PSY1101 1st Half Flashcards

What are the two main divisions of the Nervous System?

Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

What is the primary function of the Nervous System?

To act as a communication network that receives, analyzes, and sends out information.

What are the two main types of cells in the Nervous System?

Neurons and Glial cells.

What is the basic unit of communication in the Nervous System?

Neurons.

What process do neurons use to communicate?

An electrochemical process involving action potentials and neurotransmitters.

What is an action potential?

An electrical impulse that travels down the axon of a neuron.

What are neurotransmitters?

Chemicals released by neurons that carry messages to other neurons.

What is the function of dendrites in a neuron?

To receive messages from other neurons.

What is the role of the axon?

To carry the action potential down to the terminal buttons.

What is the myelin sheath?

A fatty substance that wraps around some axons, increasing the speed of transmission and providing insulation.

What is a synapse?

The place where two neurons meet to communicate.

What is the presynaptic neuron?

The neuron that sends out messages.

What is the postsynaptic neuron?

The neuron that receives messages.

What are glial cells often referred to as?

The 'nannies' of neurons, providing support, nutrition, and protection.

What are oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells responsible for?

The production and maintenance of the myelin sheath.

What role do microglia play in the Nervous System?

They have immune functions and are involved in learning and memory.

What is the resting state of a neuron?

When the neuron is not communicating, typically at -70 mV.

What is hyperpolarization in a neuron?

When the inside of the neuron becomes more negatively charged, making it less likely to fire.

What is depolarization in a neuron?

When the inside of the neuron becomes less negatively charged, making it more likely to fire.

What is the threshold of excitation for a neuron to fire?

About -50 mV.

What happens when a neuron receives inhibitory messages?

Chloride channels open, leading to hyperpolarization.

What happens when a neuron receives excitatory messages?

Sodium channels open, leading to depolarization.

What is the intracellular fluid in a neuron?

The fluid inside the neuron, which is more negatively charged.

What is the extracellular fluid in a neuron?

The fluid outside the neuron, which is more positively charged.

What are the nodes of Ranvier?

Gaps in the myelin sheath that allow ions to move in and out of the neuron.

What is the significance of the concentration of ions in a resting neuron?

Higher concentration of negative ions inside and positive ions outside, maintaining polarization.

How do glial cells contribute to the health of neurons?

They provide support, nutrition, insulation, and help clean up after neurons.

What is the role of the soma in a neuron?

It contains the nucleus and manufactures everything the neuron needs to survive.

What happens to the inside of a neuron when sodium ions enter?

The inside of the neuron becomes less negative (depolarized) and more likely to fire.

What occurs after a neuron fires?

The neuron returns to its resting potential.

What opens after sodium channels during the neuron's action potential?

Potassium (K+) channels open.

What is the effect of potassium ions leaving the neuron?

The inside of the neuron becomes less positive, ultimately reaching -70mV (resting potential).

What is the refractory period in neuron firing?

A period during which the neuron cannot fire again, and the membrane is hyperpolarized.

What happens to sodium and potassium ions after a neuron fires?

Sodium ions are pumped out and potassium ions are pumped back in.

What is the role of neurotransmitters in neuron communication?

They send messages between neurons by binding to receptor sites.

What is exocytosis in the context of neurotransmission?

The process where synaptic vesicles fuse with the membrane to release neurotransmitters.

What happens to neurotransmitters after they deliver their message?

They are either reabsorbed (reuptake) or broken down by enzymes (degradation).

What can happen if neurotransmitters are not deactivated?

They may continue to deliver the same message, potentially over-exciting or over-inhibiting the nervous system.

What is an agonist in pharmacology?

A drug that enhances the activity of neurotransmitters.

What is an antagonist in pharmacology?

A drug that decreases or blocks the activity of neurotransmitters.

What is the difference between competitive and non-competitive drugs?

Competitive drugs compete for the same receptor site, while non-competitive drugs attach to different sites.

What role does dopamine play in mental health?

Healthy levels promote happiness, motivation, and motor function; low levels are linked to depression and motor problems.

What is the consequence of abnormal dopamine levels?

They are associated with conditions like schizophrenia.

What is the definition of psychology?

The scientific study of behavioral and mental processes.

Why is science necessary in psychology?

To avoid reliance on intuition, common sense, and overconfidence, which can be misleading.

What is rationalism in the context of knowledge acquisition?

The belief that senses cannot be trusted as they can be misleading.

What is the importance of healthy neurotransmitter levels?

They are crucial for physical and mental well-being.

What is the role of acetylcholine?

It is an example of a neurotransmitter that delivers excitatory messages.

What is GABA?

A neurotransmitter that delivers inhibitory messages.

What is the significance of receptor sites for neurotransmitters?

Each neurotransmitter has a specific receptor site to which it must attach to deliver its message.

What is hyperpolarization in neurons?

A state where the membrane potential becomes more negative than the resting potential.

What is the synaptic cleft?

The gap between the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons where neurotransmitters cross.

What is the fate of neurotransmitters after they bind to receptors?

They can be reabsorbed or broken down to terminate the signal.

What is empiricism?

The belief that knowledge comes from systematic observation, experiences, and senses.

Who is Kant and what is his view on knowledge?

Kant is a major European philosopher who believed that to truly know the natural world, we need both rationalism and empiricism.

What is the scientific method?

A systematic process used in psychology and biology that includes identifying a problem, gathering information, developing a hypothesis, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions.

What is a hypothesis?

An educated prediction made by the researcher that must be falsifiable.

What does it mean for a hypothesis to be falsifiable?

It means that there must be a way to test and potentially prove it wrong.

Why is replication important in scientific research?

Replication increases trust and confidence in results; similar results across studies enhance reliability.

What is descriptive research?

A method that systematically observes and describes behaviors but does not address why those behaviors occur.

What is a case study?

An in-depth scientific investigation of a single person or a very small group, collecting all relevant information.

What are the advantages of case studies?

They can document rare cases, provide in-depth research, and capture glimpses of human nature.

What is a disadvantage of case studies?

Researcher bias can affect data interpretation, and conclusions cannot be generalized to the larger population.

What is a survey in research methods?

A scientific investigation where researchers ask participants about their beliefs, often using a sample from the population.

What is a representative sample?

A sample whose characteristics closely match those of the population, allowing for generalization of results.

What is random sampling?

A method where every individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected for participation.

What is a simple random sample?

A sampling method where names are drawn randomly from a population.

What is a stratified random sample?

A sampling method that divides the population into groups and then randomly samples from each group.

What is response bias?

Factors that lead subjects to answer survey questions inaccurately.

What is acquiescence bias?

The tendency for subjects to agree with researchers regardless of the question.

What is social desirability bias?

When subjects provide answers they believe are socially acceptable rather than their true opinions.

What is volunteer bias?

A problem that arises when researchers rely on volunteers for surveys, which may not represent the population.

What is naturalistic observation?

A research method where the researcher observes behavior in a real-world setting without interference.

What is the fundamental rule of naturalistic observation?

Researchers must not interfere with the subjects being observed.

What are the advantages of naturalistic observation?

It captures real behavior in real time and can be the only way to conduct certain types of research.

What is the role of critical thinking in research?

Critical thinking allows researchers to evaluate evidence logically and make informed conclusions.

How does science evolve according to the text?

Science is constantly evolving as new research confirms, refines, or overturns existing results.

What is the purpose of descriptive research?

To systematically observe and describe behaviors, answering what, when, where, and how, but not why.

What is the first step in the scientific method?

Identify the problem or question to be studied.

What is the last step in the scientific method?

Restart the process after analyzing data and drawing conclusions.

What is the purpose of correlational research?

To observe, describe, and predict relationships between two or more variables.

What does it mean if two variables covary?

It means that a change in one variable is associated with a change in another variable.

What are the two types of correlations?

Positive correlation (both variables change in the same direction) and negative correlation (variables change in opposite directions).

What is the correlation coefficient 'r' used for?

To measure the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables, ranging from -1 to +1.

What does a correlation coefficient of 0 indicate?

It indicates no correlation between the two variables.

What is a confounding variable?

An independent variable that is not the focus of the study but could affect the results.

What is the purpose of random assignment in experimental research?

To ensure every subject has an equal chance of being placed in either the experimental or control group.

What is the placebo effect?

The phenomenon where a subject experiences a perceived improvement in condition due to their belief in the treatment, despite receiving an inert substance.

What is the difference between independent and dependent variables?

The independent variable (IV) is manipulated to observe its effect, while the dependent variable (DV) is measured to see how it is affected.

What is participant observation?

A research method where the researcher becomes part of the group being studied to gain a deeper understanding.

What is the Hawthorne Effect?

The alteration of behavior by study participants due to their awareness of being observed.

What are the advantages of correlational research?

It can serve as an excellent first step in research, especially when experiments are too costly or unethical.

What is one major disadvantage of correlational research?

It cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships.

What is experimental research primarily used for?

To establish cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating independent variables and controlling extraneous variables.

What is a control group?

A group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment and is used as a baseline for comparison.

What is the role of the researcher in participant observation?

To blend in and minimize their influence on the behavior of the subjects being studied.

What are the tools of discovery mentioned in the notes?

EEG, CT scan, MRI, fMRI, DTI, PET/SPECT scan.

What is the main advantage of a CT scan?

It allows for the detection of structural changes in the brain due to disease.

What is a disadvantage of using a CT scan?

It involves radiation exposure.

What does an EEG measure?

The electrical activity of the brain.