Vocab Quiz

apparent movement

an illusion of motion or change in size of a visual stimulus

attention

a state in which an individual is focused on certain aspects of the environment rather than on others

binocular depth cue

Depth cues that depend on the use of two eyes.

bottom-up processing

Analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain's integration of sensory information.

change blindness

Failing to notice differences in the environment.

closure

The tendency to complete figures that are incomplete.

cocktail party effect

Ability to attend to only one voice among many.

color constancy

Perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object.

constancies

Perceiving objects as unchanging (having consistent shapes, size, lightness, and color) even as illumination and retinal images change.

context

refers to the environment in which a stimulus event occurs (e.g., the location or circumstances surrounding the stimulus); this affects memory, learning, judgment and perception

convergence

The ability to turn the two eyes inward toward each other to look at a close object, enabling the slightly different images of an object seen by each eye to come together and form a single image, allowing us to see depth with the use of both of our eyes.

figure and ground

The organization of the visual field into objects that stand out from their surroundings.

Gestalt psychology

The whole experience is greater than the sum of the individual parts.

inattentional blindness

Failing to see visible objects when our focus is directed elsewhere.

interposition

A monocular cue for perceiving depth; if one object partially blocks our view of another, we perceive it as closer.

linear perspective

Two objects appear closer together as the distance from them increases, as seen in the tracks of a railroad that appear to converge on the horizon.

monocular depth cues

The information in the retinal image that gives us information about depth and distance but can be inferred from just a single eye.

lightness constancy

the tendency to perceive a familiar object as having the same brightness under different conditions of illumination; for example, a piece of white paper appears to have similar brightness in daylight as it does at dusk, even though the energy it reflects may be quite different

perceptual set

A mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another.

perceptual constancy

the phenomenon in which an object or its properties appear unchanged despite variations in the stimulus itself or in the external conditions of observation, such as object orientation or level of illumination.

proximity

Gestalt grouping principle; we group nearby figures together.

relative clarity

Objects that appear sharp, clear, and detailed are seen as closer than more hazy objects

relative height

We perceive objects higher in our field of vision as farther away; a visual and artistic perspective where distant objects are seen or portrayed as being smaller or higher in relation to items that are closer.

relative size

A monocular cue for perceiving depth; the smaller retinal image is farther away.

retinal disparity

A binocular for perceiving depth: by comparing images from the retinas in the two eyes, the brain computes distance - the greater the disparity (difference) between the two images, the closer the object.

schema

a collection of basic knowledge about a concept or entity that serves as a guide to perception, interpretation, imagination, or problem solving. For example, the schema "dorm room" suggests that a bed and a desk are probably part of the scene, that a microwave oven might or might not be, and that expensive Persian rugs probably will not be.

selective attention

The ability to focus on one stimulus while excluding other stimuli that are present.

shape constancy

A type of perceptual constancy in which an object is perceived as having the same shape when viewed at different angles.

similarity

The tendency to perceive things that look like each other as being part of the same group.

size constancy

The ability to perceive an object as being the same size despite the fact that the size of its retinal image changes depending on its distance from the observer.

texture gradient

A monocular cue for perceiving depth; a gradual change from a coarse distinct pattern to a fine, indistinct pattern signals increasing distance. Objects far away appear smaller and more densely packed.

top down processing

Information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations.

Biological psychology

a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior

neuron

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

sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory reseptors to the brain and spinal cord

motor neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

interneurons

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

myelin sheath

A lack of this is attributed to Multiple Sclerosis.

action potential

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to reseptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse

reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

endorphins

"morphine within" - natural . opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

nervous system

the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems

central nervous system (CNS)

the brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

nerves

bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles.

autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

reflex

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

pituitary gland

the endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

lesion

tissue destruction; a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

electroencephalogram (EEG)

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on th scalp.

fMRI (functional MRI)

a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans, fMRI shows brain functions

brainstem

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

reticular activating system

a nerve netowrk in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

thalamus

the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum amd medulla - all senses, but smell are processed here

cerebellum

the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output an balance

limbic system

doughnut-shaped neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

amygdala

two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to raw emotions such as fear and anger

hypothalamus

a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp). helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward (think 4 F's!!)

cerebral cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural calles covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information processing center

glial cells

cells in the nervour system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

frontal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements

parietal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; received sensory input for touch and body postion

occipital lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head, includes areas that receive information from visual fields

temporal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

sensory cortex (somatosensory cortex)

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in promary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions ssuch as learning, remembering, , thinking, and speaking

aphasia

impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's Area (impairing speaking) or Wernicke's Area (impairing understanding)

Broca's Area

controls language expression - an area, usually in the left frontal lobe, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech

Wernicke's Area

controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe

plasticity

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

corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

split brain

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them

refractory period

in neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state

all-or-none principle

a neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing.

agonists

a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter's action - it mimics the neurotransmitter

antagonist

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's action

hippocampus

a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process for storage (conscious) memories of facts and events

acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction.

adoption study

A research design that investigates the relationships among genetic and environmental factors in the development of personality, behavior, or disorder by comparing the similarities of biological parent-child pairs with those of adoptive parent-child pairs.

adrenaline

A hormone whose major action is to increase heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar, providing a surge of energy to power our fight-or-flight respose.

biological psychologists

Researchers who use advanced technologies to study the links between genetic, neural, and hormonal with psychological processes.

contralateral hemispheric organization

The arrangement whereby each hemisphere is mainly responsible for the information of the opposite side of the body.

cortex specialization

The tendency for one side or area of the brain to carry out specific brain activities. Even though both sides of the brain are almost identical, one hemisphere primarily carries out some functions over others.

depolarization

The process leading up to the height of action potential when sodium is rushing into the cell causing the interior to become more positive.

dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's pleasure and reward system.

eugenics

A much-criticized nineteenth-century movement that proposed measuring human traits and using the results to encourage only smart and fit people to reproduce

evolutionary psychology

An approach to psychological inquiry that views human cognition and behavior in a broadly Darwinian context of adaptation to evolving physical and social environments and new intellectual challenges.

excitatory

The function of a neurotransmitter which results in a greater likelihood of an action potential.

executive function

Higher level cognitive processes of planning, decision making, problem solving, action sequencing, task assignment and organization, effortful and persistent goal pursuit, inhibition of competing impulses, flexibility in goal selection, and goal-conflict resolution.

family study

Research conducted among siblings, parents, or children to assess evidence for genetic links for characteristics or outcomes, often related to health or disease.

GABA

Most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter; regulates daily sleep-wake cycles.

genetic predisposition

A tendency for certain traits to be inherited, including physical and mental conditions and disorders.

ghrelin

A hunger-arousing hormone.