Confusing Pairs

Independent Variable

What is tested in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

What is measured in an experiment.

Experimental Group

The group that is tested in an experiment.

Control Group

The group that receives the placebo and is compared to the experimental group.

Random Sample

Those participating in the study.

Random Assignment

Assigning members of the sample to either the control or experimental group.

Left Brain

Associated with language and logic.

Right Brain

Associated with creativity and spatial abilities.

Corpus Callosum

Divides the brain.

Cerebral Cortex

Covers the brain.

Sympathetic Nervous System

'Fight or flight' response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Calming response, like a parachute.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals in the nervous system.

Hormones

Chemicals in the endocrine system.

Lateral Hypothalamus

Stimulates hunger.

Ventromedial Hypothalamus

Suppresses hunger.

Broca’s Area

Responsible for word production.

Wernicke’s Area

Responsible for word comprehension.

Afferent Neurons

Sensory neurons, transmit signals from the body to the brain.

Efferent Neurons

Motor neurons, transmit signals from the brain to the body.

Identical Twins

Twins from the same fertilized egg.

Fraternal Twins

Twins from two separate eggs.

Assimilation

The process of incorporating new information into existing schemas.

Accommodation

The process of changing existing schemas to fit new information.

Concrete Operations

Stage of logical thinking in children.

Formal Operations

Stage of philosophical thinking in adolescents and adults.

Sensation

Bottom-up processing of sensory information.

Perception

Top-down processing of sensory input.

Rods

Photoreceptors responsible for night vision.

Cones

Photoreceptors responsible for color vision.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process that involves associating an involuntary response with a stimulus.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process that involves associating a voluntary behavior with a consequence.

Primacy Effect

The tendency to remember the first items in a list.

Recency Effect

The tendency to remember the last items in a list.

Proactive Interference

Old memories interfere with the recall of new memories.

Retroactive Interference

New memories interfere with the recall of old memories.

Implicit Memory

Non-declarative memory, such as skills and procedures.

Explicit Memory

Declarative memory, which includes facts and events.

Recall Memory

Memory retrieval without cues.

Recognition Memory

Memory retrieval with some cues or hints.

Algorithms

Step-by-step problem-solving procedures that guarantee a solution.

Heuristics

Simple, efficient rules used to make decisions.

Representative Heuristics

Making judgments based on stereotypes or prototypes.

Availability Heuristics

Making judgments based on readily available information.

Phonemes

Basic sound units in a language.

Morphemes

Basic units of meaning in a language.

Fluid Intelligence

The ability to think quickly and abstractly.

Crystallized Intelligence

The accumulation of knowledge and skills.

Validity

The extent to which a test measures what it is intended to.

Reliability

The consistency of a test's scores upon retesting.

Achievement Test

A test that measures what you have learned.

Aptitude Test

A test that measures potential.

Intrinsic Motivation

Motivation driven by internal satisfaction.

Extrinsic Motivation

Motivation driven by external rewards.

Internal Locus of Control

Belief that you control your environment, often linked to optimism.

External Locus of Control

Belief that the environment controls you, often linked to pessimism.

Lithium

Medication used to treat bipolar disorder.

Librium

Medication used to treat anxiety.

Type A Personality

Characterized by high stress levels and a higher risk of heart disease.

Type B Personality

Characterized by low stress levels.

Agonist

A drug that binds to a receptor and triggers a response, mimicking a naturally occurring substance.

Antagonist

A drug that blocks an action.