psych unti 1 exam

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Is Psychology a Science?

Yes

Scientific Attitude

1. Curiosity

2. Skepticism

3. Humility

Science Bears

When you dig too deep into something scientific to the point where it hurts you

Scientific Method:

Observations

Theory: An organized explanation of observations

Hypothesis: A testable prediction

Test

Replicate

Operational Definitions

The definitions are the definitions we make for how to count a variable in a specific study (A lot of terms can be defined in many ways)

Operational success

You can make assumptions

Are there a limited amount of research methods?

No, there are many!

Types of Research methods

Descriptive

Case Studies

Naturalistic Observations

Self Reports

Advanced

Correlations

Experiments

Case studies

In depth study of a distinctive individual

How are case studies chosen?

They are usually chosen because of someone being remarkable in a way (Not always positive)

Case Studies Example

Phinneas Gage

Phinneas Gage

Spike went through his left lobe, survived with right lobe still mostly intact

Jane Goodall

studied in the jungle of Tanzania

Naturalistic Observation

Observing a behavior in nature (Not necessarily NATURE nature as in like outside) without making ANY effort to affect behavior

How does Naturalistic Observation work?

Observe, describe what is seen, and record how those behaviors happen

Self report

Anything where people give their own responses

Cons of self report

Potentially biased, wording can affect answers

Pros of self report

Allows people to give their feelings, very easy to give out

Sample

A segment of the population chosen to represent that population

Representative Sample

Takes people in proportions similar to the population

Convenience sample

Sampling via the people you have easily available

Correlations

Try to show the relationship between two or more variables (Predicting A from B, or B from A).

Do correlations show cause?

No

Correlation responses

Positive, Negative, or simply no correlation

Third Variable Problem

Correlations don't show what causes the other, with both sometimes being effects of something entirely unrelated

Experimental Group

Receive a treatment

Control Group

Don't receive a treatment

Independent Variable

Manipulation

Dependent Variable

Measured

Blind Studies

Studies where participants don't know what group they're in

Placebo

A fake treatment that can have effects of their own

How many major types do Nerve Cells have?

3

Sensory neurons

Start in sensory organs and send messages to the central nervous system

Do sensory neurons decide?

NO

Motor neurons

Start in the central nervous system and send messages to muscles and glands

Interneurons

Start and end in the central nervous system, and they carry messages between neurons

What number do interneurons come in?

Hundereds

Do interneurons decide?

Yes

Dendrites

Receive info, are known as "the mailbox of the cell"

What do dendrites mean in Greek?

Branch

How many cells can dendrites receive from directly?

55

Where do neurons get their power from?

Mitochondria

Mitochondria

The powerhouse of a cell

The information (Dendrites)

Electrochemical Message

What is the electrochemical message called? (Dendrites)

Action Potential

How do dendrites receive information?

Info sent down to the cell body for processing, then down the axon to the next cell

What is the axon?

"Long tail looking thing"

Are all axons mylenated?

No

What is myelin?

A layer of fat that accelerates information

Can myelin be damaged or destroyed?

Yes

What is the destruction of myelin called?

Sclerosis

Diseased caused by the destruction of myelin

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Terminal Branches

Release Information

Synaptic Transmission

Of or referring to a synapse

Neurotransmitters

"Brain sendy things"

Serotonin

Mood control, NOT "HAPPY JUICE". Too little leads to depression, as well as too much

The synapse

The place where the axon of one neuron meets the dendrite of another neuron

What happens during synaptic transmission?

Action potential reaches Terminal Branches (of axon)

Dopamine

Reward NT, gives a sense of satisfaction

Norepinephrine

adrenaline, keeps you highly alert

Endorphin

Pain killers

Somatic Nervous System

Interacts with your EXTERNAL environment, sends signals from the sense organs to the Central Nervous System, ALL of your sensory neurons

Autonomic Nervous System

Regulates your INTERNAL environment, controls your involuntary muscles, organs, and glands. Gets subdivided into two more parts: Sympathetic and Parasympathetic

Three F's

Fighting

Fleeing

Mating

The Sympathetic Nervous System

Active during "The Three F's"

What do you feel when the Sympathetic Nervous System is active?

Heart rate increases, breathing speeds, pupils dilate, digestion stops, adrenaline flows, etc.

Used in quick, short bursts

The Parasympathetic Nervous System

Returns the body to a stable, calm state, reverses the effects of the Sympathetic Nervous System (Can be maintained for long times)

Lower-Level Brain Structures

brainstem, medulla, pons, thalamus, cerebellum

Brainstem

Oldest and central core of the brain

Responsible for automatic survival functions

Medulla

Heart beating, lungs breathing, throat swallowing

Pons

Sleep/wakefulness

Several pons will cause a coma

Thalamus

Neural "Switchboard"

Take sense information coming in and sends it to the corresponding area

Cerebellum

Bottom/back of the brain

Coordinates voluntary movement

Doesn't cause movement. Coordinates

Limbic system

Associated with emotions & motivation

Hypothalamus

Regulates eating, drinking, body temperature + more

Reward pathway

Emotional regulation

Hippocampus

Processes memory

Amygdala

Aggression and fear

The main activation spot for the sympathetic nervous system

Sensation

Basic processes by which sensory receptors and the nervous system:

Receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment

Sensation entails elementary psychological experiences (e.g., bitterness of a taste)

Is sensation objective or subjective?

Objective

Is perception objective or subjective?

Subjective

Perception

use of previous knowledge to organize and interpret stimuli registered by the senses

Follows rules

Integrates the outside world with your inner world

HIGHLY subjective

Senses

Vision

Hearing

Touch

Taste

Smell

Vestibulation (balance)

Kinesthesis (muscle movement)

Possibly even more!

Transduction

Specialized structures that respond to physical stimuli by producing electrical changes

Where does sensory input come from?

Receptors

What needs to happen for you to sense something?

Passes an absolute threshold

What is the minimum amount to detect something (Thresholds)

50%

Difference Thresholds

Minimum difference between two stimuli for detection 50% of the time

Weber's Law

Percentages matter a lot more than raw change

Sensory Adaptation

Diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation

Perceptual Set

It can "lock" in

You see it one way, you see it that way forever

Is Perceptual just visual?

No, it can be audio or mental

Perceptual interpretation

Context Effects

A given stimulus may trigger different perceptions based on context.

Vision

Receptors - photoreceptors

Pupil

Black disc in the middle of the eye. Essentially a hole that lets light in from the rest of the eye. NOT ALWAYS THE SAME SIZE

Iris

A muscle

Muscles

Squeeze and relax

Retina

the whole back end

Rods

Peripheral retina

Detect black, white and gray

Work fine in low light

Cones

Near center of retina (fovea)

Fine detail and color vision

Need daylight or well-lit conditions