Comprehensive Psychology and Paranormal Phenomena Review

This set of flashcards covers essential key terms and concepts related to psychology and paranormal phenomena, including definitions and explanations.

Paranormal

Events, beings, or abilities not explained by science.

Science

Knowledge based on empirical evidence.

Empirical evidence

Knowledge gained from observation.

Scientific method

Includes observation, questions, hypotheses, experimentation, analyzing results, and discussing results.

Hypothesis

A statement that is falsifiable or testable.

Parapsychology

The study of psychic phenomena.

Pseudoscience

A discipline that lacks reliable methods and reproducible results, such as parapsychology.

Top-down processing

Using previous knowledge to perceive or understand a current situation.

False memories

When someone remembers something incorrectly.

Cognitive biases

Unconscious errors in thinking that stray us from reason.

Spiritualism movement

A movement in the 1840s-1920s believing consciousness continues after death.

ESP

Extra-sensory perception, a term coined by JB Rhine.

Stargate Project

A top-secret Army project investigating remote viewing and telekinesis.

Cold reading

A technique used by mediums that frames questions generally to fit participants.

Encoding in memory

The process of taking in sensory information and organizing it for storage.

Engram

A memory circuit or footprint in the brain that represents a memory chemically and physically.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

An imaging method that measures electrical activity of the brain.

Neocortex

Part of the brain made up of six layers of axons and dendrites.

BOLD signal

Blood oxygen level dependent signal used to measure brain activity.

Sympathetic nervous system

Responsible for the fight or flight response.

Parasympathetic nervous system

Responsible for the rest and digest response.

Mirror neurons

Neurons that activate when we perform an action or observe the same action.

Facilitated communication

A method where a supporter helps a non-verbal person to type messages.

Ideomotor effect

Unconscious, involuntary muscle movements triggered by thoughts or expectations.

Past life reports

Statements made by children claiming to have memories of past lives.

False spatial memory

A false memory implant technique used in neuroscience, demonstrated in mice.

Immediate early genes

Genes activated when cells are firing that promote plasticity.