PSYC Test 1

psychology

the scientific study of behavior and mental processes of humans and animals

evolved from the questions asked in philosophy and physiology

mental process

a thought, observation, memories

behavior

an observable trait about a human or animal

goals of psychology

descrive, predict, explain, control, change, or influence behavior and mental processes

Wilhelm wundt

established first psych lab

edward b titchener

developed structuralism: using introspection and study of basic components of conscious experiences

william james

functionalism

classical conditioning

associating a neutral stimulus with an authomatic behavior

Ivan Pavlov dog experiment

little albert

conducted by John Watson

discovering how behavior is acquired and modified in response to environmental influences

Skinner

learning by consequence, conditioned by environment

Skinner box

Charles Whitman

texas sniper compelled to commit his crime by a disturbance to his amygdala

psychodynamic perspective

emphasizes unconscious processes and early experiences. claims the person you become as an adult is molded by childhood experiences

behavioral perspective

focuses on observable behavior and fundamental learning laws

studies how behavior is aquired through experience and envrionment (consequence)

based on Watson and Skinner

Humanistic perspective

focuses on psychological growth, imterperonal relationship and self concept. emphasizes the importance of choice and self direction

based on maslow and rogers

cognitive perspective

focuses on influences of mental process on behavior: memory, perception, language, problem solving, thinking

influenced by development of computers that provided a model for conceptualizing human mental processes

cross cultural perspective

proposed that multicultural individuals with strong cultural identities tend to have high self esteem

ethnocentricsm

using ones culture to evaluate other cultures

individualistic culture

emphasize the importance of controlling stressful circumstances

evolutionary perspective

applies to principals of evolution to explain psychological processes

assumes that these processes are subject to natural selection

independent variable

factor manipulated to produce change in an experiment

dependent varaivle

factor observed and measured for change in an experiment

confounding variable

extraneous variables that are not the focus of the experiment but could affect its outcome

experiment

Independent variable IV

control

placebo

axons

nerves are bundles of axons, typically large enough to see with the eye

myelin sheath

insulates and speeds neural transmission

multiple sclerosis

destroys sheath and neural transmission

action potential

produced by movement of electrically charged particles across the axon membrane

action potential number

+40

resting potential number

-70

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synapse between neurons after release They can be reabsorbed and recycled (reuptake) or destroyed by enzymes.  

Depending on the receptor it bind to, a neurotransmitter communicates either an:

excitatory or inhibitory message to a postsynaptic neuron. 

lock

receptor

key

neurotransmitter

Antagonist:

decreases NT levels, drugs that increase reuptake lower NT levels at the synapse 

Somatic nervous system:

communicates sensory information to CNS and motor messages from CNS to muscles 

ANS:

regulates involuntary functions regulated by the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

The endocrine system  

A system of glands that release hormones  

the pituitary gland

regulated by the hypothalamus, which releases pituary gland hormones

prolactin

stimulates milk prod in nursing mother

Oxytocin

is involved in bonding and attachment as well as aggression in some circumstances  

neuroplasticity

The human brain has remarkable capacity to change in function and structure in response to experience

Little kids can learn easier because

their brain is still squishy and can learn new info. Functional plasticity 

Electroencephalography EEG 

Measures brain activity  

PET Scan: Position emission tomography  

detects the levels of activity in the brain through color coded images that show up after using a radioactively tagged compound that tracks the brain

CAT Scan Computed tomography 

X rays put into a computer to show structure in the brain  

MRI Magnetic resonance imaging  

Non invasive imaging technique that produces highly detailed images of the body’s structures and tissues and brain structure. Electromagnetic signals generated by the body in response to magnetic fields

Amygdala 

Part of the limbic system. Involved in a variety of responses 

Cerebral cortex 

Composed of mainly glial cells and neuron cells  

Gray matter:

composed of neuron cell bodies 

White matter:

composed of Myelinated axons  

Parietal lobe 

somatosensory information includes touch, temperature, pressure and receptor information in muscles and joints 

key theme

Correlational studies show how strongly two factors are related 

Naturalistic observation  

Going out and observing something in its natural habitat/environment.  

issues with naturalistic observation

if what you are observing sees you in its environment, it can change their behavior. there can also be observer bias that influences the results

surveys

Generates a lot of data without having to spend a lot 

issues with surveys

Small sample sizes can interfere with the accuracy of data  

poor framing (the way a question is phrased) can interfere with how people respond  

case studies

Help us to understand any rare phenomenon 

issues with case studies

Some studies can be unethical but allow for many experiments 

it is possible to generalize case studies, causing researchers to assume that the same things will happen to all subjects 

Longitudinal studies 

Correlation tells you that two factors seem to be related or that they co vary in a systematic way.

issues with longitudinal studies

Even if two factors are very strongly correlated, correlation does not necessarily indicate causality 

Engage in critical thinking 

Identify the claim (Consider objectivity if the people making the claim can profit from its use) 

Evaluate evidence 

Consider alternative explanations  

Consider the source of the research or claim 

nurture vs nature

characteristics are determined by genetics or are determined by environment

correlation

designed to see if variables are relaxed in some way

a positive correlation

moving in the same direction

a negative correlation

moving in the opposite direction

correlation close to 0

the weakest, regardless of if 1 is positive or negative

illusive correality

some things are predictive but not cause and effect

cns central nervous system

brain, spinal cord

somatic ns

voluntary control

autonomic ns

involuntary actions

sympathetic ns

fight or flight response

parasympathetic ns

calms you down after fight or flight

afferent nerves

send info from the body to the brain

efferent nerves

send info from the brain to the body

interneuron

allows for communication between afferent and efferent systems

synapse

space between neurons

presynaptic

in front

post synaptic

behind

nodes of ranvier

spaces between the myelin sheath

serotonin

role in appetite and mood

ssri

serotonin specific reuptake inhibitor

causes serotonin levels to come up and depression levels to go down

reuptake

pulling back

dopamine

pleasure chemicals

parkinsons disease

drops in dopamine create tremors

acetylcholine

controls voluntary movement and learning/memory

alzheimers disease

drops in acetylcholine

gaba

slows CNS functioning, creating mood boosting or relaxing effects

depressants

also slow cns functioning. alcohol, nicotine, etc

endorphins

deaden pain and make it less severe to the point that you can escape the cause of said pain

opiates

deaden pain. morphine, vicodine, percocet, etc

IPSP

inhibitory post synaptic potential: negative charge

EPSP

excitatory post synaptic potential: positive charge

resting potential of an axon

70 mv