Cognitive Psychology - Exam One

Introspection

examining one’s own thoughts and feelings

Behaviorist Movement

psychology approach focusing only on observable behavior, not mental processes

Transcendental Method

inferring mental processes by studying their visible effects (ie. errors, response times)

Response Time

how long it takes to respond to a stimulus

Cognitive Neuroscience

study of how brain activity supports thinking and mental processes

Neuroimaging Techniques

tools to see brain activity or structure (ie. MRI, fMRI, PET, CAT, etc.)

Amygdala

brain area for emotion, especially fear and threat detection (the brain’s bodygaurd)

Prefrontal Cortex

area at the front of the brain involved in planning, decision-making, and self-control

Hindbrain

brain region that controls basic life functions (breathing, heartbeat, balance)

Cerebellum

structure for movement coordination and balance; also involved in learning

Midbrain

region controlling movement, eye coordination, and basic sensory processing

Forebrain

largest part of the brain; handles higher mental functions

Cortex

outer layer of the brain, involved in complex thought, sensation, and action

Cerebral Hemisphere

one half of the brain (left or right)

Frontal Lobes

lobe for reasoning, planning, movement, and personality

Parietal Lobe

lobe for processing touch, spatial awareness, and attention

Temporal Lobe

lobe for hearing, langauge, and memory

Occipital Lobe

lobe for vision

Subcortical Structures

brain areas under the cortex that control emotions, memory, and basic drives

Thalamus

relay station for sensory information

Hypothalamus

regulates hunger, thirst, body temperature, and hormones

Limbic System

Network for emotion and memory (includes hippocampus and amygdala)

Hippocampus

brain structure important for forming new memories

Corpus Callosum

large bundle of fibers responsible for communication between the two hemispheres

Lesion

damage to part of the brain, either accidental or intentional

CT Scans

x-ray images that show brain structure

PET Scans

tracks brain activity by measuring blood flow using radioactive trackers

MRI Scans

uses magnets to create detailed images of brain structure

fMRI Scans

measures brain activity by tracking oxygen in the blood

EEG

Electroencephalogram - records electrical activity in the brain

Event Related Potentials - ERP

the brain’s electrical responses to specific events measured by EEG

Fusiform Face Area - FFA

brain area specialized for recognizing faces

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation - TMS

technique using magnetic pulses to temporarily disrupt brain activity

Localization of Function

different brain areas serve different mental functions

Contralateral Control

each brain hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body

Neurons

nerve cells that send and recieve information

Glia

support cells that protect and maintain neurons

Cell Body (Soma)

main part of neuron that contains the nucleus

Dendrites

branchlike parts of a neuron that recieve signals

Axon

long fiber that sends signals away from the neuron

Neurotransmitter

chemical messanger released by neurons to communicate

Synapse

gap between neurons where neurotransmitters are released

Action Potential

electrical impulse that travels down the axon to send a signal

Umwelt

an animal’s sensory bubble

Default Mode Network

the brain area that is active when we are mind-wandering

Pallium

the bird’s version of a cortex - it is involved in complex behaviors and processing information