TAMU PBSI 107 Final Exam

Structuralism

Breaks down mental processes into their most basic components

Functionalism

Focuses on how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environment and meet their needs

Psychoanalytic Theory

Mental life occurs outside of conscious awareness

Psychoanalysis

Therapeutic approach to explore the unconscious

Gestalt Psychology

How we perceive and organize visual and sensory information as whole patterns rather than just separate components.

Behaviorism

Study of observable behaviors and how they're shaped by their environment

Humanism

Emphasizes the potential for good that is innate in all humans

Biopsychology

Explores how our biology influences our behavior;interdisciplinary (Sleep, drugs, reproductive behavior, sensory & motor systems, ingestive behaviors)

Developmental Psychology

The scientific study of development across al ifespan

Personality Psychology

Focuses on behaviors and thought patterns that are unique to each individual. How individuals interact and relate with others and how such interactions can affect behavior.

Biopsychosocial model

Focuses on how individual health is directly related or affected by biological, psychological, and sociocultural influences (Genes, pattern of behavior, relationships, psychological stress, and health)

Clinical Psychology

Focuses on diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and problematic patterns of behavior

Counseling Psychology

Focuses on emotional, social, vocational, and health-related outcomes in individuals who are considered psychologically healthy.

Sport Psychology

Study the psychological aspects of sport performance including motivation and performance anxiety, and the effects of sport on mental and emotional well being

Forensic Psychology

Branch of psychology dealing with justice system (Assess competency to stand trial, Asses state of mind of defendant, Act as consultants on child custody cases, Consult on sentencing and treatment recommendations, Advise on issues such as eyewitness & children testimony)

Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Branch that applies psychological theories, principles and research to industrial and organizational settings

Theory

A broad explanation of a phenomenon based on extensive evidence and testing

Hypothesis

A tentative and testable statement (prediction) about the relationship between two or more variables

Inductive Reasoning

Drawing general conclusions from specific examples (specific to general)

Deductive Reasoning

Using general premise(s) to reach a certain conclusion (general to specific)

Process of scientific research

Theory, hypothesis, data collection, analyze, report findings

Clinical or Case Studies

Research focused on one person or just a few individuals.• PROS: Allows for a lot of insight• CONS: Difficult to generalize to the larger population

Naturalistic Observation

Research based on observations of behavior in its natural setting• PROS:• Eliminates performance anxiety• Accurate and genuine behavior• CONS:• Observer bias*• Difficult to set up/control

Surveys

A list of questions to be answered by participants• PROS:• Gather data from a large sample• CONS:• Less depth of information• May not be accurate (misremembering, lying)• Sometimes gives objective value to a subjective experience

Archival Research

Using past records or data sets to answer various research questions, or to search for interesting patterns or relationships.• PROS:• Data already collected• Saves time• Saves money• CONS:• Lack of control• Incompleteness• May be outdated• Data integrity

Longitudinal Research

Research design in which data-gathering is administered over an extended period of time• PROS: Same participants• CONS: Time/money investment, attrition

Cross-Sectional Research

Research design that compares multiple segments of the population over time• PROS: cost-effective, no long-term com.• CONS: cohort effects, causality

Correlation

A measure that indicated whether two variables are related. When two variables are correlated, changes in one variable are associated with changes in the other.

Correlation coefficient (r)

A number from -1 to +1 that indicates the strength and direction of the relationship between variables.

Positive Correlation

The variables move together: If one variable goes up or down, the other does as well in the same direction.

Negative Correlation

The variables move in opposite direction: If one variable increases, the other decreases.

Cause-and-effect relationship

Whether changes in one variable cause changes in the other

Confounding variables

Unanticipated factors that may affect the variables of interest, make it difficult to determine the true relationship between the variables being studied

Illusory Correlation

False correlations; seeing a relationship between two things when in reality no such relationship exists

Independent Variable

The factor that is manipulated or changed by the researcher to observe its effect

Dependent Variable

The outcome or response that is measured to see if it is affected by the independent variable

Reliability

The ability to consistently produce a result• Inter-rater reliability• Internal consistency• Test-retest reliability

Validity

The extent to which a given instrument or tool accurately measures what its supposed to measure• Ecological validity• Construct validity• Face validity

Single-bind Study

Experiment in which the researcher knows which participants are in the experimental group and which are in the control group, but the participants do not

Double-bind Study

Experiment in which the researcher nor the participants know who is in the experimental group or control group (accounts for bias of the researcher)

Peripheral Nervous System

Connects the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body to relay information to and from the CNS (nerves)

Somatic Nervous System

Responsible for voluntary or conscious movement and sensory information• Motor Neurons = efferent fibers, Sensory Neurons = afferent fibers

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls involuntary bodily functions, operating automatically

Sympathetic Nervous System:

Prepares the body for stressful situations or emergencies (Dilates pupils, inhibits salivation, increases heart rate,dilates bronchi, inhibits digestion, inhibits contraction of bladder)

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Promotes relaxation and recovery (Constricts pupils, stimulates salivation, slows heart rate, constricts bronchi, stimulates digestion, causes bladder to contract)

Homeostasis

The process by which the body maintains stable internal conditions (balance, equilibrium)

Central Nervous System

The control center for processing and responding to information (Brain & Spinal Cord)

Brain

The central organ of the nervous system that controls sensory processing, bodily functions, and cognitive activities.

Cerebral cortex

The surface of the brain• Gyri (gyrus): Raised ridges, folds• Sulci (sulcus): Indentations in between, grooves

Longitudinal Fissure

The most prominent sulcus that separates the brain intro two hemispheres

Lateralization

The specialization of certain brain functions to one hemisphere• Left Hemisphere: Memory, selective attention, positive emotions• Right Hemisphere: Pitch perception, arousal, negative emotions

Frontal Lobe

Executive functions, decision-making, motor control (Motor Cortex: Planning and coordinating movement• Prefrontal Cortex: Higher-level cognitive function• Broca's Area: Language production)

Pariental Lobe

Sensory information and spatial awareness

Temporal Lobe

Auditory processing and memory (Wernicke's Area: Important for speech comprehension)

Occipital Lobe

Visual processing

Forebrain

Limbic System: Processing emotion and memory• Hippocampus: Learning and memory• Amygdala: Emotion and emotional meaning to memories• Hypothalamus: Homeostatic processes (body temp. appetite, etc.)

Hind Brain

Medulla: Controls automatic processes of the autonomic nervous system (breathing, blood pressure, etc.) Pons: Connects the hind brain to the rest of the brain and is involved in regulating brain activity during sleep Cerebellum: Receives messages from muscles, tendons, joints, and structures in our ear to control balance, coordination, movement and motor skills

Spinal Cord

A long, thin bundle of nerves that runs from the brain down to the lower back, transmitting signals between the brain and the body. Does not extend the full length of the spine

Neurons

Cells in the nervous system that transmit information through electrical and chemical signals• Primary cells responsible for communication within the nervous system• Transmit information through electrical and chemical signals

Glial cells (Glia)

Cells in the nervous system that support, protect, and nourish neurons• Play a supportive role to neurons• Provide support, nourishment, and protection to neurons• Maintain the environment around neurons

Soma

Cell body of a neuron that contains the nucleus

Cell membrane

The outer boundary of a cell that regulates what enters and exits the cell

Dendrites

Branch-like structures that receive signals from other neurons and send them to the soma

Axon

A long, thin fiber that carries the signals from the soma, enabling communication with other neurons

Axon terminal

The end part of an axon that releases signals to pass information to other cells

Neuron Structure

Myelin sheath

A fatty layer that wraps around and insulates the axon, speeding up the transmission of electrical signals

Nodes of Ranvier

Gaps in the myelin sheath along the axon that help boost the speed of electrical signals as they travel down the axon• Saltatory conduction

Terminal buttons

The end part of an axon that releases signals to other cells

Synaptic vesicles

Small sacs in terminal buttons that store and release signals

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers of the nervous system

Synapse

The junction where communication occurs between two neurons

Synaptic Cleft

The gap between two neurons where signals are exchanged

Receptors

Sites on a cell's surface that receive and respond to these signals

Membrane potential

The difference in electrical charge between the extracellular and intracellular fluid

Resting potential

The membrane potential when the neuron is not actively sending a signal (-70 mV)

Ion channels

Gates in a cell membrane that allow specific ions to pass in and out of the cell

Action potential (all or nothing)

If the electrical charge reaches a certain level (threshold of excitation), the neuron becomes active, and the action potential begins

Reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

Agonists

Chemicals that mimic a neurotransmitter at the receptor site• Ex. Treatment for Parkinson's (which involves an impairment to the dopamine system) includes dopamine agonists

Antagonists

Chemicals that block or impede the normal activity of a neurotransmitter at the receptor• Ex. Certain symptoms of Schizophrenia are associated with overactive dopamine. Therefore, treatment includes a dopamine antagonist

Reuptake inhibitors

Prevent unused neurotransmitter to be reabsorbed. Instead, it remains in the synaptic cleft for longer duration, increasing its effectiveness• Ex. Depression, which has been linked with reduced serotonin levels, is commonly treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Circadian rhythms

24-hour cycles that regulate physiological and behavioral patterns• Ex. Sleep-wake cycle, heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, body temperature

Hypothalamus

Involved in homeostatic processes. In other words, homeostasis in biological system

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

The brain's "clock mechanism," regulates circadian rhythms

Pineal gland

Small, pea-shaped gland located in the brain that produces melatonin

Melatonin

A hormone that fluctuates with light levels to help regulate sleep-wake cycle

Restoration and Memory Consolidation

Widely accepted

Energy conservation and predatory avoidance

Controversial

Gamma Waves, beta waves, alpha waves, theta waves, and delta waves

Highest to lowest frequency

Awake

Beta Waves

Stage 1 NREM

Begins Alpha, moves from Alpha to Theta

Stage 2 NREM

Sleep spindles, K complexes, theta brain waves

Stage 3 NREM

Delta waves

REM

Beta and Theta waves

Insomnia

A consistent difficulty in falling or staying asleep

Parasomnia

Abnormal behaviors, movements, emotions,perceptions, or dreams that occur during sleep or while falling asleep (Sleepwalking, REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), Restless leg syndrom, Night terrors)

Sleepwalking (Somnambulism)

Sleeper engages in relatively complex behaviors ranging from wandering about to driving!

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD)

Incomplete muscle paralysis, causing people to act out vivid and often violent dreams during REM

Restless leg syndrome

Uncontrollable urge to move the legs,often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations like itching,tingling, or aching