Psych confusing pairs

These flashcards cover key psychological terms and concepts to aid in exam preparation.

A drug or chemical that inhibits or blocks the action of neurotransmitters is __.

an antagonist.

The region of the brain located in the frontal lobe, responsible for speech production and language processing is called __.

Broca's area.

A belief or expectation that influences behavior in a way that makes the belief or expectation come true is known as __.

self-fulfilling prophecy.

A progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss, language deterioration, and impaired ability to mentally manipulate visual information is __.

Alzheimer's disease.

A fixed, false belief that is firmly held despite evidence to the contrary is called __.

delusion.

A personality trait characterized by sociability, talkativeness, and assertiveness is __.

extraversion.

The limbic system structure involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and aggression is __.

amygdala.

A test designed to assess a person's potential for learning or ability to perform in a particular area is known as __.

aptitude test.

The structure in the hindbrain that helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance is __.

cerebellum.

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks, often triggered by strong emotions is __.

narcolepsy.

A cultural orientation that prioritizes the interests, values, and goals of the group is called __.

collectivism.

A state of unresponsiveness to external stimuli is known as __.

catatonia.

A suggestion or instruction given during hypnosis that influences thoughts, feelings, or behaviors after hypnosis is called __.

posthypnotic suggestion.

The region of the brain located in the left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension is __.

Wernicke's area.

A mood-stabilizing drug commonly used to treat bipolar disorder is __.

lithium.

The brief period after a neuron has fired during which it cannot generate another action potential is known as __.

refractory period.

A condition in which a person can respond to visual stimuli without consciously experiencing them is called __.

blindsight.

The neurotransmitter and hormone involved in arousal and alertness is __.

norepinephrine.

A statistical measure of the relationship between two variables is called __.

correlation coefficient.

A group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities is known as __.

dementia.

The limited-capacity, temporary storage system within the working memory model is __.

the episodic buffer.

A neurological disorder characterized by the inability to recognize faces is __.

prosopagnosia.

The social phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help in an emergency when others are present is called __.

bystander effect.

The neurotransmitter involved in muscle activation, memory, and learning is __.

acetylcholine.

A lack of emotional expression often seen in individuals with schizophrenia is referred to as __.

flat affect.

The cognitive bias that involves attributing successes to internal factors and failures to external factors is known as __.

self-serving bias.

The parenting style characterized by high demands and high responsiveness is __.

authoritative parenting.

The key concept in social-cognitive theory proposed by Albert Bandura that suggests behavior, personal factors, and environmental influences interact is __.

reciprocal determinism.

A distinct period of abnormally elevated or irritable mood is known as __.

mania.

A mnemonic technique involving visualization of familiar spatial environments is __.

method of loci.

The language disorder caused by damage to the brain resulting in difficulty with language is __.

aphasia.

The neurotransmitter that affects mood, appetite, and sleep is __.

serotonin.

The disease where the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerves is __.

multiple sclerosis.

The hormone produced by adipose cells that helps to regulate energy balance is __.

leptin.

The process of strengthening synaptic connections between neurons is called __.

long-term potentiation.

The hormone produced in the stomach that stimulates appetite is __.

ghrelin.

A significant memory loss that is too extensive to be due to normal forgetting is known as __.

amnesia.

A drug or chemical that enhances the activity of neurotransmitters is called __.

agonist.

The brief electrical charge that travels down the axon of a neuron is called __.

action potential.

A simple sugar and the primary source of energy for cells is __.

glucose.

The component of working memory responsible for the temporary storage and rehearsal of verbal and auditory information is __.

phonological loop.

A step-by-step procedure or formula for solving a problem is known as __.

algorithm.

A personality trait characterized by emotional instability is __.

neuroticism.

The magnitude of the relationship between variables is referred to as __.

effect size.

The strict parenting style characterized by high demands and low responsiveness is __.

authoritarian parenting.

The brain structure in the limbic system involved in memory consolidation is __.

hippocampus.

The proposed sixth taste sensation for the taste of fat is __.

oleogustus.

The defense mechanism that involves pushing threatening thoughts into the unconscious is called __.

repression.

A mental image or representation of the typical features of a category is __.

prototype.