BehSci GR #1

Empirical Approach

Evidence-based method relying on observation/experimentation.

Scientific Attitude

Involves curiosity, skepticism, and humility

critical thinking

examines assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions

Behaviorism

Psychological view that emphasizes objective science without reference to mental processes.

Neuroscience

Study of how body/brain functions enable emotions, memories, and sensory experiences.

Evolutionary Psychology

Focuses on natural selection of traits that promote survival of genes.

behavior genetics

genes and environment interact to produce individual differences in behavior

Psychodynamic Psychology

Emphasizes how behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts.

Behavioral

learn observable responses

Cognitive Pyschology

the scientific study of mental processes, including perception, thought, memory, and reasoning

Cognitive

Encode, process, store, retrieve info

Sociocultural

Explores how behavior and thinking vary across different situations and cultures.

Psychology

the science of behavior (anything we do- observable and recordable action) and mental processes (internal subjective

experiences inferred from behavior)

Scientific Method

① Ask a question ② perform research ③ Establish your hypothesis 4. Test your hypothesis by conducting an experiment 5. Make an observation ⑥ Analyze the results and draw a conclusion ⑦ present the findings

3 roadblocks to critical thinking

hindsight bias, overconfidence, perceiving patterns in random events

Theory

explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events

Hypothesis

a testable prediction; must include an independent and dependent variable

Operational Definitions

a carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a research study

Replicate

Repeating essential aspects of a research study to verify the basic findings.

preregistration

publicly communicating planned study design, hypotheses, data collection, and analyses

Meta-analysis

Analyzing results from multiple studies to derive an overall conclusion.

Case Studies

In-depth analyses of individuals or groups to reveal universal principles.

naturalistic observation

recording the natural behavior of many individuals without trying to manipulate/control the situation

Surveys

And interviews; asking questions, self-reported attitudes/behaviors

Correlations

Positive=direct relationship; negative=inverse relationship (no correlation)

Random Sampling

Choosing groups from a population by chance to ensure generalizability.

Correlations

Relationships between variables, with positive, negative, or no correlation.

illusory correlation

perceiving a relationship where none exists, or perceiving a stronger-than-actual relationship

Regression Toward the Mean

Tendency for extreme values to move back towards the average in subsequent measurements.

Statistically Significant

Indicates the likelihood that a result is not due to chance.

descriptive methods

describing one variable -> case study, naturalistic observations, surveys; nothing is manipulated

Correlation methods

comparing two variables; nothing is manipulated

experiment

research method where research manipulates one or more variables to see the effect on behavior/mental processes

Experimental Group

Receives the treatment or manipulation in an experiment.

Control Group

Does not receive the treatment or manipulation in an experiment.

random assignment

assigning participants to a group by chance, to minimize any preexisting differences

random sampling

choosing groups from the population by chance for your

sample; helps generalize to the larger population

independent variable

factor that is manipulated; can vary independently of other factors

dependent variable

the outcome that is measured; can vary depending on what takes place

confounding variable

a factor other than the independent variable that might influence results

double-blind procedure

experiment where both research participants and staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the participants have recieved the treatment

placebo effect

results caused by expectations alone

operational definition

Specify procedures that manipulate the IV or measure the DV

Research Ethics

① informed consent 2. protect participants from greater-than-usual harm/discomfort 3. keep info about individual participants confidential 4. Fully debrief people

Phrenology

studying bumps on the skull to reveal a person's mental abilities and character traits

Dendrites

Receive messages; neurons bushy/branching extensions that receive/integrate messages (listen)

terminal branches

Send messages

synaptic gap

Gap between neurons

axon

Neuron extension that sends/passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands.

myelin sheath

Layer of fatty tissue encasing the axons of some neurons; speeds neural impulses.

glial cells

(Glue cells) Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory.

Neural impulse

a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon (action potential)

ions

Electrically charged atoms; affect the selectively permeable surface of an axon.

depolarization

Loss of inside/outside charge difference causing next section of axon channels to open.

refractory period

Resting pause that occurs after a neuron fires; subsequent action potentials can't occur until the axon returns to its resting state.

All-or-None response

Neuron's reaction of either firing or not firing.

Synapse

Meeting point between neurons; where the axon tip of one neuron connects to the dendrite or cell body of another neuron (synaptic gap)

neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap between neurons and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron; move between neurons

reuptake

Neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron; excess neurotransmitters can also drift away or be broken down.

endorphins

Natural neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure.

agonist

Molecule that increases neurotransmitter action; increases cellular action

antagonist

Molecule that inhibits or blocks neurotransmitter action; blocks cellular activity

Neuroplasticity

the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

Neurons

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

cell body

the part of a neuron that contains the nucleus; the cell's life-support center

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that include Acetylcholine (ACh), Dopamine, Serotonin, Norepinephrine, GABA, Glutamate, and Endorphins.

nervous system

Body's electrochemical communication network, including nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

central nervous system

Brain and spinal cord; body's decision maker.

peripheral nervous system

Gathers information; transmits central nervous system decisions to other body parts.

nerves

Bundles of axons forming electrical cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sensory organs.

Sensory neurons

Carry messages from body's tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord. (Incoming info)

motor neurons

Convey instructions from the central nervous system to muscles and glands. (Outgoing info)

interneurons

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs.

Peripheral nervous system

Includes the somatic nervous system (controls skeletal muscles) and autonomic nervous system (regulates glands and internal organ muscles).

sympathetic nervous system

Arouses, expends energy, and maintains homeostasis.

parasympathetic nervous system

Calms, conserves energy, and maintains homeostasis.

Endocrine system

Body's 'slow' chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

hormones

Chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands that travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues.

adrenal glands

Secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress; part of the endocrine system.

pituitary gland

System's most influential gland; regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands. (Master gland)

Oxytocin

Hormone that influences social bonding, labor contractions, breastfeeding, and orgasms.

feedback system

Brain → pituitary → other glands → hormones → body/brain.

Hindbrain

Directs essential survival functions such as breathing, sleeping, and balance; includes the pons, medulla, and cerebellum.

Forebrain

Responsible for complex cognitive activities, sensory, and voluntary motor activities; includes the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and hypothalamus.

midbrain

Connects the hindbrain and forebrain; transmits information and enables seeing and hearing.

brainstem

Controls basic functions like heartbeat and breathing; includes the pons and medulla

thalamus

Brain's sensory control center; receives information from all senses except smell.

reticular formation

Nerve network that relays information to other brain areas; plays a role in controlling arousal. "Netlike" formation

Cerebellum

Located at the rear of the brainstem; processes sensory input, coordinates movement output/balance, and enables nonverbal learning and memory. "Little brain"

limbic system

Associated with emotions and drives; includes the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus.

amygdala

Linked to emotion, particularly fear and aggression; Lima bean sized neuron clusters

hypothalamus

Helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland; linked to emotion and reward; bodily maintenance (eating, drinking, body temp)

hippocampus

Processes conscious, explicit memories.

cerebral cortex

Thin outer layer of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center; 4 lobes

cerebrum

Enables perceiving, thinking, and recognizing; cerebral cortex

Frontal lobes

speaking, muscle movements, making plans and judgements; cerebral cortex; damage can alter personality; steers us towards kindness and away from violence

parietal lobes

receives sensory input for touch and body position; enables math and spatial reasoning; cerebral cortex

occipital lobes

Receive information from visual fields; cerebral cortex