Untitled Flashcards Set

Nature-Nurture Issue

The controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors.

Natural Selection

The process by which traits that help an organism survive and reproduce are selected by nature.

Evolutionary Psychology

The study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.

Behavior Genetics

The study of the interplay of heredity and environment in shaping psychological traits.

Mutations

Random errors in gene replication that lead to changes.

Environment

All external influences upon an individual.

Heredity

The transmission of genetic characteristics from parents to offspring.

Genes

Biochemical units of heredity that make up chromosomes.

Genome

Complete instructions for making an organism.

Identical Twins

Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits.

Fraternal Twins

Twins that develop from separate fertilized eggs.

Thomas Bouchard

Studied identical twins separated at birth and found many similarities despite different environments.

Interactions

The interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another.

Epigenetics

The study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change.

Nervous System

The body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all nerve cells.

Central Nervous System

The brain and spinal cord, serving as the body's decision makers.

Peripheral Nervous System

The sensory and motor neurons responsible for gathering information and transmitting decisions.

Nerves

Bundled axons that form neural 'cables' connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs.

Sensory Neurons

Carry messages from tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.

Motor Neurons

Carry instructions from the CNS to muscles and glands.

Interneurons

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally between sensory inputs and motor outputs.

Somatic Nervous System

The part of the PNS that enables voluntary control of skeletal muscles.

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls glands and muscles of internal organs and operates on its own.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Arouses the body, mobilizing energy in stressful situations.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Calms the body, conserving its energy.

Neurons

Nerve cells that send messages throughout the body.

Dendrite

Bushy extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses to the cell body.

Axon

The neuron extension that passes messages through branches to other neurons, muscles, or glands.

Myelin Sheath

A fatty tissue layer encasing some axons, enabling faster transmission of neural impulses.

Glial Cells

Supportive cells in the nervous system that nourish and protect neurons.

Action Potential

A brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.

Threshold

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

Refractory Period

The period of inactivity after a neuron has fired.

All or None Response

A neuron's reaction that either fires or does not fire.

Synapse

The junction between the axon tip of a sending neuron and the receiving neuron.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap and influence receiving neurons.

Reuptake

The reabsorption of neurotransmitters by the sending neuron.

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter that influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter affecting mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter that helps control alertness and arousal.

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory.

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters that influence the perception of pain and pleasure.

Agonist

A molecule that binds to a receptor and stimulates a response.

Antagonist

A molecule that binds to a receptor and inhibits or blocks a response.

Endocrine System

The body's slow chemical communication system, comprised of glands that secrete hormones.

Hormones

Chemical messengers manufactured by endocrine glands.

Adrenal Gland

Endocrine glands that secrete hormones during stress.

Pituitary Gland

The most influential endocrine gland, regulating growth and controlling other glands.

Psychoactive Drug

A chemical substance that alters perception and moods.

Substance Use Disorder

Continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption.

Depressants

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

Tolerance

Diminishing effect with regular dose of a drug, requiring larger doses for effect.

Addiction

Compulsive craving of drugs or behaviors despite consequences.

Withdrawal

Discomfort following the discontinuation of addictive drugs or behaviors.

Opioids

Drugs that depress neural functioning and reduce pain.

Stimulants

Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

Hallucinogens

Psychedelic drugs that distort perceptions.

Near Death Experience

An altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death.

Theory

An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organize observations.

Hypothesis

Testable predictions that specify what results support a theory.

Replication

Repetition of a research study with different participants to see if findings persist.

Case Study

A descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing behavior in natural settings without manipulation.

Surveys

Asking a group of people questions.

Sampling Bias

A flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample.

Population

All individuals in the group being studied.

Random Sample

A sample that fairly represents a population.

Correlation

A measure of the extent to which two variables change together.

Correlation Coefficient

A statistical index of the relationship between two variables.

Experimental Group

The group exposed to the treatment or independent variable.

Control Group

The group not exposed to treatment, serving as a comparison.

Random Assignment

Randomly assigning people to either experimental or control group.

Double Blind Procedure

A procedure where both participants and researchers are unaware of group assignments.

Confounding Variables

Factors other than the independent variables that may produce differences.

Validity

The extent to which a test measures what it's supposed to measure.

Content Validity

The extent to which a test samples the behavior of interest.

Predictive Validity

Success with which a test predicts the behavior it's designed to predict.

Informed Consent

Ethical principle that research participants must be informed about the study.

Debriefing

Post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and deceptions.

Confidentiality

Maintaining privacy of participants in research.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to change and adapt in response to experiences.

Biopsychosocial Approach

An integrated approach that considers biological, psychological, and social factors.

EEG (Electroencephalogram)

An amplified recording of the brain's electrical activity.

PET (positron emission tomography)

A visual display of brain activity based on glucose consumption.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A technique using magnetic fields to produce images of soft tissue.

fMRI (functional MRI)

Technique revealing blood flow and brain activity by comparing MRI scans.

Brainstem

The oldest part of the brain responsible for automatic survival functions.

Medulla

Controls heartbeat and breathing.

Thalamus

The brain's sensory switchboard; directs messages to sensory areas.

Reticular Formation

A nerve network in the brainstem that controls arousal.

Cerebellum

Responsible for coordinating movement and enabling nonverbal learning.

Limbic System

Neural system associated with emotions and drives.

Amygdala

Involved in memory and emotion, especially fear and aggression.

Hypothalamus

Controls maintenance activities and governs the endocrine system.

Hippocampus

Processes explicit memories for storage.

Cerebral Cortex

The body's ultimate control and information processing center.

Frontal Lobes

Involved in speaking, muscle movements, and decision making.

Parietal Lobes

Receives sensory input for touch and body position.

Occipital Lobes

Processes visual information.

Temporal Lobes

Includes areas for processing auditory information.