Bucket of Evil(BOE) Study Guide

BOE study guide with terms for the whole year

cerebral cortex

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.

axon

the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

Soma

cell body of a neuron

Dendrites

a neuron's bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

action potential

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

myelin sheath

layer that covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses

Reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

Endorphins

natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

endocrine system

Consists of glands that control many of the body's activities by producing hormones.

pituitary gland

based in the hypothalamus, releases the hormones into the body

Hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention, and learning and the brain's pleasure and reward system.

acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter associated with muscle action, learning, and memory

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter which helps control alertness and arousal

GABA

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter. Undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that affects hunger,sleep, arousal, and mood.

corpus callosum

large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

Thalamus

the brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; handles incoming and outcoming signals

Hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs several maintenance activities

reticular formation

a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

Medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

spinal cord

Nerves that run up and down the length of the back and transmit most messages between the body and brain

Cerebellum

the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance

Hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

Amygdala

two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.

Central nervous system

The brain and spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system

All those nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord.

hindsight bias

the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (Also known as the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon.)

operational definition

Precisely worded outline of steps in a study

case study

to examine one individual or group in depth in hope pf revealing universal principles

naturalistic observation

observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

survey

method to gather self-reported attitudes/behaviors of a group through random questioning

experiment

A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process

control group

In an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment.

experimental group

In an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment.

population

all those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn

random sample

equal chance sample representing a population fairly

random assignment

each participant has an equal chance of selection for the experimental or control group

double-blind procedure

neither the experimenter nor the subject knows to what group the subjects are in

placebo

a fake drug used in the testing of medication

independent variable

The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied

dependent variable

The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

statistical significance

a statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by change

illusory correlation

assumption that a relationship exists between two variables exists

standard deviation

average difference between each scores and the mean

informed consent

ethical principle that research participants should receive sufficient information to enable them to decide participate

debriefing

the post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions to its participants

just-world phenomenon

good things happen to good people, bad things happen to bad people

altruism

unselfish concern for the welfare of others

aggression

behavior intended to hurt or destroy another person

frustration-aggression principle

When someone is blocked from achieving a goal, the frustration can trigger anger, leading to aggression

bystander effect

probability of a person's helping in an emergency is greater when there are no other bystanders than when there are other bystanders

social loafing

reduction in effort by individuals when they work in groups as compared to when they work by themselves

social exchange theory

the theory that our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits and minimize costs

reciprocity norm

if someone helps you , you dont hurt them

conflict

perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas

social trap

a situation in which the conflicting parties, each rationally pursuing their self-interest rather than the good of the group

ingroup vs. outgroup phenomenon

Ingroup is the people with whom we share a common group identity. Outgroup are those perceived as different or apart from our ingroup. bias towards ingroup

fundamental attribution error

tendency to make internal judgment without looking at external factors

diffusion of responsibility

reduction in feelings of personal responsibility in the presence of others

deindividuation

tendency for people to lose individuality when in a large group

social-responsibility norm

expectation that people will help those needing their help

Philip Zimbardo

Conducted the Stanford Prison Experiment, studying how role affects attitude

Groupthink

going along with a group to maintain good harmony

social facilitation

phenomenon where people show increased levels of effort and performance when in the presence of others

Solomon Asch

conducted a series of experiments designed to demonstrate the power of conformity

Stanley Milgram

conducted the milgram experiment to see power of obedience

Foot-in-theDoor phenomenon

tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request

Reciprocity

the obligation to return in kind what another has done for us

Obedience

changing one's behavior at the command of an authority figure

Conformity

adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard

Nuerons

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

Sensation

the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment

Perception

the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events

bottom-up processing

analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain's integration of sensory information

top-down processing

information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations

absolute threshold

the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time

just noticeable difference

the minimal change in a stimulus that can just barely be detected

signal detection theory

theory regarding how stimuli are detected under different conditions

cocktail party effect

Ability to concentrate on one voice amongst a crowd

selective attention

the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus

circadian rhythm

the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle

manifest content

according to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream

latent content

according to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream

sleep apnea

a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings

night terrors

a sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified

insomnia

recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks

delta waves

the large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep

sleep spindles

short bursts of brain waves detected in stage 2 sleep

alpha waves

the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state

REM sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep, a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur

wish fulfillment theory

assumes that dreams are attempts by the unconscious to resolve some repressed conflict

information processing theory

dreams help us sort out the day's events and consolidate our memories

Physiological functioning theory

regular brain stimulation from REM sleep may help develop and preserve neural pathways

intermittent reinforcement

Occasionally reinforcing a response slows down learning but makes the learning more resistant to stopping

continuous reinforcement

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

positive reinforcement

increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.