Psychology as a Science, Research Designs, Brain and Nervous System, and Nature-Nurture

Flashcards testing core concepts, vocabulary, research methods, biological psychology, neuroanatomy, and gene-environment interactions from Weeks 1 through 4.

What is the primary physical difference between the brain and the mind as defined in the lecture notes?

The brain is a physical entity that gives rise to mental activity, whereas the mind refers to subjective experiences.

What behavioral change occurred in Finneas cage after his brain injury?

Instead of losing sight or hearing, he lost impulse control of his life.

How does the lecture text define the emotional reasoning fallacy?

The belief that "I want it to be true, so it must be true."

How does the lecture text define the bandwagon fallacy?

The belief that "Everyone thinks it's true, so it must be true."

What is confirmation bias?

The tendency to seek out evidence that supports our beliefs and deny, dismiss, or distort evidence that contradicts them.

What are the three stages of General Adaptation Syndrome in response to stress?

1. Alarm: Fight or Flight. 2. Resistance: Cortisol Increase. 3. Exhaustion: Illness.

What are the key ethical guidelines that researchers must follow when conducting psychological studies?

Informed consent, Confidentiality, Privacy, Benefits awareness, and proper Debriefing when Deception is used.

What is the key difference between deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning?

Deductive reasoning uses a given premise to determine the interpretation of specific observations, while inductive reasoning infers a general conclusion from a set of observations.

What does it mean for a claim to be falsifiable in scientific research?

It means the claim has the ability to be refuted or tested.

In Null Hypothesis Significance Testing, how are Type I error and Type II error defined?

A Type I error occurs when a relationship is concluded but is coincidental/different from what was hypothesized. A Type II error occurs when data fails to show a relationship between variables.

What are the five commonly cited features of scientific theories?

Accuracy, Consistency, Scope, Simplicity, and Fruitfulness.

How is experience sampling conducted in descriptive research?

Participants wear beepers and are randomly beeped to obtain short reports of what they were doing at that moment.

What two key features must be present in an experimental design?

Random assignment and manipulation of an independent variable.

What is the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable?

The independent variable is controlled or manipulated by the researcher, whereas the dependent variable is measured by the researcher and not manipulated.

What is a double-blind procedure and why is it used?

It is a procedure where neither the researcher nor the participants know which condition they are in, serving as the best way to avoid confounds such as participant demand and experimenter expectation.

What is a quasi-experimental design?

An experiment that does not require an independent variable, relying instead on existing groups treated as independent.

What essential functions do glial cells serve in the nervous system?

They insulate neurons with myelin for faster communication, provide physical support, clean up waste, regulate the chemical environment, and participate in some communication.

Based on this neuron structure diagram, what components receive inputs and what component channels the signal away from the cell body?

Dendrites extend from the cell body (soma) to receive input signals, while the axon carries the action potential away toward the synapse.

What is reuptake in neural communication?

The process where any remaining neurotransmitters in the synapse are taken back into the axon terminal.

What are the distinct roles of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system?

The sympathetic division prepares the body for action (excited, adrenaline released, increased blood pressure), while the parasympathetic division calms the body (relaxed, slows heart rate, promotes growth, stimulates digestion).

What specific language function is associated with Brocas Area in the frontal lobe?

Language production.

What is the function of the corpus callosum?

It is a thick bundle/bunch of fibers that connects the two cerebral hemispheres of the brain.

What are the four primary structures of the limbic system and their respective functions?

1. Thalamus: Sensory relay station. 2. Hypothalamus: Internal states (the F4's). 3. Amygdala: Excitement and fear. 4. Hippocampus: Memory formation.

How does Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) infer brain activity?

By measuring changes in oxygen levels in the blood.

How much genetic material is shared between identical (MZ) twins compared to fraternal (DZ) twins?

Identical twins share $100\%$ of their genetic material, while fraternal twins share $50\%$ of their genetic material.

What are the three types of gene-environment interactions described in behavioral genetics?

1. Passive: World responds differently to inherited characteristics. 2. Active: Genes cause individuals to seek out certain experiences. 3. Epigenetic: Genes turn on or off in response to environmental factors.

What does the acronym WEIRD stand for in cross-cultural psychology studies?

Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic.

How do independent self and interdependent self construals differ?

An independent self is trait-focused and uses personal traits to guide decisions and behavior, whereas an interdependent self is relationship-focused and uses situations to guide decisions and behavior.