Learning and Memory - Exam 4

amygdala

A critical brain structure involved in processing fear and emotional responses

anxiety disorders

Mental health conditions involving excessive fear responses

arousal

A state of heightened physiological activation

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

System that controls involuntary bodily functions and stress responses

conditioned avoidance

Learned behavior to avoid threatening stimuli

cortisol

A stress hormone released during fight-or-flight response

depression

A mental health condition often linked with anxiety and trauma

emotion

Behavioral and physiological responses to stimuli

epinephrine

A stress hormone released during threatening situations

fight-or-flight response

Body's automatic response to threatening situations

flashbulb memory

Vivid memories of emotionally significant events

glucocorticoids

Stress hormones including cortisol

James-Lange theory of emotion

Theory proposing that physiological responses precede and cause emotional experiences (e.g., we feel sad because we cry, rather than crying because we feel sad)

learned helplessness

A state where individuals feel unable to escape negative situations

limbic system

Brain region involved in emotional processing

mood-congruency of memory

Tendency to recall memories matching current emotional state

perseveration

Persistent repetition of responses

phobia

Fear response triggered by specific stimuli

piloerection

Physical response involving hair standing on end

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Condition following trauma with persistent fear responses

stress hormone

Chemicals like epinephrine and cortisol released during stress

systematic desensitization

Treatment involving gradual exposure to fear-inducing stimuli

Asperger's syndrome

A condition that affects social interaction and communication, mentioned in context of imitation deficits

contagion

Automatic replication of behaviors without conscious control

copying

The act of reproducing observed behaviors

echolalia

Involuntary repetition of words or phrases, common in autism and frontal lobe damage

emulation

Learning to achieve a goal by observing others, without necessarily copying their exact methods

mirror neurons

Brain cells that activate both when performing and observing actions

modeling

Demonstrating behaviors for others to learn from

observational conditioning

Learning through watching others' responses to stimuli

observational learning

Learning that occurs through watching and copying others

perspective taking

The ability to understand situations from another's viewpoint

social conformity

Adjusting behavior to match group norms

social learning

Learning that occurs in a social context

social learning theory

Theory explaining how people learn through observation and imitation

social transmission of information

Transfer of knowledge between individuals through social interaction

stimulus enhancement

Increased attention to objects or areas others interact with

stimulus matching

Matching observed patterns or behaviors

template model of song learning

Model explaining how birds learn songs through matching to internal templates

true imitation

Exact copying of novel actions

two-action test

Test to determine if animals can truly imitate by copying specific methods

vocal learning

The ability to learn and reproduce sounds

allele

A variant form of a gene

Alzheimer's disease

A progressive brain disorder causing memory loss and cognitive decline, characterized by plaques and tangles in the brain

amyloid plaques

Abnormal protein deposits found in Alzheimer's patients' brains

androgens

Male sex hormones

apoptosis

Programmed cell death

autosomal dominant

A genetic trait where inheriting just one copy of the mutated gene leads to developing the condition

base pair

Building blocks of DNA

chromosome

Structures containing genetic material

critical period

A specific time window during development when certain experiences must occur

DNA

Genetic material containing instructions for development

Down syndrome

A genetic condition caused by having an extra copy of chromosome 21

elicited imitation

Learning through copying observed behaviors

enriched environment

Surroundings that provide stimulation and opportunities for learning

estrogen

Female sex hormone

gene

Unit of heredity that determines traits

gestational age (GA)

Time measured from conception

imprinting

A form of learning occurring during sensitive periods

mutation

A change in genetic material

neurofibrillary tangles

Twisted protein fibers found in Alzheimer's patients' brains

neurogenesis

The formation of new neurons

sensitive period

A time of increased responsiveness to certain experiences

spines

Small protrusions on dendrites where synapses form

stem cells

Cells that can develop into different cell types

synaptogenesis

The formation of new synaptic connections

testosterone

Primary male sex hormone

trisomy 21

Having three copies of chromosome 21, causing Down syndrome