Understanding Psychology as a Science and Brain Functions

Psychology

Study of human behavior and mental processes.

Scientific Method

Systematic process for collecting empirical evidence.

Empirical Evidence

Information gathered through observation and experimentation.

Pseudoscience

Science lacking scientific method and empirical support.

Phrenology

Study of skull shapes to infer character traits.

Corpus Callosum

Nerve fibers connecting brain's left and right hemispheres.

Frontal Lobe

Brain region responsible for reasoning and decision-making.

Temporal Lobe

Brain region involved in memory and language processing.

Parietal Lobe

Brain area processing touch, sensory information, spatial awareness, and self-perception.

Occipital Lobe

Processes visual information from the retinas.

Cerebellum

Controls balance, posture, and voluntary movements.

Brain Stem

Regulates vital functions like breathing and heart rate.

Central Nervous System

Consists of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System

Nerves branching from the spinal cord.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Controls 'Rest and Digest' functions.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Controls 'Fight or Flight' response.

Autonomic Nervous System

Regulates involuntary bodily functions.

Somatic Nervous System

Controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.

Afferent Nerves

Carry sensory information to the brain. (Arrive)

Efferent Nerves

Carry motor information away from the brain. (Exit)

Nodes of Ranvier

Gaps in myelin sheath for impulse transmission.

Schwann Cells

Insulate and support peripheral nerve cells.

Dendrite

Short extensions receiving signals from other neurons.

Axon

Long projection transmitting impulses away from cell body.

Axon Terminal

Releases neurotransmitters to transmit signals.

Myelin Sheath

Fatty layer insulating nerve fibers.

Nucleus

Organelle containing chromosomes in a cell.

Motor Neuron

Efferent neuron carrying signals from CNS.

Sensory Neuron

Afferent neuron carrying sensory info to CNS.

Interneuron

Relay neuron connecting sensory and motor neurons.

Action Potential

Electrical signal traveling down a neuron's axon.

Neurotransmission

Process of neuron communication via neurotransmitters.

Receptor

Site on neuron receiving signals from stimuli.

Cell Body

Core section of neuron containing nucleus.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messenger for neuron communication.

Stimuli

External signals received by sensory neurons.

Vesicle docking

Synaptic vesicles fuse with presynaptic membrane.

Neurotransmitter release

Calcium influx triggers neurotransmitter release into cleft.

Synaptic cleft

Space between neurons for neurotransmitter diffusion.

Neurotransmitter binding

Neurotransmitters attach to postsynaptic receptors.

Excitatory neurotransmitter

Promotes action potential generation in postsynaptic neuron.

Inhibitory neurotransmitter

Prevents action potential generation in postsynaptic neuron.

Neuromodulator

Chemical that regulates neuron activity levels.

Neuroplasticity

Brain's ability to reorganize and adapt neural connections.

Cortical remapping

Rewiring of brain areas after injury or trauma.

Mean

Average value calculated by summing and dividing.

Median

Middle value in an ordered data set.

Mode

Most frequently occurring value in a data set.

Standard deviation

Measure of data variation around the mean.

Low standard deviation

Values are close to the mean.

High standard deviation

Values are spread over a wider range.

Phineas Gage

Example of neuroplasticity following traumatic brain injury.

Outliers

Data points significantly different from others.