Term
| absolute refractory period |
|
Definition
| brief period toward the end of neural stimulation during which the nerve cannot be restimulated |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the lowest level of intensity of a stimulus at which its presence or absence can be correctly detected 50% of the time |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| in Piaget's system, the adaptive and modification of the child's cognitive structures in order to deal with new objects or experienes |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| adrenocorticotrophic hormone - a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland in response to stress, causing the adrenal cortex ti secrete corticosterone |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the nerve impulse; the changes in electrical potential along a nerve fiber that constitute the nerve impulse as it travels through the axon |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| substance produced by the adrenal gland which is related to increases in general arousal |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| nerves carried by the dorsal root which relay sensory impulses (information about the environment) to the central nervous system; sometimes used synonymously with sensory nerves |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a method for attacking a problem which is assured of success; often involves repetitive operations which survey the possibilities at each step |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the principle that the axon of a neuron fires either with full strength or not at all to a stimulus, regardless of its intensity, provided the stimulus is at least the threshold value |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a part of the lymbic system, the system where emotion is organized, it is located between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland and becomes active whenever we encounter anything new or expected |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| substances associated with male sex hormone activity in vertebrates, produced mainly by the testes and to a small extent by ovaries and the adrenal cortex |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| loss or impairment of the ability to express or receive linguistic communications, resulting from cerebral damage to the parietotemporal cortex |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| in Piaget's theory, the taking in of new information. Assimilation ultimately results in the accommodation of a schema to the new information |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| in psychophysics and cognition the theoretical approach that complex ideas are the result of association between simple elements. |
|
|
Term
| autonomic nervous system (ANS) |
|
Definition
| the peripheral nervous system that controls the function of many glands and smooth-muscle organs. divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the elongated part of a nerve cell body which carries the nerve impulse away from the cell body toward another nerve fiber or neural structure |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| reflex present in the newborn child, but disappears later in life. involves the fanning of the toes as a result of being tickled in the center of the soles of the feet. normal adults curl their toes inward rather than fanning them outward |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the application of scientifically derived principles (usually from learning) to the control of human behavior. both classical and operant conditioning may be employed. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a system of psychology, founded by John B. Watson, which studied observable, measurable stimuli and responses only, without reference to consciousness or mental constructs, which the system argues have no real utility. the objective is to predict the response evoked by central stimuli. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the minor difference between the two retinal images when viewing a 3d object. it is caused by the separation of the two eyes with a consequent difference in the visual angle. binocular disparity is important in the depth perception. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the use of a device to reveal psychological responses that are usually unobservable. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| one of the areas of the cerebral cortex, located in the frontal lobe, which is important for the motor aspects of speech. located in the inferior frontal gyrus in the left cerebral hemisphere of right-handed individuals and in the right hemisphere for left-handed people |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a theory of emotion that holds that bodily reaction and emotional experience occur simultaneously because they are both controlled from the same place in the midbrain. it challenged the Janes-Lange theory of emotion |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| any reaction in which there is a complete withdrawal characterized by an inhibition of movement, speech, and responsiveness to the environment |
|
|
Term
| central nervous system (CNS) |
|
Definition
| the brain and the spinal cord |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the outermost half-inch layer of the cerebral hemispheres, it contains motor, sensory, and intellectual processes. gray matter. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the largest and most highly developed part of the nervous system in higher animals. divided int hte right and left hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum. occupies the entire upper area of the cranium and is involved in the regulation of sensory processes, through formation, and motor activity. |
|
|
