PSYCH EXAM VOCAB,QUESTIONS, MAIN IDEAS

Damage to the _______________disrupts one’s ability to comprehend language, but it leaves one’s ability to produce words intact

Wernicke's area

The motor cortex sends messages to specific regions of the body to create movement. In which part of the cerebral cortex is it located?

Frontal lobe

The visual cortex processes visual information. In Which part of the cerbral cortex is it located?

Occipital lobe

The somatosensory cortex is an area just behind the motor cortex that receives information from the skins sensory receptors and movements from different body parts. In which part of the cerebral cortex is it located?

Parietal lobe

The signifcance of the lesion study of Phineas Gage’s damaged brain is that it provided evidence that

the frontal lobe is involved in controlling personality traits, emotion, inhibitory control and goal setting abilities

the auditory cortex is responsible for hearing and language. In which part of the cerebral cortex is it located

Temporal lobe

Grandma had a stroke that damaged her left frontal lobe. We can expect she will

have difficulty controlling movements on the right side of her body

A new animal is discovered that is more sensitive to pain in its toes than its fingers. If we were to examine the brain of this animal we would notice that

the parietal lobe would have more brain area devoted to the toes than the fingers

Gretchen recently reported randomly hearing songs, and voices from the past. An MEG(magnetoencephalography) revealed she had a tumor causing neruones in the _________ lobe to occasionally fire at random triggering these auditory illusions

temporal

Carbon monoxide poisoning often damages the occipital lobe of the brain. What might we expect when this part of the brain is damaged?

Problems prccessing visual information

An impairment of eating, drinking, temperature regulation, or sexual behavior suggests possible damage to the __________.

hypothalamus

David was hospitalized after a car accident, and due to injury to his __________, he has trouble with newer memories but still retains older memories.

hippocampus

What is the brain structure that performs a variety of functions, including the regulation of hunger and sexual behavior?

hypothalmus

Which is primarily responsible for regulating our perceptions of and reactions to aggression and fear?

amygdala

The __________ is a sensory relay station where all sensory information, except for smell, goes before being sent to other areas of the brain for further processing.

thalamus

The medulla, pons, and cerebellum are collectively called the

hindbrain or brainstem.

Which of the following is not a structure of the forebrain?(thalamus, substantia nigra, hippocampus, amygdala)

substantia nigra

In this section, conjoined twins, Krista and Tatiana, were described as being potential participants in a case study. In what other circumstances would you think that this particular research approach would be especially helpful and why?

Case studies might prove especially helpful using individuals who have rare conditions. For instance, if one wanted to study multiple personality disorder then the case study approach with individuals diagnosed with multiple personality disorder would be helpful.

The major limitation of case studies is ________.

the inability to generalize the findings from this approach to the larger population

Which statement best illustrates a negative correlation between the number of hours spent watching TV the week before an exam and the grade on that exam?

Student who watch more television perform more poorly on their exams

Height and weight are positively correlated.This means that

as height increases, typically weight increases

Which statement best illustrates a negative correlation between the number of hours spent watching TV the week before an exam and the grade on that exam?( +.8,-.5,+.25,-.9_

-.9

The correlation coefficient indicates the weakest relationship when ________.

it is closest to zero.

Because eating cereal and maintaining a healthy weight are positively correlated, one can infer that

people who eat cereal regularly maintain healthier weights

Before the advent of modern imaging techniques, scientists and clinicians relied on autopsies of people who suffered brain injury with resultant change in behavior to determine how different areas of the brain were affected. What are some of the limitations associated with this kind of approach?

The same limitations associated with any case study would apply here. In addition, it is possible that the damage caused changes in other areas of the brain, which might contribute to the behavioral deficits. Such changes would not necessarily be obvious to someone performing an autopsy, as they may be functional in nature, rather than structural.

A(n) __________ uses magnetic fields to create pictures of a given tissue.

MRI

A technique that records the electrical activity produced by the brain’s neurons through the use of electrodes placed on the surface of the head is called __________.

an electroencephalogram (EEG).

Which of the techniques discussed would be viable options for you to determine how activity in the reticular formation is related to sleep and wakefulness? Why?

The most viable techniques are fMRI and PET because of their ability to provide information about brain activity and structure simultaneously.

An invasive imaging technique that provides color-coded images of brain activity by tracking the brain’s use of a radioactively tagged compound, such as glucose, oxygen, or a drug, is called __________.

a positron emission tomography (PET) scan.

A noninvasive neuroimaging technique that produces very clear and detailed images of the structures and activities in the brain in response to magnetic fields is called __________.

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

The site where dendrites receive signals from other neurons is the

synapse.

This information is then processed in the ___________and if the signal is strong enough, the message is pushed through and travels down the____________

cellbody; axon

The signal travels to the end of the axon to the_____________where another signal triggers neurotransmitters to be released, passing through the synaptic cleft onto the_____________ of another reason

terminal buttons; dendrites

The space between a sending and receiving neuron is called a

synapse

When a neuron receives a signal, it travels down the dendrite to the_________where it is processed.

cell body

If the signal exceeds threshold, it is pushed out of the cell body and down the____________ toward the _____________between this neuron and the next one.

axon; synapse

The signal travels to the end of the axon, called the___________where the signal travels across the synapse to the next neuron.

terminal button

When resting, the inside of a cell has a____________charge.During action potential, the cell briefly has a_______charge

negative;positive

An action potential involves Sodium moving_______the cell and Potassium moving_________the cell

inside;outside

If the signal exceeds threshold, it is pushed out of the cell body and down the__________toward the ___________between this neuron and the next one

axon;synapse

what is the neurotransmitter that involved in muscle action and memory and could potential increase arousal and enhance cognition

Acetylcholine (ACh)

What neurotransmitter is involved in pain and pleasure and could potentially decrease anxiety and decrease tension

Beta-endorphin

What neurotransmitter is inolved in mood,sleep and learning and can potentially increase pleasure and supress appetite

dopamine

what neurotransmitter is involved in brain function and sleep and could potentially decrease anxiety and decrease tension

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

what neurotransmitter is involved in memory and learning and can potential increase learning and enhance memory

glutamate

what neurotransmitter is involved with heart, intestines, and alertness that could increase arousal and supress appetite

Norepinephrine

what neurotransmitter is involved with mood and sleep and could potentially modulate mood and supress appetite

Serotonin

Cocaine has two effects on synaptic transmission: it impairs reuptake of dopamine and it causes more dopamine to be released into the synapse. Would cocaine be classified as an agonist or antagonist? Why?

As a reuptake inhibitor, cocaine blocks the normal activity of dopamine at the receptor. The function causing more dopamine to be released into the synapse is agonist because it mimics and strengthens the effect of the neurotransmitter. Cocaine would be considered an agonist because by preventing the enzymatic degradation of the neurotransmitters, it increases the potential time that these neurotransmitters might be active in the synapse.

Drugs such as lidocaine and novocaine act as Na+ channel blockers. In other words, they prevent sodium from moving across the neuronal membrane. Why would this particular effect make these drugs such effective local anesthetics?

The action potential is initiated by an influx of Na+ into the neuron. If this process is prevented, then no action potentials in neurons in a given area will occur. Therefore, any painful stimuli would not result in action potentials carrying that information to the brain.

A(n) __________ facilitates or mimics the activity of a given neurotransmitter system.

agonist

symptoms of depression

sad mood, lack of interest in activities, inability to concentrate, insomnia, irritabilty

Common symptoms of major depressive disorder

loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities, psucjomotor agitation and retardation, difficulty concentrating and making decisions

Maggie is a 27 year old waitress. For the past 2 years, she hasn’t felt quite like herself. Most days, she feels down in the dumps. She finds herself eating a bit more than she would like to, usually snacks in the evening. Sometimes, she has trouble falling asleep at night and feels tired the next day.

persistent depressive disorder

Harry is a 49 year-old bank manager. He has had a lot of uncertainty about his job recently, and many of his coworkers have been laid off. For the past two weeks, he has been extremely sad and hasn’t been able to go to work at all. He has used up all of his sick days, and spends his time sleeping or sitting on his couch watching television. He can’t concentrate on anything very long, and he has a lot of trouble deciding what he should do about his situation.

Major depression

Jack is a 19 year-old artist. About once per year, he has a period of several days where he feels on top of the world, like he can do anything. During these times, he needs very little sleep--he can feel energized after only 2 or 3 hours of sleep. He frantically paints during these times and feels exceptionally creative. People who know him tell him that he is not acting like his usual self, and they also notice that he is much more talkative than usual. He spends all his time painting and neglects his work.

Bipolar disorder

The body’s biological clock is located in the ________.

hypothalamus

________ cycles occur roughly once every 24 hours.

Circadian

Generally, humans are considered diurnal which means we are awake during the day and asleep during the night. Many rodents, on the other hand, are nocturnal. Why do you think different animals have such different sleep-wake cycles?

Different species have different evolutionary histories, and they have adapted to their environments in different ways. There are a number of different possible explanations as to why a given species is diurnal or nocturnal. Perhaps humans would be most vulnerable to threats during the evening hours when light levels are low. Therefore, it might make sense to be in shelter during this time. Rodents, on the other hand, are faced with a number of predatory threats, so perhaps being active at night minimizes the risk from predators such as birds that use their visual senses to locate prey.

________ occurs when there is a chronic deficiency in sleep.

sleep dept

Do we need more or less sleep as we age?

less

Healthcare professionals often work rotating shifts. Why is this problematic? What can be done to deal with potential problems?

Given that rotating shift work can lead to exhaustion and decreased mental efficiency, individuals working under these conditions are more likely to make mistakes on the job. The implications for this in the health care professions are obvious. Those in health care professions could be educated about the benefits of light-dark exposure to help alleviate such problems.

________ is one way in which people can help reset their biological clocks.

light-dark exposure

If theories that assert sleep is necessary for restoration and recovery from daily energetic demands are correct, what do you predict about the relationship that would exist between individuals’ total sleep duration and their level of activity?

Those individuals (or species) that expend the greatest amounts of energy would require the longest periods of sleep.

________ appears to be especially important for enhanced performance on recently learned tasks.

Slow wave sleep

How could researchers determine if given areas of the brain are involved in the regulation of sleep? 

Researchers could use lesion or brain stimulation techniques to determine how deactivation or activation of a given brain region affects behavior. Furthermore, researchers could use any number of brain imaging techniques like fMRI or CT scans to come to these conclusions.

Differentiate the evolutionary theories of sleep and make a case for the one with the most compelling evidence.

One evolutionary theory of sleep holds that sleep is essential for restoration of resources that are expended during the demands of day-to-day life. A second theory proposes that our sleep patterns evolved as an adaptive response to predatory risks, which increase in darkness. The first theory has little or no empirical support, and the second theory is supported by some, though not all, research.

The ________ play a role in controlling slow-wave sleep.

hypothalmus and thalamus

________ is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland that plays a role in regulating biological rhythms and immune function.

Melatonin

Growth hormone is secreted by the ________ while we sleep.

pituitary gland

________ is described as slow-wave sleep.

stage 3 of sleep

Slow-wave sleep typically occurs during the ________ stage of the sleep cycle.

beginning

Sleep spindles and K-complexes are most often associated with ________ sleep.

stage 2 of sleep

Slow-wave sleep is a sleep stage characterized by______ sleep, _________and _________muscle tone

deep, not dreaming, and high

Which of the following is true about REM sleep?

Both that it occurs later in the night and accounts for about 20–55% of our total sleep time

Symptoms of ________ may be improved by REM deprivation.

depression

Typically, REM cycles are concentrated toward the ________ of a night of sleep.

end

REM sleep is part of the sleep cycle, and so it occurs ________ during the night.

multiple times

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is a sleep stage characterized by__________-eye movement____________, and ________muscle tone

quick fast, dreaming, and low

________ is another word for sleepwalking

somnambulism

An individual may suffer from ________ if there is a disruption in the brain signals that are sent to the muscles that regulate breathing

central sleep apnea

One of the recommendations that therapists will make to people who suffer from insomnia is to spend less waking time in bed. Why do you think spending waking time in bed might interfere with the ability to fall asleep later?

One possible explanation might invoke principles of associative learning. If the bed represents a place for socializing, studying, eating, and so on, then it is possible that it will become a place that elicits higher levels of arousal, which would make falling asleep at the appropriate time more difficult. Answers could also consider self-perpetuating cycle referred to when describing insomnia. If an individual is having trouble falling asleep and that generates anxiety, it might make sense to remove him from the context where sleep would normally take place to try to avoid anxiety being associated with that context.

The most common treatment for ________ involves the use of amphetamine-like medications.

narcolepsy

________ is loss of muscle tone or control that is often associated with narcolepsy.

Cataplexy

How is narcolepsy with cataplexy similar to and different from REM sleep?

Similarities include muscle atony and the hypnagogic hallucinations associated with narcoleptic episodes. The differences involve the uncontrollable nature of narcoleptic attacks and the fact that these come on in situations that would normally not be associated with sleep of any kind (e.g., instances of heightened arousal or emotionality).

These are the confounding tricks discussed by Donald Hoffman

2nd optical illusions

Donald Hoffman describes a drawing on a flat two-dimensional surface that we see as a three-dimensional figure with ripples. Why does this perception occur?

top-down processing leads the visual system to construct the percept of 3D ripples

Clifford falsely believes that the police have planted secret cameras in his home to monitor his every movement. Clifford’s belief is an example of ________.

a delusion

Is delusions a positive or negative symtpom of schizophrenia

a positive symptom of schizophrenia

Is flat affect a positive or negative symtpom of schizophrenia

negative symptom

Is social withdrawl a positive or negative symtpom of schizophrenia

negative symptom

Is hallucinations a positive or negative symtpom of schizophrenia

positive symptom

Is poor hygiene a positive or negative symtpom of schizophrenia

negative symptom

Which of the following is an example of a reflex that occurs at some point in the development of a human being?

infant sucking on a nipple

Learning is best defined as a relatively permanent change in behavior that ________.

occurs as a result of experience

In Pavlov’s work with dogs, the “psychic secretions” were

conditioned response

A stimulus that does not initially elicit a response in an organism is a(n) ________.

neutral stimulus

In the classic Pavlov experiment, the unconditioned stimulus is the__________, the conditioned stimulus is the ____________ the unconditioned response is the ___________and the conditioned response is the ___________

food, tone,salivation,salivation

If the sound of your toaster popping up toast causes your mouth to water, what are the UCS, CS, and CR?

The food being toasted is the UCS; the sound of the toaster popping up is the CS; salivating to the sound of the toaster is the CR.

How does a neutral stimulus become a conditioned stimulus? 

This occurs through the process of acquisition. A human or an animal learns to connect a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus. During the acquisition phase, the neutral stimulus begins to elicit the conditioned response. The neutral stimulus is becoming the conditioned stimulus. At the end of the acquisition phase, learning has occurred and the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus capable of eliciting the conditioned response by itself.

A CS and UCS are associated so the CS now produces a CR without presentation of the UCS. If a new stimulus that is similar to the CS also produces the CR, we have an example of ________.

stimulus generalization