Psychology 100

Neuroplasticity

Ability of the brain to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life

Neural pruning

Process of removing unnecessary or weaker neural connections to increase efficiency in neural networks

Stem cells

Undifferentiated cells with the ability to develop into different cell types in the body

Neurodegeneration

Progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, including in conditions like Alzheimer's disease

Socioeconomic status

Position of an individual or family in a social hierarchy based on income, education, and occupation

Levels of consciousness

Different states of awareness including subconsciousness, altered states, and control processes

Automatic processes

Effortless mental activities performed without conscious awareness, often due to established habits

Implicit associations

Unconscious mental connections that influence perceptions and behaviors

Perceptual blindness

Inability to perceive stimuli in a visual field due to selective attention or distractions

Selective attention

Ability to focus on specific stimuli while filtering out other distractions

Circadian rhythm

Natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle over a 24-hour period

REM sleep

Rapid Eye Movement sleep stage characterized by high brain activity, dreams, and muscle paralysis

Sleep paralysis

Inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up, often accompanied by hallucinations

Dream functions

Processes during sleep that involve memory consolidation, problem-solving, and emotional regulation

Sleep deprivation

Condition of not having enough sleep, leading to cognitive and physical impairments

Depressants

Substances that slow down brain activity, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opioids

Stimulants

Substances that increase brain and body activity, like caffeine, amphetamines, and cocaine

Problem solving strategies

Various methods including algorithms, trial and error, and heuristics to find solutions to challenges

Heuristics

Strategies for narrowing down solutions or problem-solving approaches

Toothpick triangles

Forming four equilateral triangles with six toothpicks without breaking or overlapping them

Arranging toothpicks

Creating equilateral triangles with equal sides touching, without any extra pieces

Thinking Outside the Box

Approaching problem-solving with multidimensional perspectives to overcome fixed thinking

Creative problem-solving

Solving problems in unconventional ways, like using a paint can as a pendulum to tie ropes together

Functional fixatives

Demonstration of functional fixedness through a task involving a candle and tacks

Functional fixedness

Struggle with rigid thinking, like difficulty in choosing a major despite enjoying other classes

Confirmation bias

Tendency to seek information supporting existing beliefs, reinforcing them and leading to false conclusions

Vaccine skepticism

Parents holding onto debunked MMR-autism link, seeking confirming evidence despite refutation

Bias in interview questions

Potential bias leading to overlooking highly qualified candidates and creating workplace tension

Article assessment

Rating an article's quality based on alignment with existing views rather than objective criteria

Racial bias

Influence of beliefs and confirmation bias on individuals' racist attitudes

Public perception on global warming

Doubt about climate change due to personal observations and conflicting articles, fostering skepticism

Debating abortion beliefs

Different perspectives hindering progress, suggesting starting conversations at core beliefs for growth

Books in the Old Testament

Approximately 39-52 books included in the Old Testament

Number of countries in Africa

Challenge in accurately estimating the number of countries within a given range

Overconfidence and the Brain

Explanation for the overconfidence effect in decision-making and cognitive processes

Overconfidence Bias

Tendency to overestimate abilities and underestimate task completion time

Problem-solving barriers at Oberlin

Challenge of time management balancing assignments and extracurricular activities, leading to uncertainty and distractions

Impact of overconfidence at different times

Variation in overconfidence levels impacting tasks like daily routines and breaking mental sets

Quiz on causes of deaths

Considering various options like cars, furniture, dogs, bears, or cows to predict the most fatal

Availability heuristic

Cognitive shortcut estimating event frequency based on ease of accessible information in mind

Frequency bias in media reporting

Overestimation of school shootings due to sensationalized media reporting compared to other causes of death

Lottery podcast influence

Influence of hearing about lottery winners' deaths on considering buying lottery tickets

Cognitive biases

Accessibility heuristic leading to overestimation of words starting with 'k' versus with 'k' as the third letter

Representativeness bias

Impact of stereotypes on perceptions and interactions in daily life

Stereotypes and Representativeness

Categorizing others based on stereotypes affecting interactions; fitting into stereotypes influences treatment

Children from disadvantaged backgrounds

Unique adaptations in neurodevelopment, where socioeconomic status may not always be detrimental

Cerebellum

Controls basic movements and orientation

Mid-brain

Responsible for auditory simulation and sleep stages

Thalamus

Acts as a sensory hub in the brain

Limbic System

Includes structures like hippocampus and amygdala, involved in emotions

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for language production

Temporal Lobe

Specialized for language comprehension