exploring psychology ch. 1 & 2 review

Wilhelm Wundt

Founder of 1st psychology lab in Germany. Psychologist and philosopher.

Ivan Pavlov

Pioneered study of learning. Russian physiologist.

Sigmund Freud

Personality theorist. Austrian physician.

Jean Piaget

Child development. Swiss biologist.

William James

American philosopher who published "Principles of Psychology."

psychology

the science of behavior and mental processes

neuroscience

how the body and brain enable emotions, memories, and sensory experiences

psychodynamic

how behavior springs from unconscious drives

behavioral

how observable responses are acquired and changed

cognitive

how we encode, process, store, and retrieve information

social-cultural

how behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures

3 components of scientific attitude

curiosity, skepticism, humility

critical thinking

examines assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions

descriptive research

observes and describes behavior

case study

examines one or more individuals in great depth hoping to reveal things true of us all

survey

self reported attitudes and behaviors of a population by questioning a random sample

naturalistic observation

observing and recording behavior in natural environments

correlational research

measuring 2 variables and assessing the relationship between them (can be positive or negative)

experimental research

manipulating one or more factors to observe the effects on some behavior or mental process

independent variable

variable that is manipulated

dependent variable

The measurable effect, behavior observed

ethical principles of research

obtain informed consent, protect from harm and discomfort, confidentiality, and debrief

SQR3

Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review

phrenology

ill-fated theory that bumps on one's skull revealed mental abilities and character traits (focused on localization of functions of various areas of the brain)

biological psychology

studies links between biology and behavior

neurons

nerve cells that are the basic building blocks of the nervous system

neuron

cell body/branching fibers

dendrites

receive info from sensory receptors

axon

a single fiber that passes info to other neurons, muscles, and glands

myelin sheath

fatty layer of cells that encase the axon

functions of the myelin sheath

insulates axon and increases speed of neurotransmission

action potential

A brief electrical charge traveling down axon generated by movement of ions. When it reached the end of an axon, an electrical impulse is converted to a chemical message.

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

synapse

the gap between sending and receiving neurons

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers

sensory neurons

send sensory info from tissue and sensory organs INWARD to the brain and spinal cord (afferent)

interneurons

work in the spinal cord and brain and INTERVENE between sensory and motor neurons

motor neurons

send instructions OUTWARD from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and body tissue (efferent)

plasticity

the ability for the brain to develop new neural pathways OR the brain's ability to modify itself after damage

agonist

molecule that INCREASES a neurotransmitters action

antagonist

a molecule that INHIBITS a neurotransmitters action

nervous system

electrochemical communication system

peripheral nervous system

includes sensory and motor neurons

central nervous system

included brain and spinal cord

autonomic nervous system

includes muscles and glands of internal organs

somatic nervous system

includes skeletal muscles

endocrine system

the body's slow chemical communication system, a set of glands that secrete hormones through the bloodstream

hormones

chemical messengers that are produced in one tissue and travel through the blood, affecting other tissues

adrenal glands

found at the top of the kidneys, triggers fight/flight, releases epinephrine, provides a surge of energy which increases heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar

pituitary gland

"master gland of endocrine system," a pea-sized structure at the base of the brain, regulates body growth and releases oxytocin (establishes trust, social bonding)

brainstem

oldest and most central part of the brain, begins where spinal cord enters skull

parts of the brainstem

medulla, cerebellum, thalamus, reticular formation

medulla

controls heartbeat and breathing, crossover point of nerves from each side of the body

cerebellum

2 wrinkled hemispheres, influences nonverbal learning and skill memory, muscle control

thalamus

pair of egg-shaped structures, the brain's sensory switchboard, deals with the senses (except smell)

reticular formation

inside brainstem, extends from spinal cord to the thalamus, controls arousal and attention

limbic system

at the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres, linked to emotion and motivation

amygdala

2 almond-shaped neural-clusters that influence aggression and fear

hypothalamus

below thalamus, performs bodily maintenance duties like hunger, thirst, body temperature, and sexual behavior

hippocampus

process explicit memories for storage

cerebral cortex

covers cerebrum, about 1/8 inch thick (nerve cells), what gives the brain its wrinkled appearance

4 lobes of the cerebral cortex

frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal

frontal lobe

speaking, planning, judgement, and muscle movement. Behind forehead.

parietal lobe

touch and body position. At the top and to the rear of the head.

occipital love

vision. Back of the head.

temporal lobe

hearing. Above ears.

corpus callosum

wide band of axon fibers connecting and transmitting information between the two hemispheres

motor cortex and the divided brain

right side of brain controls left side of body and vice versa

left hemisphere (brain)

logical, verbal, analytical

right hemisphere (brain)

creative, emotionally expressive, imaginative