PSYC 101 Week 3

Neuron

Basic unit of the brain.

Dendrites

Branching extensions of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons.

Axon

Long projection of a neuron that transmits electrical impulses away from the cell body.

Synapse

The junction between two neurons where information is transmitted.

Cerebral Cortex

Part of the brain responsible for higher-order functions, making us human.

Neurogenesis

The process of creating new neurons, primarily occurring before and shortly after birth.

Myelination

Formation of a fatty sheath around the axons of neurons to facilitate fast communication.

Synaptogenesis

Formation of synapses resulting in an abundance of connections in the brain.

Synaptic Pruning

Process by which unused or less useful synaptic connections are eliminated.

Experience-expectant Processes

Developmental processes that depend on universal experiences across the species.

Experience-dependent Processes

Processes that are influenced by specific individual experiences.

Neural Darwinism

Theory stating that synaptic connections are strengthened or weakened based on use.

Flexibility in Brain Development

The ability of the brain to adapt and change, occurring notably during childhood and adolescence.

Prefrontal Cortex

Region of the brain associated with executive functions such as planning and inhibition.

Go-No Go Task

A test of self-control where participants respond to certain stimuli but not to others.

Marshmallow Task

An experiment measuring delay of gratification and its correlation with future success.

Short term vs. long term

The conflict between immediate pleasure and future benefits.

Executive Function

Cognitive processes that help manage thoughts, actions, and emotions to achieve goals.

Sensation

Basic processing of sensory information from the environment.

Perception

The interpretation and organization of sensory information to form a meaningful understanding.

Visual Acuity

The clarity or sharpness of vision that develops rapidly in infancy.

Habituation

The process of becoming accustomed to a stimulus after repeated exposure.

Depth Perception

The ability to perceive the world in three dimensions and judge distances.

Intermodal Perception

The ability to understand relationships between percepts from different sensory modalities.

Molyneux’s Problem

A philosophical question regarding the recognition of objects across different sensory modalities.