Psychology 101 Test 1 Terms and Definitions PDF

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Psychology 101 Test 1 Terms and Definitions (Dr. Wendy Quinton) What is psychology?  The scientific study of thoughts, feelings and behaviors and the relationship between them Which of the three are directly observable?  Behavior Why aren't thoughts and feelings directly observable?  They are mental processes but are indirectly observable "Psyche"  Mind or Soul "Logos"  Knowledge or Study What are the major research areas in contemporary psychology?  Biological, Experimental, Cognitive, Developmental, Personality, Social, Psychometrics, Clinical, Counseling, Educational, School, Industrial and Organizational Psychology (IO Psychology or Organizational Behavior) biological psychology  Studies how our body affects our behavior (hormones, genetics, etc.) Experimental psychology  Study of basic processes (emotion, learning, motivation, etc.) Cognitive Psychology

 Study of our higher mental processes ( memory, reasoning, language, information processing) developmental psychology  Studies human development Personality psychology  Studies consistency (thoughts, feelings, behaviors) Social Psychology  Studies how we navigate the social world, and why we do what we do Psychometrics  Measures things that aren't observable Clinical Psychology  Focuses on abnormal behavior ( disorders, etc.) Counseling Psychology  Helping people adjust to everyday struggles Educational and School Psychology  How to improve academic achievement and counseling with children industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology  Typically hired from businesses; focuses on factors that can improve the workspace What are the roots of psychology?  Philosophy: Emerges from a traction of asking questions Physiology: Questions about the functions and capabilities

Ideas and Methods = Psychology What was the influence of Philosophy on Psychology?  Took Philosophic issues and created psychology questions Ex: Free Will vs. Determinism ----> What causes patients with antisocial disorder to commit criminal behavior Nature vs. Nurture ----> To what extent is intelligence inherited? What was the influence of Physiology on Psychology?  Physicians and Physiologists did the first research on: -brain function -Nervous System -Vision -Touch -Audition(Hearing) Who started the first experimental laboratory in psychology? What did he focus on?  Wilhelm Wundt focused on the elements of consciousness Wundtian Psychology and Structuralism (1875-1925) What method was used? What other key player was focused on this study?  Focused on the mind's elements and structure Method: Introspection Key player: Titchener Introspection  A method of self-observation in which participants report their thoughts and feelings

Functionalism (1900-1950) What method was used? What other key player was focused on this study?  Reaction against Structuralism. Focused on what function does the mind serve Method: Anything that informs. Focused on the purpose of consciousness and behavior. Key Players: William James Psychoanalysis (1900s- Now) What method was used? What other key player was focused on this study?  A method of studying how the mind works and treating mental disorders Method: Therapeutic Technique Process Key Player: Sigmund Freud Behaviorism (1910s - Now) What method was used? What other key player was focused on this study?  The science of behavior that focuses on observable behavior only. Method: Manipulate Variable, Observe Behavior Key Players: Watson and Skinner Humanistic Psychology (1950s- Now) What method was used? What other key player was focused on this study?  A clinical viewpoint emphasizing human ability, growth, potential, and free will. Method: Therapeutic process, Measurement Key Players: Rogers and Maslow What is "The Scientific Attitude" and how was it used in Psychology?

 Separating sense from nonsense. Uses Skepticism(ex: show me the evidence), Curiosity( ex: why do people like horror films) and Humility( ex: rejecting yourself) What are the Goals of Psychology  Measurement and Description, Understanding and Prediction, and Application and Control Measurement and Description  -Characterize thoughts, feelings, or behavior based on measurement -Devise a method for measuring psychological variable of interest -Find a way to measure and describe a given phenomenon Understanding and Prediction  -Look for reasons why a phenomenon occurs - Predict under what conditions a phenomenon will occur and when it won't work Application and Control  -See value of research in the real world - Understanding often leads to greater control What are Psychology's main research methods?  Case Studies, Natural Observation, Surveys and Experimentation Case Studies?  a research method that involves the intensive examination and analysis of the experiences of a particular person or group of people Ex: Phineas Gage Naturalistic Observation?

 observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation Surveys?  Questionnaires and interviews that ask people directly about their experiences, attitudes, or opinions. Experimentation?  Investigation of cause and effect relationships though manipulation of variables ( Independent and Dependent Variables) Key: -Control over Variables - The only research method that can say "cause" (ex: the drug caused less anxiety) What type of Research Method is the following? - Askes people's attitude about living in Buffalo  Survey What type of Research Method is the following? -Describe trends in drive- thru traffic at Tim Hortons  Naturalistic Observation What type of Research Method is the following? -Investigate potential causes of caffeine addiction  Experimentation What type of Research Method is the following? -Study the experiences of a person born without the ability to perceive pain  Case Study What are some issues in Research Methods?  Limits of correlation and experimentation

limits of correlational method  correlation does not equal causation Limits of experimentation method  -Necessity of proper design, control and execution (ex: straight vs. curly hair study) -Artificiality -Generalization -Difficulty/ Impossibility (IVs like diet, brain injury, toxic environments, handedness, etc.) The Nervous System  the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems What are the two categories of cells?  Glia and Neurons Glia?  the connective tissue of the nervous system. Provides structure, support and nourishment for neurons Neurons?  Individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate, and transmit information. What is contained in the structure of neurons?  The Soma, Dendrities, Axon, Terminal Buttons, Myelin, Nodes of Ranvier and the Synapse Soma?  cell body of a neuron, contains the nucleus

Dendrites?  Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information. Axon?  Long, thin fiber that transmits signs Terminal Buttons?  small knobs that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters

Myelin?  A white fatty substance that is an insulating material that speeds up the transmission of signals What is the bad thing about myelin?  It can deteriorate ( multiple sclerosis ) Nodes of Ranvier?  Breaks in myelin ( natural gaps ) Synapse?  Junction (gap) between neurons which messages are transmitted Where do neurons communicate?  In the synapses Action Potential?  a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon What happens during action potential?  -Neuron sends message to terminal buttons -Terminal buttons release chemicals (neurotransmitters) into the synapse

-Neurotransmitters are received by dendrites ( or soma) of next neuron What is the all or none law?  The principle that the strength by which a nerve or muscle fiber responds to a stimulus is not dependent on the strength of the stimulus. If the stimulus is any strength above threshold, the nerve or muscle fiber will either give a complete response or no response at all. Where does transmission take place?  In the synaptic cleft; gap between the terminal button and cell membrane What do presynaptic neurons do?  Send signals What do postsynaptic neurons do?  Receive signals

postsynaptic potential (PSP)  a voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane What are the types of neurotransmitters?  excitatory and inhibitory What is Excitatory PSP?  A positve voltage chance; increases the chances the PSP has an action potential What is Inhibitory PSP?  A negative voltage shift; decreases the chances the PSP has an action potential

How long does action potential last?  a fraction of a second What is a reuptake?  when neurotransmitters are soaked up by the presynaptic membrane What are some common neurotransmitters?  Acetylcholine (Ach) Dopamine (DA) Norepinephrine (NE) Serotonin (5-HT) Acetylcholine (ACh)  A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction; involved in attention, arousal and memory What neurotransmitter is associated with Alzheimer's disease?  Acetylcholine ( an undersupply ) What blocks the receptors of Acetylcholine?  Curare Dopamine (DA)  A neurotransmitter that is linked to muscle activity and pleasurable emotions

What neurotransmitter is associated with Parkinson's disease?  Dopamine ( a shortage ) What neurotransmitter could be associated with Schizophrenia?  Dopamine ( over activity at the DA synapses? ) ( is currently being studied )

Norepinephrine (NE)  A neurotransmitter that increases arousal and modulates mood What is an effect of too much Norepinephrine?  Manic states ( wildly optimistic, hyperactive state of being) What are some drugs that gives off the feeling of being exposed to too much norepinephrine?  Cocaine and amphetamines ( elevates activity at NE synapses ) What neurotransmitter is associated with Depression?  Norepinephrine ( too little NE ) AND Serotonin (Too little 5-HT) What drugs target low Norepinephrine?  SNRI's ( selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors ) What do SNRI's prevent?  The reuptake of norepinephrine Serotonin ( 5-HT )  A neurotransmitter that lowers activity level and causes sleep; related to positive emotions; anxiety What does serotonin inhibit (have less of)?  Dreaming What are psychedelic drugs and what does it inhibit the actions of?  LSD; Inhibits the actions of serotonin (halluncinations) What are SSRI's?  selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

What do SSRIs do?  block reuptake of serotonin How is the nervous system organized?  Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) Where is the central nervous system (CNS)?  brain and spinal cord Where is the peripheral nervous system(PNS)?  All neurons outside the brain and spinal cord What purpose does the spinal cord serve in the CNS?  Connects the brain to the body through PNS; Houses bundles of axons that carries the brain's messages to the body What are the parts of the spinal cord highest to lowest?  Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar and Sacral Vertebrae Higher up the injury on spinal cord is  the greater the damage hemiplegia  paralysis of one side of the body paraplegia  paralysis from the waist down quadriplegia  paralysis of all four limbs How many neurons are in the brain?  Roughly 86 billion

The smaller the brain,________________  The smoother it is The larger the brain,____________  The more convoluted (wrinkles, packed and more complex) How many regions is the human brain divided into?  Three regions What are the three regions of the brain?  hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain What is the organization of the human brain closest to the face to the tail?  Forebrain, Midbrain, Hindbrain and Spinal Cord What parts of the brain does the Hindbrain hold?  The Cerebellum Medulla Pons What is the cerebellum in charge of?  Balance and coordination What is the medulla in charge of?  Responsible for regulating largely unconscious functions such as breathing and circulation What is the pons in charge of?  Involved in sleep and arousal; connects different regions of the brain (a bridge) What does the midbrain contain?  integrating sensory processes, such as vision and hearing

What neurotransmitter is released in the midbrain?  Dopamine What is the most important structure in the midbrain and what does it play a role in?  Reticular Activating System and is involved in sleep, arousal, breathing and pain perception What parts of the brain does the forebrain contain?  The Hypothalamus Thalamus Cerebral Cortex Neocortex The Limbic System What is the hypothalamus responsible for?  Regulates biological drives - The Four "F's" - (Fighting, Fleeing, Feeding and "Mating") What is the Thalamus responsible for?  directs sensory information; handles incoming and outgoing signals What parts of the brain are included in the Limbic System?  Amygdala and Hippocampus What is the amygdala involved in?  Emotion and fear responses What is the hippocampus responsible for?  learning and memory; also determines what is important to store Where is the cerebral cortex located?

 The outer layer of the cerebrum ( largest, most complex part of the brain) What is the cerebral cortex responsible for?  learning, remembering, thinking, perceiving, and producing language The more complex the brain  the bigger it is and an increase in wrinkling What animals is the cerebral cortex present in?  Mammals. especially dolphins and primates What animals are the cerebral cortex absent in?  Fish, Reptiles, Birds What is the neocortex?  Outermost layer of the cerebral cortex How much of the neocortex is present in humans? In other mammals?  80% ; 30% - 40% What is the cerebrum divided into? What connects it?  Left and Right Hemispheres that are connected by the corpus callosum What is the left hemisphere responsible for?  language, math, logic What is the right hemisphere responsible for?  imagination and artistic ability, left hand control, spatial relationships, insight Traumatic Brain Injury  a blow to the head or a penetrating head injury that damages the brain; interrupts normal function of the brain

What are ranges of TBIs?  Mild, Moderate and Severe What is the recent focus when it comes to studying mTBI's?  Looking at populations that suffer from repeated mTBI's (Combat veterans, contact sports and victims of domestic violence) What is the possible long term effects of repeated mTBI's?  Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) What does CTE look like?  Abnormal buildup of the tau protein in the brain When can CTE be diagnosed?  Only diagnosed post mortem (after death) and can occur months, years or decades after the last brain trauma What does CTE affect?  Cognitive, Behavior and Mood How exactly does CTE affect cognitive?  Memory impairment, executive function impairment ( planning, organizing, multitasking, impaired judgement, etc. ) Progressive dementia How exactly does CTE affect behavior?  Poor impulse control (short fuse, difficulty making choices) Disinhibition ( a lack of restraint manifested in disregard of social conventions, impulsivity, and poor risk assessment ) Aggression, increased violence Substance Abuse How exactly does CTE affect mood?

 Depression ( low mood/ pleasure ) Apathy ( doesn't care anymore ) Irritability ( triggers ) Hopelessness, suicidality What is sensation?  Stimulation of sense organs ( eyes, mouth, ears, nose, body, etc.) What is perception?  The selection, organization, and interpretation of sensory input ( involves categorizing and translating) What is on the spectrum of sensation to perception?  Stimulus energy ( light, sound, smell ) --->Sensory Receptors ( Eyes, Ears, Nose, etc. ) ----> Neural Impulses --> Brain ( visual, auditory, olfactory areas ) What physical stimulus are we sensing during vision?  Electromagnetic Radiation What physical stimulus are we sensing during hearing?  Oscillations in air pressure What physical stimulus are we sensing during smell?  Airborne chemicals ( dissolving in mucus in our nose ) What physical stimulus are we sensing during taste?  Contact with chemicals ( dissolve in mouth ) What physical stimulus are we sensing during touch?  Detecting pressure, temperature and pain What is absolute threshold?  Minimum amount of stimulation that an organism can detect

When something is below the threshold________  it can be detected When something is above the threshold________  it can't be detected What is the minimum stimulus are we sensing during vision?  A candle flame seen at 30 miles on a clear, dark night (can't see more than 30 miles away, but can see below it) What is the minimum stimulus are we sensing during hearing?  Tick of a watch at 20 ft under quiet conditions (can't hear when more than 20 ft) What is the minimum stimulus are we sensing during taste?  Detect the sweetness with one teaspoon of sugar in 2 gallons of water What is the minimum stimulus are we sensing during smell?  One drop of perfume into the air of six rooms What is the minimum stimulus are we sensing during touch?  Feel of a fly's wing falling on your cheek from 1 cm away What is the human eye only visible to?  Visible wavelengths of 300 - 760 nanometers (can't see below or above) Light varies in terms of it's________  amplitude ( brightness ) and wavelength ( color ) What does the occipital lobe receive and process? Where does it happen?  Visual Signals; Primary Visual Cortex

What role does the eyes and brain take when it comes to vision?  Eyes detect and transports; Occipital lobe transports Result = Sight What happens when we hear things?  Auditory sensations surround and inform us What is the range of sound detection in decibels?  0 to ~180 decibels...