Psych Exam #1

What is Psychology?

the scientific study of behavior and mental processes

What are the goals of psychology?

describe, predict, explain, control, change, or influence behavior and mental processes

Wilhelm Wundt

father of psychology

Edward B. Titchener

founder of structuralism

William James

Functionalism

Sigmund Freud

founder of psychoanalysis

People of Behaviorism

Ivan Pavlov, John Watson, B.F Skinner

Ivan Pavlov

Classical conditioning: dogs

John Watson

Little Albert, classical conditioning

B.F. Skinner

operant conditioning, rats and pigeons

People of Humanistic Perspective

Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow

Biological Perspective

Physical bases of behavior

Behavioral Perspective

How behavior is modified through experience/environment

psychodynamic perspective

Influenced by Fruedian Theories: emphasis on unconscious processes, early experiences

Humanistic Perspective

Focus on personal growth, interpersonal relationships, and self-concept

cognitive perspective

Role of mental processes in how people process and remember information

Cross-Cultural Perspective

Emphasizes diversity of behavior across cultures (Individualistic vs. collectivistic cultures)

Evolutionary Perspective

Psychological processes that help individuals survive, reproduce, and pass on abilities to future generations

Scientific Method

A series of steps followed to solve problems including collecting data, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions.

order of scientific method

Hypothesis, design study (and collect data), analyze data, report findings.

descriptive research methods

Naturalistic observation, Case studies, Surveys, Correlational Methods

Does correlation equal causation?

-NO!
Only experiments allow for cause-and-effect)

Descriptive Research design

Longitudinal, Cross-sectional

Experimental Research

Demonstrates cause and effect

independent variable

variable that is manipulated

dependent variable

the outcome factor

What is a neuron?

A nerve cell that communicates information in chemical and electrical forms

What are the 3 types of Neurons?

sensory, motor, interneurons

Parts of a neuron

dendrites, cell body, axon

What is action potential?

Communication inside a neuron
Simulates the release of neurotransmitters by synaptic vesicles

What number is the resting potential?

-70 mv

refractory period

period that the neuron enters after an action potential

all or none law

either the neuron is sufficiently stimulated and an action potential occurs or the neuron in not sufficiently stimulated and an action potential doesn't occur

Endocrine System

Made up of glands that are located throughout the body and uses hormones to send information.
Communication is slower than the nervous system

Hormones

Regulate blood pressure, metabolism and reproduction (Hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal gland, gonads)

limbic system

Involved in emotion, learning, motivation, and memory
(Hypothalamus, hippocampus, thalamus, and Amygdala)

The dynamic Brain

Neuroplasticity, Neurogenesis

Neuroplasticity

ability to change function and structure

Neurogenesis

Ability to generate new neurons; Olfactory bulb and hippocampus

Major Brain Regions

Hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain

What does the cerebral cortex do?

Divides brain into right and left hemisphere

What are the hemispheres connected by?

corpus callosum

Each hemisphere contains what?

Frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe

What test maps the brain's STRUCTURE?

MRI(Magnetic resonance imaging)

Language is in what hemisphere?

left hemisphere

What test map brain activity/function?

PET scans, fMRI, DTI

Encoding

changing new information into a form that can be retrieved later

Elaborate rehearsal

Focusing on the meaning of information

Self-reference effect

applying information to yourself

visual imagery

using vivid images to enhance encoding

Neurocognitive theory

Dreams are thought to reflect our interest, personality and individual worries.

Consciousness

Awareness of internal states, which include thoughts, sensations and memories

What ions are important to Action Potential?

Sodium and Potassium

What are the three important type of Neurons?

Sensory, Motor, Interneuron

What is action Potential?

Movement of electrical impulse across membrane of a nerve cell

What is antagonist

Blocking or reducing time of reuptake

What is agonist

Mimicking specific neurotransmitters

What are the two type of systems that make up the nervous system?

Central and peripheral nervous system

Sympathetic

Energy expanded

parasympathetic

Energy conserved

Endocrine System

Made up of glands that are located throughout the body and uses hormones to send information

What is the pituitary gland known as?

The Master Gland

What is Neuroplasticity?

The ability to change function and structure

What is Functional Plasticity?

Ability to shift functions from damaged to undamaged brain areas

What is Structural Plasticity?

The brain's ability to change and adapt in response of learning or environmental influences

What is Neurogenesis?

The development of new memories

Medulla

Controls vital life functions like breathing

The midbrain has what type of info?

Auditory and visual

What is the left hemisphere specialized for?

Language, speech, reading, and writing

What is the right hemisphere specialized for?

Visual-spatial task and non-verbal emotional expression

Hypothalamus

Regulates behavior related to survival (hunger and thirst)

Amygdala

Involved in memory and emotional responses, especially fear. (In temporal lobe)

Hippocampus

Learning and forming new memories

Thalamus

Processes sensory information for all senses EXCEPT smell

Encoding

Transforming info into a form that can enter and be stored by the memory system

Storage

Keeping info in memory so it can be used later

Retrieval

Recovering stored data so it can be used

Sensory Memory

Takes a large amount of info from environment for a brief period of time (snapshots)

Short term Memory

Temporarily holds all info that you're currently thinking about

Long term memory

Long term storage of information, potentially for a lifetime

How long is short term memory

20 seconds

How long is Long term memory

longer than 20 seconds

Procedural Memory

How to preform different skills

Episodic memory

Memory of specific events or episodes (world around you)

autobiographical memory

memory of life events

Semantic Memory

General knowledge