Psychology and Biology Lecture Notes Flashcards

A comprehensive set of practice flashcards covering core concepts of psychology, research methodology, neurobiology, and genetics based on lecture notes.

What is the systematic, structured process used by psychologists and scientists to acquire knowledge and understand behavior?

Scientific Method

What is the relationship where one variable (the cause) directly brings about a change in another variable (the effect)?

Cause and Effect

What is a study that resembles an experiment but lacks the key ingredient of random assignment?

Quasi-Experiment

Which research approach aims at observing and recording behavior to provide a clear picture of a phenomenon without manipulating variables?

Descriptive Research

What practice involves observing and recording behavior in its naturally occurring, real-world setting without manipulation?

Naturalistic Observation

What method of gathering data involves asking individuals a standard set of questions about their attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors?

Survey Research

What is an in-depth, detailed examination of a single individual, small group, or unique event called?

Case Study

Which research design examines the statistical relationship between two or more variables to determine if they change together?

Correlational Research

What is the major limitation of correlational research where an unmeasured, outside variable is responsible for the relationship?

Third-Variable Problem

What is a research strategy in which the same participants are observed and tested repeatedly over a long period of time?

Longitudinal Design

What is a carefully regulated procedure in which the researcher manipulates specific variables believed to influence another variable?

Experiment

What is the practice of assigning participants to experimental or control groups by chance?

Random Assignment

Which variable is deliberately manipulated or changed by the experimenter to see what its effects will be?

Independent Variable (IV)

Who is a person given a role to play in a study so that the social context can be manipulated?

Confederate

Which variable is measured in an experiment and is expected to change based on the independent variable?

Dependent Variable (DV)

Which group of participants in an experiment receives the treatment or specific manipulation being studied?

Experimental Group

Which group is treated exactly like the experimental group except they do not receive the independent variable/treatment?

Control Group

When is a Quasi-experimental Design typically used?

When it is unethical or impossible to randomly assign participants to groups.

In research, what term refers to the soundness or accuracy of the conclusions drawn from a study?

Validity

What is the entire, broad group of people that a researcher is interested in studying?

Population

What is the smaller subset of the population chosen by the investigator to actually take part in a study?

Sample

What type of sample gives every single member of the population an equal, unbiased chance of being selected?

Random Sample

What is the degree to which experimental results can be generalized or applied to real-world settings and other populations?

External Validity

What is the degree to which changes in the dependent variable are genuinely due to the manipulation of the independent variable?

Internal Validity

What occurs when a researcher's own expectations unintentionally influence the outcome of a study?

Experimenter Bias

What occurs when the behavior of participants is influenced by how they think they should behave?

Research Participant Bias

What is a harmless, inactive substance or fake treatment given to a control group?

Placebo

What phenomenon occurs when participants experience real changes simply because they believe they are receiving an active treatment?

Placebo Effect

What experimental design ensures neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is in the experimental or control group?

Double-blind Experiment

What are the nerve cells that handle the information processing function in the nervous system?

Neuron

Which nerve cells provide support and nutritional benefits within the nervous system?

Glial cells

Which neurons are responsible for empathy and understanding?

Mirror neurons

What are the treelike fibers projecting from a neuron that receive information and orient it toward the cell body?

Dendrites

Which part of the neuron contains the nucleus and directs the manufacture of substances for growth and maintenance?

Cell body

Which part of the neuron carries information away from the cell body toward other cells?

Axon

What is the layer of cells containing fat that encases and insulates most axons?

Myelin sheath

What is the brief wave of positive electrical charge that sweeps down an axon?

Action potential

What is the tiny space between neurons where information is transmitted?

Synapse

What are the chemical signals that allow electrical impulses to cross synaptic gaps?

Neurotransmitter

What type of drug mimics or increases a neurotransmitter's effects?

Agonist

What type of drug blocks a neurotransmitter's effects?

Antagonist

Which neurotransmitter keeps neurons from firing and is associated with anxiety when levels are low?

GABA (Gamma aminobutyric acid)

Which neurotransmitter fires neurons in the CNS and is linked to depression when low and manic states when high?

Norepinephrine

Which neurotransmitter affects sleep, mood, attention, and learning, and is linked to depression when levels are low?

Serotonin

Which neurotransmitter controls voluntary movement and is associated with Parkinson disease at low levels and Schizophrenia at high levels?

Dopamine

What are natural opiates that stimulate the firing of neurons, shield the body from pain, and elevate feelings of pleasure?

Endorphins

Which neurotransmitter is involved in muscle action, learning, and memory, and is deficient in Alzheimer disease?

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Which hormone and neurotransmitter plays an important role in the experience of love and social bonding?

Oxytocin

What is the body's electrochemical communication circuitry called?

Nervous system

Which system consists of the brain and spinal cord?

Central nervous system (CNS)

Which system is the network of nerves connecting the CNS to other parts of the body?

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Which system conveys information from skin and muscles to the CNS using sensory and motor nerves?

Somatic nervous system

Which system takes messages to and from internal organs?

Autonomic nervous system

Which specific nervous system mobilizes the body for action?

Sympathetic nervous system

Which specific nervous system calms the body?

Parasympathetic nervous system

What are sensory nerves that carry information to the brain and spinal cord?

afferent nerves

What are motor nerves that carry information out of the brain and spinal cord to the muscles?

efferent nerves

What structures in the brain stem control vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, and reflexes?

Medulla

Which brain structure is involved in body movements and is notably affected by alcohol?

Cerebellum

Which brain structure relays information between lower and higher brain centers and is involved in attention and focus?

Thalamus

Which loosely connected network of structures under the cerebral cortex is important for memory and emotion?

Limbic system

Which principal structure of the limbic system is involved in fear and aggression (fight or flight)?

Amygdala

Which structure in the limbic system has a special role in the storage of memories?

Hippocampus

What brain structure governs eating, drinking, and sex, and plays a role in emotion, stress, and the sense of time?

Hypothalamus

What is the outer layer of the brain responsible for complex mental functions such as thinking and planning?

Cerebral cortex

What term refers to the brain's special capacity for change?

Plasticity

Which lobe of the brain is responsible for processing visual stimuli?

Occipital lobe

Which lobe of the brain is responsible for hearing, language processing, and memory?

Temporal lobe

Which lobe of the brain is involved in personality, intelligence, and control of voluntary muscles?

Frontal lobe

Which lobes of the brain are involved in spatial location, attention, and motor control?

Parietal lobes

Which brain area processes information about body sensations?

Somatosensory cortex

Which brain area processes information about voluntary movement?

Motor cortex

Which specific brain area plays a role in the production of speech?

Broca's Area

Which specific brain area effects speech comprehension?

Wernicke's Area

What is the large bundle of axons that connects the brain's two hemispheres?

Corpus Callosum

Which hemisphere is specialized for language, speech, reading, and controlling the right side of the body?

Left hemisphere

Which hemisphere is specialized for spatial information, nonverbal information, visual recognition, and emotion?

Right hemisphere

What are the circumstances and events that threaten individuals and tax their coping abilities?

Stressors

What are the specific hormones released in response to stress?

Corticosteroids

How many pairs of threadlike chromosomes do humans typically have?

$23$ pairs

What is the complex molecule that carries genetic information?

DNA

What are the units of hereditary information consisting of short segments of chromosomes composed of DNA?

Genes

Which genetic principle states that a certain gene will override another?

Dominant-recessive genes principle

What term describes the influence of multiple genes on behavior?

polygenic inheritance

What is the genetic makeup or heritage of an individual?

Genotype

What are the observable characteristics of an individual?

Phenotype

How is the activity of genes affected according to the concept of genetic expression?

The activity of genes is affected by their environment.