes a number of key hormones, which regulate fluid levels in the body, and a number of messenger hormones, which direct the activity of other glands in the endocrine system

pancreas

secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar

thyroid

secretes hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite

gonad

secretes sexual hormones, which are important for successful reproduction, and mediate both sexual motivation and behavior

illusory correlation

seeing relationships between two things when in reality no such relationships exists

thalamus

sensory relay for the brain

gene

sequence of DNA that controls or partially controls physical characteristics

endocrine system

series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones

control group

serves as a basis for comparison and controls for chance factors that might influence the results of the study--by holding such factors constant across groups so that the experimental manipulation is the only difference between groups

adrenal gland

sits atop our kidneys and secretes hormones involved in the stress response

sleep apnea

sleep disorder defined by episodes during which breathing strop during sleep

obstructive sleep apnea

sleep disorder defined by episodes when breathing stops during sleep as a result of blockage of the airway

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD)

sleep disorder in which the muscle paralysis associated with the REM sleep phase does not occur; sleepers have high levels of physical activity during REM sleep, especially during disturbing dreams

night terror

sleep disorder in which the sleep experiences a sense of panic and may scream or attempt to escape from the immediate environment

sleepwalking

sleep disorder in which the sleeper engages in relatively complex behaviors

narcolepsy

sleep disorder in which the sufferer cannot resist falling to sleep at inopportune time

restless leg syndrome

sleep disorder in which the sufferer has uncomfortable sensations in the legs when trying to fall asleep that are relieved by moving the legs

central sleep apnea

sleep disorder with periods of interrupted breathing due to a disruption in signals sent from the brain that regulate breathing

sleep rebound

sleep-deprived individuals will experience shorter sleep latencies during subsequent opportunities for sleep

synapse

small gap between two neurons where communication occurs

allele

specific version of a gene

sleep

state marked by relatively low levels of physical activity and reduced sensory awareness that is distinct from periods of rest that occur during wakefulness

homeostatsis

state of equilibrium--biological conditions, such as body temperature, are maintained at optimal levels

hypnosis

state of extreme self-focus and attention in which minimal attention is given to external stimuli

tolerance

state of requiring increasing quantities of the drug to gain desired effect

theory of evolution by natural selection

states that organisms that are better suited for this environments will survive and reproduce compared to hose that are poorly suited for their environments

synaptic vesicle

storage site for neurotransmitters

manifest content

storyline of events that occur during a dream, per Sigmund Freud's view of the function of dreams

auditory cortex

strip of cortex in the temporal lobe that is responsible for processing auditory informaiton

motor cortex

strip of cortex involved in planning and coordinating movement

amygdala

structure in the limbic system involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional meaning to our memories

hippocampus

structure in the temporal lobe associated with learning and memory

longitudinal research

studies in which the same group of individuals is surveyed or measured repeatedly over an extended period of time

resting potential

the state of readiness of a neuron membrane's potential between signals

collective unconscious

theoretical repository of information shared by all people across cultures, as described by Carl Jung

Wertheimer, Koffka, and Köhler

they introduced America to Gestalt ideas.

corpus callosum

thick band of neural fivers connecting the brain's two hemispheres

stage 3 sleep

third stage of sleep; deep sleep characterized by low frequency, high amplitude delta waves

identical twins

twins that develop from the SAME sperm and egg

fraternal twims

twins who develop from two DIFFERENT eggs fertilized by different sperm, so their genetic material varies the same as in non-twin siblings

negative correlation

two variables change in different directions, with one becoming larger as the other becomes smaller; a negative correlation is not the same thing as not correlation

positive correlation

two variables change in the same direction, both becoming either larger or smaller

methamphetamine

type of amphetamine that can be made from pseudoephedrine, an over-the-counter drug; widely manufactured and abused

delta wave

type of low frequency, high amplitude brain wave characteristic of stage 3 and stage 4 sleep

theta wave

type of low frequency, low amplitude brain wave characteristic of the end of stage 1 sleep

alpha wave

type of relatively low frequency, relatively high amplitude brain wave that becomes synchronized; characteristic of the beginning of stage 1 sleep

confounding variable

unanticipated outside factor that affects both variables of interest, often giving the false impression that changes in one variable causes changes in the other variable, when, in actuality, the outside factor causes changes in both variables

Structuralism

understanding the conscious experience through introspection

methadone clinic

uses methadone to treat withdrawal symptoms in opiate users

independent variable

variable that is influenced or controlled by the experimenter; in a sound experimental study, the independent variable is the only important difference between the experimental and control group

dependent variable

variable that the researcher measures to see how much effect the independent variable had

withdrawal

variety of negative symptoms experienced when drug use is discontinued

K-complex

very high amplitude pattern of brain activity associated with stage 2 sleep that may occur in response to environmental stimuli

genetic environmental correlation

view of gene-environment interaction that asserts our genes affect our environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes

biological perspective

view that psychological disorders like depression and schizophrenia are associated with imbalances in one or more neurotransmitter systems

observer bias

when observations may be skewed to align with observer expectations

recessive allele

whose phenotype will be expressed only if an individual is homozygous for that allele

rotating shift work

work schedule that changes from early to late on a daily or weekly basis