psych Flashcards Set

The Anatomy of the Brain

• Frontal Lobe: Involved in reasoning, planning, problem-solving, and emotional regulation.

  • Example: Decision-making tasks, such as planning a route for a trip.

• Parietal Lobe: Processes sensory information such as touch, temperature, and pain.

  • Example: Recognizing the texture of fabric.

• Temporal Lobe: Involved in auditory processing and memory functions.

  • Example: Recognizing a familiar voice or recalling a song.

• Occipital Lobe: Responsible for visual perception and processing.

  • Example: Identifying colors and shapes of objects.

• Corpus Callosum: Connects the left and right hemispheres, allowing communication between them.

  • Example: Coordinating movement of both hands when playing an instrument.

• Medulla: Controls automatic functions such as breathing and heart rate.

  • Example: Regulating your heart rate while you're at rest or during exercise.

• Hippocampus: Crucial for forming new memories and spatial navigation.

  • Example: Remembering where you parked your car at the mall.

• Wernicke's Area: Associated with language comprehension and processing.

  • Example: Understanding spoken language during a conversation.

Neurotransmitters and the Nervous System

• Neuron: The basic unit of the nervous system that transmits signals.

  • Example: Motor neurons that control muscle movements.

• Reuptake: The reabsorption of neurotransmitters after their release, impacting signaling.

  • Example: Serotonin being taken back into the neuron after it has activated adjacent receptors.

• Action Potential: An electrical signal that travels down the neuron.

  • Example: Nerve impulse traveling from the finger to the spinal cord when you touch a hot stove.

• Synapse: The junction between neurons in which information is transferred.

  • Example: The gap between the axon of one neuron and the dendrite of another where signaling occurs.

• Receptor: A protein that binds neurotransmitters, triggering cellular responses.

  • Example: D2 dopamine receptors involved in reward and pleasure.

• Neurotransmitters:

  • Dopamine: Influences mood, movement, and motivation.

    • Example: Involved in the reward pathway when you eat food you enjoy.

  • Serotonin: Regulates mood, appetite, and sleep.

    • Example: Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression.

  • Norepinephrine: Affects attention, response actions, and arousal.

    • Example: Heightened alertness during stressful situations.

  • Glutamate: The main excitatory neurotransmitter, important for cognition and memory.

    • Example: Involved in enhancing synaptic strength during learning.

  • GABA: The main inhibitory neurotransmitter, which decreases neuronal excitability.

    • Example: Regulation of anxiety and stress response.

  • Glycine: An inhibitory neurotransmitter primarily in the spinal cord.

    • Example: Contributing to motor control by allowing muscles to relax.

• Central Nervous System (CNS): Comprises the brain and spinal cord, integrating information and directing actions.

  • Example: The brain processing sensory information received from the body.

• Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Controls involuntary bodily functions like heartbeat and digestion.

  • Example: The body’s reaction during a fight-or-flight response.

• Parasympathetic Nervous System: Promotes relaxation and digestion, counteracting the sympathetic nervous system.

  • Example: Slowing heart rate and stimulating digestive processes after eating.

• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Imaging techniques used to visualize brain activity and structure.

  • Example: fMRI is used in studies to see which parts of the brain are active during language tasks.

The Endocrine System

• Pineal Gland: Produces melatonin, regulating sleep-wake cycles.

  • Example: Melatonin levels rise in the evening, promoting sleepiness.

• Adrenal Glands: Release hormones like adrenaline, which prepare the body for stress responses.

  • Example: Adrenaline increases heart rate during a stressful situation like public speaking.

• Hypothalamus: Links the nervous system to the endocrine system; regulates hormones controlling body functions.

  • Example: Releases hormones that trigger hunger cues when your body needs energy.

• Liver: Regulates metabolism and blood sugar levels through hormone action.

  • Example: Converts glucose into glycogen for storage.

• Pancreas: Produces insulin, regulating blood glucose levels.

  • Example: Insulin helps cells absorb glucose after a meal.

Research and Statistics

• Experimental Bias: Researcher’s expectations influence study outcome.

  • Example: A researcher unconsciously influencing participants' responses to yield desired results.

• Positive Correlation: Both variables increase together.

  • Example: More time studying is associated with higher exam scores.

• Negative Correlation: As one variable increases, the other decreases.

  • Example: Increased stress decreases performance on tasks.

• Experimental Group: Receives the treatment.

  • Example: In a drug trial, participants receiving the actual medication.

• Control Group: Does not receive the treatment or intervention.

  • Example: Participants given a placebo in a drug trial for comparison.

• Blind Study: Participants unaware of their group assignment.

  • Example: Participants not knowing whether they are taking a drug or placebo.

• Double Blind Study: Both participants and researchers are unaware of group assignments.

  • Example: Neither the doctor nor the patient knows who receives the actual medication in a trial.

• Longitudinal Research: Studying the same subjects over time.

  • Example: Tracking schoolchildren’s academic performance from grade to grade.

• Archival Research: Using existing data sets for new analysis.

  • Example: Analyzing historical records to study trends in population growth.

• Naturalistic Observation: Observing subjects in their natural environment without interference.

  • Example: Watching animal behavior in the wild.

• Inductive Reasoning: Making generalizations from specific data.

  • Example: Noticing that all observed swans are white and concluding that all swans are white.

• Deductive Reasoning: Applying general principles to specific cases.

  • Example: If all humans are mortals, and Socrates is a human, then Socrates is mortal.

• Hypothesis vs. Theory: A hypothesis is a testable prediction, while a theory is a comprehensive explanation based on substantial evidence.

  • Example: Hypothesis: "Eating breakfast improves cognitive function"; Theory: The theory of evolution explains the changes in species over time.

Psychology and the Pioneers

• Behavioral Psychology: Focuses on the analysis of observable behavior.

  • Example: Using rewards for behavioral modification, such as using a token economy.

• Biopsychology: Explores the connection between biology and behavior.

  • Example: Studying the effects of a brain injury on personality.

• Clinical Psychology: Concerned with diagnosing and treating mental illnesses.

  • Example: A psychologist providing therapy for someone with anxiety.

• Cognitive Psychology: Investigates mental processes like memory, perception, and problem-solving.

  • Example: Experiments on how memory recall can be influenced by the context in which the information is learned.

• Developmental Psychology: Studies the psychological growth of individuals over their lifespan.

  • Example: Analyzing how attachment styles in infancy influence relationships in adulthood.

• Forensic Psychology: Applies psychological principles in the legal and criminal justice systems.

  • Example: Evaluating a defendant’s competency to stand trial.

• Functionalism: Focuses on how mental processes help people adapt to their environment.

  • Example: How emotions serve to help individuals cope with stress.

• Behaviorism: Emphasizes the study of observable behavior rather than internal mental states.

  • Example: Classical conditioning demonstrated by Pavlov's dogs.

• Humanism: Highlights individual potential and stresses the importance of growth and self-actualization.

  • Example: Client-centered therapy focused on self-discovery and understanding.

• Structuralism: Analyzes the structure of the mind and its components.

  • Example: Using introspection to explore conscious experience.