Psychology Exam Review Practice Flashcards

A complete vocabulary flashcard deck covering key terms, structures, perspectives, and concepts from the psychology lecture study guide.

Psychology

The biological study and behaviors of people.

Behavioral Perspective

Focuses on observable behavior and how it is shaped by the environment through classical and operant conditioning.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Posits that behavior is driven by unconscious conflicts, repressed memories, and early childhood experiences.

Cognitive Perspective

Studies internal mental processes—thinking, memory, perception, problem-solving—often using the brain as an information-processing system.

Humanistic Perspective

Emphasizes free will, self-actualization, and personal growth, viewing people as inherently good and motivated to fulfill their potential.

Biological Perspective

Explains behavior through brain structure, neurochemistry, hormones, and genetics, examining how physical processes in the body influence thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Evolutionary Perspective

Views behavior as shaped by natural selection to solve problems our ancestors faced.

Hypothesis

A specific and testable statement referring to what could happen in a study.

Theory

A framework that contains a wide range of ideas and is backed by a lot of good evidence.

Population

A group of people sharing a specific characteristic about whom a researcher wants to draw conclusions.

Sample

A group of selected individuals where each person has an equal chance and probability of being chosen.

Experimental Group

Participants in a study who receive the treatment or intervention being tested, representing the independent variable.

Control Group

Participants in a study who do not receive the experimental treatment and may receive a placebo or standard treatment instead.

Placebo Effect

A real, measurable change in symptoms that occurs because a person expects a treatment to work, even when the treatment has no active therapeutic ingredient.

Random Assignment

The process of placing participants into experimental or control groups entirely by chance, ensuring each person has an equal likelihood of being assigned to any condition.

Correlation

A method used to measure the statistical relationships between two variables without manipulating them.

Correlation Coefficient

A number ranging from $-1.00$ to $+1.00$ representing the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables.

Positive Correlation

A relationship where both variables move in the same direction together, represented by a value from $0$ to $+1.00$.

Negative Correlation

A relationship where two variables move in opposite directions from each other, represented by a value from $-1.00$ to $0$.

Dendrites

Branch-like extensions of a neuron that receive chemical messages from neighboring neurons.

Cell Body

The core of a neuron containing the nucleus, which maintains the cell's life and integrates incoming signals.

Axon

A long, cable-like fiber that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body back toward other neurons.

Myelin Sheath

A protective fatty layer wrapping the axon that insulates it and dramatically speeds up signal transmission.

Synapse

The fluid-filled gap between the axon terminal of the sending neuron and the dendrite of the receiving neuron.

Action Potential

A brief electrical charge (neural impulse) that travels down the axon on an all-or-none basis due to the shifting movement of electrically charged ions across the cell membrane.

Resting Potential

The state of an inactive, polarized neuron where the inside of the cell has a negative electrical charge relative to the fluid outside.

Excitatory Messages

Signals that increase the likelihood that the receiving neuron will fire an action potential by pushing the cell closer to its firing threshold.

Inhibitory Messages

Signals that decrease the likelihood that the receiving neuron will fire by stabilizing or hyperpolarizing the cell away from its firing threshold.

Agonists

Molecules that mimic or amplify the action of neurotransmitters by binding to receptors and activating them to produce the same biological response.

Antagonists

Molecules that bind to receptors and block them, preventing the natural neurotransmitter from acting.

Reuptake Blockers

Molecules that prevent the reabsorption of neurotransmitters by sending neurons, leaving more in the synapse to bind again.

Split-Brain Operation

A surgical procedure that severs the corpus callosum to cut off communication between the left and right hemispheres, used as a last resort to treat severe drug-resistant epilepsy.

Frontal Lobe

Lobe of the brain that houses the motor cortex and Broca's area.

Parietal Lobe

Lobe of the brain that houses the somatosensory cortex and is responsible for processing touch, pressure, and pain.

Occipital Lobe

Lobe of the brain that houses the primary visual cortex and is responsible for processing sight.

Temporal Lobe

Lobe of the brain that houses the auditory cortex and Wernicke's area for language comprehension.

Somatosensory Cortex

Located in the parietal lobe; registers and processes body touch and movement.

Motor Cortex

Located in the frontal lobe; controls voluntary muscle movements.

Primary Visual Cortex

Located in the occipital lobe; receives and processes visual information from the eyes.

Auditory Cortex

Located in the temporal lobe; receives and processes sound information from the ears.

Hippocampus

Brain structure that processes and forms new explicit memories.

Cerebellum

Brain structure that controls fine motor coordination, balance, posture, and muscle memories.

Medulla

Brain structure that controls vital, autonomic life functions like heart rate and breathing.

Pons

Brain structure that regulates sleep-wake cycles and dreaming, and coordinates movement.

Amygdala

Brain structure that processes primary emotions like fear and aggression.

Thalamus

Acts as the brain's sensory switchboard, sending sensory information to the cortex.

Hypothalamus

Brain structure that maintains homeostasis (hunger, thirst, temperature) and regulates the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.

Broca's Area

Left frontal region of the brain responsible for speech production.

Wernicke's Area

Posterior region of the left temporal lobe responsible for language comprehension.

Central Nervous System

Branch of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System

Branch of the nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body.

Somatic Nervous System

Division of the peripheral nervous system controlling voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.

Autonomic Nervous System

Division of the peripheral nervous system controlling involuntary body functions.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for fight-or-flight responses.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body (rest and digest).

Pituitary Gland

Known as the 'master gland' of the endocrine system; releases growth hormones and directs all other endocrine glands.

Thyroid Gland

Endocrine gland that regulates metabolism and energy levels.

Adrenal Gland

Endocrine gland that releases adrenaline and noradrenaline to trigger the stress response.

Pancreas

Endocrine organ that regulates blood sugar levels by secreting insulin.

Consciousness

An individual's unique awareness of their thoughts, memories, feelings, sensations, environments, self, and the world around them.

Circadian Rhythm

A natural internal process regulating the sleep-wake cycle over roughly $24\text{ hours}$, controlled by the Suprachimatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus.

Jet Lag

Disruption of the internal circadian rhythm relative to local time when traveling across time zones, resulting in insomnia, fatigue, and digestive issues.

Light Therapy

A treatment involving sitting near a high-intensity light box mimicking natural sunlight to suppress melatonin production.

Non-REM Sleep

Sleep consisting of three stages (N1, N2, N3) moving from light to deep slow-wave sleep, during which the body repairs itself and heart rate slows down.

REM Sleep

A deep sleep stage characterized by rapid eye movements, spiked brain activity, muscle atonia, and vivid narrative dreams.

Nightmares

Vivid, frightening dreams occurring during REM sleep from which the person typically wakes up alert.

Night Terrors

Sudden episodes of intense crying, screaming, or panic occurring during NREM sleep that are difficult to wake up from and leave no dream memory.

Sleep Apnea

A sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.

Insomnia

A sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

Somnambulism

Sleepwalking and performing actions while asleep, occurring during deep NREM sleep.

Narcolepsy

A chronic neurological disorder causing overwhelming daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks.

Cataplexy

A sudden, temporary loss of muscle tone triggered by strong emotions.

Lucid Dreaming

A state of sleep where the dreamer becomes consciously aware that they are dreaming and can sometimes exert control over the dream environment.

Manifest Content

According to Freud, the actual literal imagery and events of a dream exactly as remembered.

Latent Content

According to Freud, the hidden psychological and symbolic meaning of a dream representing unconscious wishes and desires.

Stimulants

Substances that speed up central nervous system activity, increasing heart rate and blood pressure.

Depressants

Substances that slow down central nervous system activity, decreasing heart rate and breathing.

Addiction

A chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by drug seeking despite harmful consequences.

Physiological Dependence

A state in which the body has physically adapted to a drug, leading to withdrawal symptoms if the drug is stopped.

Psychological Dependence

An emotional or cognitive need for a drug to feel good, cope with stress, or function mentally.

Hypnosis

A recognized therapeutic tool that varies in efficacy; effective for pain management but unable to force actions against free will or eliminate memories.