Psych - Biological Psych & Sci Inquiry

Control group

the group of participants exposed to all conditions except the IV.

Corpus callosum

the thick band of nerve fibres connecting the cerebral hemispheres of the brain and allowing the transfer of information between them.

Cranial nerves

nerves branching off the base of the brain.

Debriefing

an explanation given to participants at the conclusion of a study.

Deception

misleading participants as to the purpose of the study when knowing the true purpose would affect the results.

Dendrites

extensions of the cell body that receive neurotransmitters from presynaptic neurons and convert them into electrical nerve impulses conducted towards the cell body.

Dependent variable (DV)

the variable being measured by the researcher.

Computed tomography (CT)

an imaging technique that produces still pictures of the brain using X

Confidentiality

the principle that information collected from participants must be stored securely and disposed of when no longer required.

Experimental group

the group of participants exposed to the IV.

Experimental research

research where the IV can be manipulated, a cause

Experimenter effects

the expectations and behaviours of the researcher that may bias results.

Extraneous variables

unwanted variables that may impact the DV.

Fine motor skills

skills involving the small muscle movements of the body.

Frontal lobes

the pair of lobes located at the front of the cerebral hemispheres responsible for higher

Frontal lobotomy

a surgical procedure severing the neural connections between the thalamus and prefrontal cortex.

Functional imaging

neuroimaging techniques producing scans showing brain function in real time.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

a functional neuroimaging technique that uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to monitor blood flow.

Grey matter

nerve tissue in the spinal cord and brain largely comprised of dendrites, unmyelinated axons and cell bodies of neurons, giving it a darkish colour.

Electrochemical signal

the combination of electrical nerve impulses and neurotransmitters found within and between neurons.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

a functional imaging technique that measures electrical brain activity in real time.

Ethical guidelines

codes of practice designed to be followed as a guide by people involved in research.

Hindbrain

the lower back part of the brain that coordinates sensory and motor messages entering and leaving the spinal cord and is responsible for balance and coordination.

Hypothesis

a testable prediction about the relationship between the IV and DV based on research and theory.

Independent variable (IV)

the variable being manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect on the DV.

Informed consent

researchers must obtain written informed consent from research participants using a consent form.

Inquiry question

an open

Interneurons

neurons that act as the connection between sensory neurons and motor neurons and transfer messages within the CNS.

Localisation of function

the concept that certain locations within the brain are responsible for particular functions.

Medulla

the lowest part of the brainstem that relays information between the spinal cord and brain and regulates the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

Meninges

the membrane layers that surround the brain and spinal cord.

Midbrain

the portion of the brainstem that receives sensory messages from all senses except smell and sends information to the forebrain.

Motor (efferent) division

the division of the somatic nervous system that transmits motor messages from the CNS to skeletal muscles via motor neurons.

Motor neurons

neurons that carry motor messages from the spinal cord and brain to muscles, glands and organs.

Myelin sheath

the fatty covering of the axon that acts as an insulator, protecting the axon from stimuli that could interfere with electrical nerve impulse transmission.

Myelination

the growth of myelin over the axons of neurons.

Nervous system

the system that produces and relays messages between the brain, spinal cord and a network of neurons.

Neurons (nerve cells)

cells of the nervous system that communicate with each other, as well as muscle and gland cells.

Neurotransmitters

molecules found within the nervous system that act as chemical messengers.

Occipital lobes

the pair of lobes at the back of the brain responsible for processing visual information.

Parasympathetic nervous system

the branch of the ANS that reverses bodily functions produced by the sympathetic nervous system by calming the body and maintaining an energy level suitable for normal functioning.

Parietal lobes

the pair of lobes located behind the frontal lobes on the top of the head, responsible for processing and integrating sensory information.

Population

the entire group of people that is of interest to the researcher.

Postsynaptic neuron

the neuron that receives a signal from the synapse.

Prefrontal cortex

the front layer of the frontal lobes that coordinates executive functions.

Presynaptic neuron

the neuron that transmits a signal into the synapse.

Primary auditory cortex

an area within both temporal lobes that perceives and processes auditory information received from the ears.

Primary motor cortex

a strip of cerebral cortex running through the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movement of the body.

Primary sensory cortex

a strip of cerebral cortex running through the parietal lobes that perceives and processes sensory information.

Primary visual cortex

an area within both occipital lobes that perceives and processes visual information received from the eyes.

Privacy

the principle that only information relevant to a study should be collected from participants.

Sensory (afferent) division

the division of the somatic nervous system that transmits sensory information received by sensory receptor cells to the CNS via sensory neurons.

Sensory neurons

neurons that process sensory information from sense organs and carry messages to the spinal cord and brain.

Somatic nervous system

the branch of the PNS that carries sensory information received by sensory receptor cells to the CNS via sensory neurons and carries motor messages from the CNS to skeletal muscles via motor neurons.

Spatial resolution

the ability to differentiate which specific part of the brain is active.

Spinal cord

the cable of nerve fibres that runs from the base of the brain to the lower back and connects the brain to the PNS.

Split

brain research

Still pictures

single static images that are two

Stroke

the sudden death of brain cells due to blockage or reduction in blood supply to part of the brain.

Structural imaging

neuroimaging techniques producing scans showing brain structure.

Sympathetic nervous system

the branch of the ANS that regulates glands and internal organ function to physically prepare the body for increased activity during heightened physical or emotional arousal.

Synapse

a segment comprised of an axon terminal of a presynaptic neuron, the synaptic cleft and the dendrite of a postsynaptic neuron.

Synaptic cleft

the space between two neurons.

Temporal lobes

the pair of lobes on the outer sides of the brain responsible for processing auditory information, the comprehension of speech and involvement in memory.

Thalamus

a double

Voluntary participation

participants take part in a study because it is their choice to do so.

Wernicke's aphasia

the impairment in the ability to understand language and produce meaningful speech due to damage of Wernicke's area.

Wernicke's area

a region within the left temporal lobe responsible for the comprehension of language and the production of meaningful speech.

White matter

nerve tissue in the spinal cord and brain largely comprised of myelinated axons, giving it a whitish colour.

Withdrawal rights

the right of participants to end their participation in a study or have their results removed during or after the study without pressure or penalty.

X-ray

a type of high-energy electromagnetic radiation used in medical imaging.