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EXAM 1
EXAM 1
275
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
02/10/2009

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

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Term
structuralism
Definition
analyze consciousness into its basic elements and investigate how these elements are related (EDWARD TITCHENER)
concerned w/sensation & perception in vision,hearing,touch
Term
introspection
Definition
the careful systematic self-observation of one's own conscious experience
Term
functionalism
Definition
psych should investigate the function and purpose of consciousness, rather than its structure (WILLIAM JAMES) stream of consciousness, mental testing, patterns of development, behavioral differences between the sexes
Term
natural selection
Definition
inherited characteristics that provide a survival or reproductive advantage are more likely than alternative characteristics to be passed on to subsequent generations & thus come to be "selected" over time
Term
unconscious
Definition
contains thoughts, memories & desires that are well below the surface of conscious awareness but that nonetheless exert great influence on behavior (FREUD)
Term
psychoanalytic theory
Definition
attempts to explain personality, motivation, and mental disorders by focusing on unconscious determinants of behavior. people are not masters of their own mind, behavior is greatly influenced by how ppl cope w/ their sexual urges (FREUD)
Term
behaviorism
Definition
a theoretial orientation based on the premise that scientific psychology should study only observable behavior (JOHN B WATSON)-claims someone is made not born, cause for rise in animal research
Term
Humanism
Definition
a theoretical orientation that emphasizes the unique qualities of humans, especially their freedom and their potential for personal growth ( ROGERS & MASLOW) contributed innovative treatments for psychological problems and disorders
Term
cognition
Definition
refers to the mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge
Term
evolutionary psychology
Definition
examines processes in terms of their adaptive value for members of the species over the course of many generations
Term
positive psychology
Definition
uses theory and research to better understand the positive, adaptive,creative, and fulfilling aspects of human existence ( MARTIN SELIGMAN)
Term
psychology
Definition
is the science that studies behavior and the physiological and cognitive processes that underlie behavior and it is the profession that applies the accumulated knowledge of this science to practical problems
Term
empiricism
Definition
the premise that knowledge should be acquired through observation
Term
theory
Definition
a system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations
Term
critical thinking
Definition
a purposeful, reasoned, goal-directed , thinking that involves solving problems, formulating inferences, working w/ probabilities and making carefully thought-out decisions
Term
decision making
Definition
involves evaluating alternatives & making choices among them
Term
hindsight bias
Definition
the tendency to mold one's interpretation of the past to fit how events actually turned out
Term
hypothesis
Definition
a tentative statement about their relationship between two or more variables
Term
variables
Definition
any measurable conditions,events, characteristics, or behaviors that are controlled or observed in a study
Term
operational definition
Definition
describes the actions or operations that will be used to measure or control a variable
Term
participants or subjects
Definition
the person's or animals whose behavior is systematically observed in a study
Term
data collection techniques
Definition
procedures for making empirical observations & measurements
Term
journal
Definition
a periodical that publishes technical and scholarly material, usually in a narrowly defined area of inquiry
Term
research methods
Definition
consist of differing approaches to the observation, measurement, manipulation, and control of variables in empirical studies
Term
experiment
Definition
a research method in which the investigator manipulates a variable under carefully controlled conditions and observes whether any changes in a second variable occur as a result.
Term
independent variable
Definition
a condition or event that an experimentor varies in order to see its impact on another variable
Term
dependent variable
Definition
the variable that is thought to be the affected by manipulation of the independent variable
Term
experimental group
Definition
consists of the subjects who receive some special treatment in regard to the independent variable
Term
control group
Definition
consists of similar subjects who do not receive the special treatment given to the experimental group
Term
extraneous variables
Definition
any variables other than the independent that seem likely to influence the dependent variable in a specific study
Term
confounding variable
Definition
occurs when 2 variables are difficult to sort out their specific effects
Term
random assignment
Definition
of subjects occurs when all subjects have an equal chance of being assigned to any group or condition in a study
Term
correlation
Definition
exists between to variables that are related to each other
Term
correlation coefficient
Definition
a numerical index of the degree of relationship between to variables 0-1 positive 0--1 negative closer to +or-1 the stronger the correlation
Term
naturalistic observation
Definition
a researcher engages in careful observation of behavior w/o intervening directly w/ the subjects, less aritificial
Term
case studies
Definition
an in-depth investigation of an individual subject
Term
surveys
Definition
researchers use questionaires or interviews to gather info about specific aspects of a participants background & behavior
Term
replication
Definition
the repetition of a study to see whether the earlier results are duplicated
Term
sample
Definition
the collection of subjects selected for observation in an empirical study
Term
population
Definition
the much larger collection of animals or people from which the sample is drawn that researchers want to generalize about
Term
sampling bias
Definition
exists when a sample is not representative of the population from which is it was drawn
Term
placebo
Definition
substance that resembles a drug but has no pharmacological effect
Term
placebo effect
Definition
occur when participants expectations lead them to experience some change even though they recieve and empty, fake or ineffectual treatment
Term
social desirability bias
Definition
a tendency to give socially approved answers to questions about oneself
Term
double blind procedure
Definition
a research strategy in which neither subjects nor experiementers know which subjects are in the experimental or control groups
Term
neurons
Definition
individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate and transmit info
Term
soma or cell body
Definition
contains the cell nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells
Term
dendrites
Definition
the parts of the neuron that are specialized to receive info, complexity of branching varies greatly
Term
axon
Definition
a long, thin, fiber that transmits signals away from the soma to other neurons or to muscles or glands
Term
myelin sheath
Definition
an insulating material that encases some axons, speeds up the transmission of signals that move along axons
Term
multiple sclerosis
Definition
deterioration of myelin sheath
Term
terminal buttons
Definition
small knobs at the tip of the axon that secrete chemicals call neurotransmitters which serve as messengers that may activate neighboring neurons (contain synaptic vesicles that contain neurotransmitters)
Term
synapse
Definition
a junction where info is transmitted from one neuron to another
Term
glia
Definition
cells found throughout the nervous system that provide various types of support for neurons, outnumber neurons 10-1, play a complicated role in orchestrating the development of the nervous system in human embryo, may also send and receive signals
Term
resting potential
Definition
of a neuron is its stable, negative charge when the cell is inactive (-70 millivolts)
Term
action potential
Definition
a very brief shift in neuron's electrical charge that travels along an axon, reverse of polarity (-70 to +50)
Term
absolute refractory period
Definition
the minimum length of time after an action potential during which another action potential cannot begin (1 or 2 milliseconds)
Term
synaptic cleft
Definition
a microscopic gap between the terminal button of one neuron and the cell membrane of another neuron
Term
neurotransmitters
Definition
chemicals that transmit info from one neuron to another
Term
synaptic vesicles
Definition
small sacs within the buttons that store these chemicals
Term
postsynaptic potential (PSP)
Definition
a voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane
Term
excitatory PSP
Definition
positive voltage shift that increases the likelihood that postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials (depolarization)
Term
inhibitory PSP
Definition
negative voltage that decreases the likelihood that postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials (hyperpolarization)
Term
reuptake
Definition
a process in which neurotransmitters are sponged up fromthe synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane
Term
agonist
Definition
a chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter (nicotine)
Term
antagonist
Definition
a chemical that opposes the action of a neurotransmitter (curare)
Term
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Definition
made up of all those nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord
Term
nerves
Definition
bundles of neuron fibers that are routed together in the PNS
Term
somatic nervous system (SNS)
Definition
made up of nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and to sensory receptors (PNS)
Term
afferent nerve fibers
Definition
axons that carry info inward to the CNS from the periphery of the body (SNS)
Term
efferent nerve fibers
Definition
axons that carry info outward from the CNS to the periphery of the body (SNS)
Term
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Definition
made up of nerves that connect the heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles and glands, controls involuntary, visceral functions (PNS)
Term
sympathetic divison
Definition
mobilizes the body's resources for emergencies "fight-or-flight" response (ANS)
Term
parasympathetic division
Definition
conserves bodily resources, allows body to save and store energy (ANS)
Term
central nervous system (CNS)
Definition
consists of the brain and spinal cord
Term
cerebrospinal fluid
Definition
nourishes the brain & provides cushion
Term
blood-brain barrier
Definition
semipermeable membrane that stops some chemicals from passing between the bloodstream and the brain
Term
spinal cord
Definition
connects the brain to the rest of the body through the PNS, houses bundles of axons that carry the brain's commands to peripheral nerves and that relay sensations from the periphery of the body o the brain
Term
brain
Definition
part of the CNS that fills the upper portion of the skull, contains billions of interacting cells that integrate info
Term
lesioning
Definition
involves destroying a piece of the brain, inserting an electrode into a brain structure and passing high-frequency electric current through it to burn tissue and disable the structure
Term
electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB)
Definition
involves sending a weak electric current into a brain structure to stimulate it
Term
computerized tomography (CT)
Definition
computer enhanced Xray of the brain structure, image of a horizontal slice of the brain
Term
magnetic response imaging (MRI)
Definition
uses magnetic fields, radio waves, and computerized enhancement to map out brain structure, 3D images of the brain w/ high resolution
Term
positron emission tomography (PETscan)
Definition
use radioactive markers to map chemical activity in the brain over time
Term
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
Definition
consists of several new variations of MRI techonology that monitor blood & oxygen flow in the brain to identify areas of high activity
Term
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Definition
a technique that permits scientists to temporarily enhance or depress activity in a specific area of the brain
Term
hindbrain
Definition
includes the cerebellum,medulla & pons
Term
medulla
Definition
attaches to the spinal cord, (breathing,maintaining muscle tone, & regulating circulation)
Term
pons
Definition
bridge of fibers that connect the brainstem w/ the cerebellum, contains several clusters of cell bodies involved w/ sleep & arousal
Term
cerebellum
Definition
a relatively large & deeply folded structure located adjacent to the back surface of the brainstem,(coordination,equilibrium,physical balance, muscular movements, easily depressed by alcohol)
Term
midbrain
Definition
the segment of the brainstem that lies between the hindbrain and forebrain, contains area concerned w/ integrating sensory processes, dopamine releasing neurons originate here, reticular formation
Term
forebrain
Definition
the largest & most complex region of the brain, contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system & cerebrum
Term
thalamus
Definition
a structure in the forebrain through which all sensory info (except smell) must pass to get to the cerebral cortex
Term
hypothalamus
Definition
a structure found near the base of the forebrains that is involved in regulation of basic biological needs, controls ANS, four F's,thirst, sex drive & temp regulation
Term
limbic system
Definition
a loosely connected network of structures located roughly along the border between the cerebral cortex and deeper subcortical ares, includes parts of the thalamus,hypothalamus,hippocampus, and the amygdala
Term
hippocampal area
Definition
plays a role in memory processes
Term
amygdala
Definition
may play a central role in learning of fear responses
Term
medial forebrain bundle
Definition
"pleasure centers" a bundle of axons that pass through the hypothalamus
Term
cerebrum
Definition
the largest & most complex part of the human brain, includes areas responsible fore learning, remembering, thinking, and consciousness iteself
Term
cerebral cortex
Definition
the convoluted outer lay of the cerebrum
Term
cerebral hemispheres
Definition
separated in the center of the brain by a longitudinal fissure
Term
corpus callosum
Definition
the major structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres
Term
occipital lobe
Definition
(back of the head) includes the cortical area where most visual signals are sent and visual processing is begun (primary visual cortex)
Term
parietal lobe
Definition
includes the area that registers the sense of touch (primary somatosensory cortex)
Term
temporal lobe
Definition
contains the area devoted to auditory processing (primary auditory cortex)
Term
frontal lobe
Definition
contains the principle areas that control the movement of muscles ( primary motor cortex) (largest)
Term
split-brain surgery
Definition
the bundle of fibers that connects the cerebral hemispheres( the corpus callosum) is cut to reduce the severity of epileptic seizures , the two hemispheres become isolated & have 2 separate conscious worlds at the same time
Term
endocrine system
Definition
consists of glands that secrete chemicals into the bloodstream that help control bodily functioning
Term
hormones
Definition
the chemical substances released by the endocrine glands, long term regulation of basic bodily processes
Term
pituitary gland
Definition
releases a great variety of hormones that fan out within the body, stimulating actions in the other endocrine glands, used in "fight-or- flight"
Term
gonadotropins
Definition
affect the sexual glands, shape your sexual identity during prenatal development
Term
chromosomes
Definition
threadlike strands of DNA molecules that carry genetic info (23 pairs)
Term
genes
Definition
DNA segments that serve as the key functional units in hereditary transmission
Term
polygenic traits
Definition
characteristics that are influenced by more than one pair of genes (skin color)
Term
family studies
Definition
researchers assess hereditary influence by examining blood relatives to see how much they resemble one another on a specific trait
Term
twin studies
Definition
researchers assess hereditary influence by comparing the resemblance of identical & fraternal twins w/ respect to that trait
Term
adoption studies
Definition
assess hereditary influence by examining the resemblance between adopted children & both their biological and adoptive parents
Term
fitness
Definition
refers to the reproductive success of an individual organism relative to the average reproductive success in the population
Term
adaptation
Definition
an inherited characteristic that increased in population b/c it helped solve a problem of survival or reproduction during the time it emerged
Term
critical period
Definition
a limited time span in the development of an organism when it is optimal for certain capacities to emerge b/c the organism is especially responsive to certain experiences
Term
sensation
Definition
the stimulation of sense organs
Term
perception
Definition
the selection, organization, & interpretation or sensory input
Term
light
Definition
a form of electromagnetic radiation that travels as a wave moving, naturally enough, at the speed of light
Term
amplitude
Definition
effects the perception of brightness
Term
wavelength
Definition
effects the perception of color
Term
purity
Definition
the mix of wavelength affects perception of saturation or richness
Term
lens
Definition
a transparent eye structure that focuses the light rays falling on the retina
Term
nearsightedness
Definition
close up objects are seen clearly but distant appear blurry (eyeball is too long)
Term
farsightedness
Definition
distant objects are seen clearly but close objects appear blurry (eyeball is too short)
Term
cataract
Definition
lens that is clouded
Term
pupil
Definition
the opening in the center of the iris that helps regulate the amount of light passing into the rear chamber of the eye
Term
retina
Definition
the neural tissue lining the inside of the back surface of the eye; it absorbs light, processes images, and sends visual info to the brain
Term
optic disk
Definition
hole in the retina (blind spot)
Term
cones
Definition
specialized visual receptors that play a key role in daylight and color vision (sharp & precise detail) 7 million in each eye, mostly concentrated in the fovea, 3 types, red blue green,each has its own bipolar cell that has its own ganglion cell
Term
fovea
Definition
a tiny spot in the center of the retina that contains only cones; visual acuity is greatest in this spot
Term
rods
Definition
specialized visual receptors that play a key role in night and peripheral vision, 120 million in each eye, mostly outside fovea, share bipolar cells which share ganglion cells
Term
dark adaptation
Definition
the process in which the eyes become more sensitive to light in low illumination
Term
light adaptation
Definition
the process in which the eyes become less sensitive to light within high illumination
Term
receptive field
Definition
of a visual cell is the retinal area that, when stimulated affects the firing of that cell
Term
simple cells
Definition
quite specific on which stimulus make them fire
Term
complex cells
Definition
also care about width & orientation but respond to any position
Term
hypercomplex cells
Definition
cells that are particularly fussy about the length of a stimulus line
Term
feature detectors
Definition
neurons that respond selectively to very specific features of more complex stimuli
Term
ventral stream (after the visual cortex)
Definition
processes the details of what objects are out there
Term
dorsal stream (after the visual cortex)
Definition
processes where the objects are
Term
subtractive color mixing
Definition
works by removing some wavelengths of light, leaving less light than was originally there, (yellow paint + blue paint =green)
Term
additive color mixing
Definition
works by super imposing lights, putting more light in the mixture than exists in any one light by itself (white light= entire visible spectrum)
Term
colorblindness
Definition
encompasses a variety of deficiencies in the ability to distinguish among colors
Term
dichromats
Definition
make do w/ only 2 color channels
Term
complementary colors
Definition
are pairs of colors that produce gray tones when mixed together
Term
afterimage
Definition
a visual image that persist after a stimulus is removed ( the color of the afterimage will be the complementary color of the one u originally stared at)
Term
opponent process theory
Definition
holds that color perception depends on receptors that make antagonistic responses to three pairs of colors (red v green, blue v yellow, black v white)occurs in ganglion cells
Term
reversible figure
Definition
a drawing that is compatible w/ 2 different interpretations that can shift back & forth
Term
perceptual set
Definition
a readiness to perceive a stimulus in a particular way
Term
inattentional blindness
Definition
involves the failure to see fully visible objects or events in a visual display
Term
feature analysis
Definition
the process of detecting specific elements in visual input assembling them into more complex form
Term
bottom-up processing
Definition
a progression from individual elements to the whole
Term
top-down processing
Definition
a progression from the whole to the elements
Term
phi phenomenon
Definition
the illusion of movement created by presenting visual stimuli in rapid succession (tv & movies)
Term
perceptual hypothesis
Definition
an inference about what form could be responsible for a pattern of sensory stimulation
Term
depth perception
Definition
involves interpretation of visual cues that indicate how near or far away objects are
Term
binocular cues
Definition
clues about distance based on differing views of the two eyes
Term
retinal disparity
Definition
refers to the fact that objects w/in 25ft project images to slightly different locations on the right & left retinas, so the right and left eyes see slightly different views on an object
Term
monocular cues
Definition
clues about distance based on the image in either eye alone (linear perspective, texture,interposition,relative size,height in the plane,shading,aerial haze)
Term
pictorial depth cue
Definition
cues about distance that can be given in flat picture
Term
perceptual constancy
Definition
is a tendency to experience a stable perception in the face of continually changing sensory input (shape, size)
Term
visual illusions
Definition
involves an apparently inexplicable discrepency between the appearance of visual stimulus & its physical reality
Term
impossible figures
Definition
objects that can be represented in 2D pictures but cannot exist in 3D space
Term
external ear
Definition
depends on the vibration of air molecules (pinna & eardrum)
Term
middle ear
Definition
depends on the vibration of movable bones (ossicles-hammer,anvil,stirrup)
Term
inner ear
Definition
depends on the waves in a fluid (cochlea, 3 semicircular canals)
Term
pinna
Definition
a sound collecting cone
Term
eardrum
Definition
a taut membrane that vibrates in repsonse
Term
ossicles
Definition
(hammer,anvil, stirrup) convert relatively large movements w/ little force into smaller motions w/ greater force, serve to amplify tiny changes in air pressure
Term
cochlea
Definition
a fluid-filled coiled tunnel that contains the receptors for hearing (neural tissue lies w/in), enter cochlea thru oval window
Term
basilar membrane
Definition
runs the length of the spiraled cochlea, holds the auditory receptors, called hair cells
Term
hair cells
Definition
convert physical stimulation into neural impulses sent to the brain
Term
place theory
Definition
holds that perception of pitch corresponds to the vibration of different portions, or places, along the basilar membrane
Term
frequency theory
Definition
holds that perception of pitch corresponds to the rate, or frequency, at which the entire basilar membrane vibrates
Term
taste buds
Definition
made up of gustatory receptors(taste cells), line the trenches around tiny bumps on the tongue
Term
sensory adaptation
Definition
a gradual decline in sensitivity to prolonged stimulation (occurs in taste,smell,touch)
Term
olfactory cilia
Definition
smell receptors, hairlike structures located in the upper portion of the nasal passages (short life span)
Term
gate-control theory
Definition
holds that incoming pain sensations must pass through a "gate" in the spinal cored that can be closed, thus blocking ascending pain signals
Term
door-in-the-face technique
Definition
involves making a large request that is likely to be turned down as a way to increase the chances that people will agree to a smaller request later
Term
comparitors
Definition
people,objects, events, and other standards that are used as a baseline for comparison in making judgements
Term
illusory correlation
Definition
the perception of a relationship where none exists (Chapman&Chapman) rorschach cards w/images and homosexuality
Term
experimental method
Definition
useful for testing cause and effect
Term
"within-Ss design"
Definition
use just one group, same subject gets both
Term
generalizability
Definition
extent to which results generalize beyond original experimental situation aka external validity
Term
experimenter bias
Definition
when the experimenter unintentionally influences the outcome of a study
Term
interaction effect
Definition
when the effect of one IV depends on the level of the other IV
Term
correlational method
Definition
used to determine if an association exist between 2 variables, cant prove cause&effect,directionality problem, third variable problem
Term
curvilinear relationships
Definition
the "inverted U" ex: feeling of wellness vs. # of alcohol drinks consumed
Term
neuron fires
Definition
if stimulation from adjoining neurons is intense enough when it reaches the axon, ion channels open and sodium ions rush in
Term
repolarization
Definition
as the AP advances, original voltage differential is restored
Term
anesthesia
Definition
(Ex Novocain) clogs up ion channels resulting in a longer abs refractory period, less neural impulses
Term
highest firing rate
Definition
1000 APs/sec
Term
all-or-none law
Definition
the neuron either fires or it doesnt, neurons convey strength of stimuli by varying the rate at which they fire, thicker axons transmit neural impulses more rapidly
Term
sensations from extremities
Definition
AP doesnt fade out from the beginning to the end of the axon
Term
spatial summation
Definition
several PSPs occur simultaneously at different receptor sites
Term
temporal summation
Definition
several PSPs occur in rapid succession at a single receptor site
Term
PSP's in the dendrite & soma
Definition
"graded" not all or none, potential to fade out
Term
stimulus intensity
Definition
frequency of firing,number of neurons that fire
Term
synaptic transmission
Definition
NT's diffuse across the synaptic cleft and "bind" in receptor sites of post-synaptic neurons.. lock & key
Term
What happens to NT's after binding
Definition
they are broken down by enzymes and flushed out of the system or reuptake
Term
epilepsy
Definition
an electrical storm in the brain, can be seen with EEG, due to lack of inhibitory NT's especially GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid), seizures controlled w/ drugs that increase GABA (valproic acid)
Term
schizophrenia
Definition
partly due to "dopamine overactivity" in brain cells involved in thought and speech (2 much dopamine or too many dopamine receptor sites) Thorazine (antagonist) reduces levels of dopamine
Term
Parkinson's Disease
Definition
affects 1% over age 50, no "starter system" for movements, tremors, caused by death in the dopamine producing cells (substantia nigra) which supplies dopamine to the basal ganglia. mild park.-L-dopa, severe-dopamine producing brain grafts from aborted fetuses (40% improve sig)
Term
cerebral laterality
Definition
specialization of function for each hemisphere
Term
contralateral principle
Definition
each hemisphere's primary connections are to the opposite side of the body
Term
dissociation
Definition
at the same time each hemisphere is having their own separate awareness of the world
Term
light enters the eye
Definition
thru the cornea, enters eye thru pupil, passes thru lens, then projected onto the retina
Term
retina
Definition
3 main layers of cells ganglion (translucent), bipolar (translucent), rods and cones
Term
blue
Definition
400-500 nanometers
Term
green
Definition
475-600 nanometers
Term
red
Definition
490-650 nanometers
Term
visible light
Definition
small part of the electromagnetic spectrum we can see (359-750 nm)
Term
trichromats
Definition
sensitive to all 3 wavelengths
Term
monochromats
Definition
1/40,000, missing all 3 pigments, see the world in black/white/gray
Term
rods and cones
Definition
transmit impulses to bipolar cells which in turn stimulate ganglion cells
Term
dual process theory
Definition
both needed, early stage:trichromatic theory, later stages, ganglion cells, thalamus visual cortex, follows opponent process theory
Term
visual pathway to the brain
Definition
optic chiasm-LGN of the thalamus-visual cortex in the occipital lobe
Term
hierarchical processing
Definition
sequential processing
Term
cumulative cells
Definition
rely on other cells to give them info
Term
parallel processing
Definition
the brain simultaneously extracts diff kinds of info from a given input (all diff areas of the brain activated at the same time)
Term
perceptual organization
Definition
the process by which we psychologically structure sensory input, ( the "Mind's Eye")
Term
Gestalt principles
Definition
figure ground, laws of grouping-similarity,proximity,closure,simplicity,continuity
Term
muller-lyer illusion
Definition
when 2 objects of the same size are perceived as being at different distance, the one farther away is perceived as being larger, (corners)
Term
ponzo illusion
Definition
converging lines, linear perspective
Term
zollner illusion
Definition
illusion of directionality
Term
moon illusion
Definition
the moon looks bigger on the horizon than in the sky overhead
Term
horizontal-vertical illusion
Definition
gateway arch in st. louis looks taller than it is wide.. same height n width
Term
1879
Definition
psychology's "date of birth"
Term
The founder of psychology
Definition
Wilhelm Wundt
Term
verifiability
Definition
can be verified by anyone willing to make the required observations
Term
B.F. Skinner
Definition
no need to study internal mental events b/c they cant be studied scientifically, environmental factors mold behavior although it is influenced by an organisms biological endowment, organisms tend to repeat things that lead to positive outcomes and not repeat things that lead to negative ones, free will is an illusion
Term
applied psychology
Definition
the brand of psych concerned w/ everyday, practical problems, not big til WW2
Term
clinical psychology
Definition
the branch of psych concerned w/ the diagnosis and treatment of psych problems and disorders, more after WW2
Term
cognitive perspective
Definition
must study internal mental events to fully understand human behavior
Term
biological perspective
Definition
human and animal behavior can be explained in terms of the bodily structures and biochemical processes that allow organisms to behave
Term
American Psychological Association (APA)
Definition
national organization devoted to the advancement of psychology
Term
7 unifying themes
Definition
psych is empirical,psych is theoretically diverse, psych evolves in a sociohistorical context, behavior is determined by multiple causes, behavior is shaped by cultural heritage, heredity & environment jointly influence behavior, people's experience of the world is highly subjective
Term
scientific approach
Definition
assumes that event are governed by some lawful order
Term
goals of scientific enterprise
Definition
measurement & description, understanding and prediction, application & control
Term
steps in a scientific investigation
Definition
1.formulate a testable hypothesis, 2. select a research method and design the study 3.collect the data 4.analyze data and draw conclusions, 5. report the findings
Term
advantages of the scientific approach
Definition
clarity & precision, relative intolerance of error, more accurate & dependable info than casual analysis
Term
acetylcholine (ACh)
Definition
only transmitter between motor neurons and voluntary muscles, contributes to attention, arousal and perhaps memory
Term
monoamines
Definition
dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin
Term
dopamine
Definition
used by neurons that control voluntary movements, degeneration of such neurons causes Parkinson's Disease
Term
serotonin
Definition
plays a prominent role in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness, and eating behavior
Term
depression
Definition
lower levels of serotonin and norepinephrine
Term
endorphins
Definition
internally produced chemicals that resemble opiates in structure and effects, contribute to the modulation of pain
Term
reticular formation
Definition
contributes to the modulation of muscle reflexes, breathing and pain perception, regulates sleep and wakefulness, contributes to arousal, runs thru midbrain and hinbrain
Term
broca's area
Definition
plays an important role in speech
Term
wernicke's area
Definition
comprehension of language
Term
left hemisphere
Definition
verbal,language,speech,reading, writing, positive emotions
Term
right hemisphere
Definition
visual,spatial,musical,perceptions of other emotions, negative emotions
Term
darwin's insights
Definition
1. organisms vary in endless ways 2.these characteristics are heretable, 3.organisms ten to produce offspring at a pace that outstrips the local availability of food, living space and other crucial resources 4. if a specific heretable trait contributes to an organisms survival or reproductive success, organisms w/ that trait produce more offspring
Term
accomodation
Definition
occurs when the curvature of the lens adjusts to alter visual focus, close up-rounder, distant - flatter
Term
iris
Definition
colored ring around the pupil
Term
info processing in the retina
Definition
light strikes the retina-triggers neural signals -move to receptors in the bipolar cells-ganglion cells- which send impulses along the optic nerve-which carries visual info encoded as neural impulses to the brain
Term
sound
Definition
characterized by the amplitude, wavelength and purity, affect mainly perceived qualities ( loudness, pitch, timbre)
Term
sounds over 120 decibels
Definition
causes damage to your auditory system
Term
sounds under 1000Hz
Definition
frequency coding
Term
sounds between 1000-5000hz
Definition
combo of frequency & place coding
Term
over 5000Hz
Definition
place coding only
Term
4 primary tastes
Definition
sweet, sour, salty, bitter
Term
taste preferences
Definition
largely learned and heavily influenced by social processes
Term
nontasters
Definition
insensitive to taste, 1/4 as many tastebuds and super tasters
Term
supertasters
Definition
very sensitive to taste (more females than males)
Term
fast pathway of pain
Definition
registers the localized pain and relays it to the cortex in a fraction of a second
Term
slow pathway of pain
Definition
routed thru the limbic system which lags a second or 2 behind ( aching or burning after injury)
Term
convergence
Definition
the 2 eyes converge together to see something close (binocular cue)
Term
stereopsis
Definition
the process in visual perception leading to the sensation of depth from the two slightly different projections of the world onto the retinas of the two eyes
Term
lateral inhibition
Definition
neural activity in neighboring neurons is supressed, enhances contrast (hermann grid)
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