Book Only (2, 3, and 8)

Psych 100, Exam 1

Deductive Reasoning

Ideas are tested in the real world

Connected to Inductive reasoning

Inductive Reasoning

Real world observations lead to new ideas

Archival Research

Method of research using past records or data sets to answer various research questions, or to search for interesting patterns or relationships

Longitudinal Research

studies in which the same group of individuals is surveyed or measured repeatedly over an extended period of time

Cross-sectional Research

compares multiple segments of a population at a single time

Confounding Variable

unanticipated outside factor that affects both variables of interest, often giving the false impression that changes in one variable causes changes in the other variable, when, in actuality, the outside factor causes changes in both variables

Illusory Correlations

seeing relationships between two things when in reality no such relationship exists

Double-Blind

experiment in which both the researchers and the participants are blind to group assignments

Placebo

people's expectations or beliefs influencing or determining their experience in a given situation

IRB (Institutional Review Board)

committee of administrators, scientists, and community members that reviews proposals for research involving human participants

Action Potential

electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axon

Agonist

drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter

Antagonist

drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitter

Broca’s Area

region in the left hemisphere that is essential for language production

Homeostasis

state of equilibrium—biological conditions, such as body temperature, are maintained at optimal levels

Lateralization

concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions

Neuroplasticity

nervous system's ability to change

Range of Reaction

asserts our genes set the boundaries within which we can operate, and our environment interacts with the genes to determine where in that range we will fall

Wernicke’s Area

important for speech comprehension

Ventral tegmental area (VTA)

midbrain structure where dopamine is produced: associated with mood, reward, and addiction

Reuptake

neurotransmitter is pumped back into the neuron that released it

Anterograde Amnesia

loss of memory for events that occur after the brain trauma

Engram

physical trace of memory

Equipotentiality Hypothesis

some parts of the brain can take over for damaged parts in forming and storing memories

Flashbulb Memory

exceptionally clear recollection of an important event

Persistence

failure of the memory system that involves the involuntary recall of unwanted memories, particularly unpleasant ones

Retrograde Amnesia

loss of memory for events that occurred prior to brain trauma

Transience

memory error in which unused memories fade with the passage of time