Psycology

GABA

A number of antiepileptic medications work to increase this neurotransmitter in order to prevent seizures, tremors, and insomnia.

neural networks

musicians process the lyrics and the tunes in separate brain areas.

peripheral nervous system

The spinal cord is like an information highway that connects the _____ to the brain

somatic

This part of the peripheral nervous system controls the voluntary movements of the skeletal muscles

growth

In addition to controlling other endocrine glands, the pituitary also has primary responsibility for regulating

parathyroids

J.B. was diagnosed with an imbalance in the regulation of calcium in his blood. This imbalance was caused by abnormal

amygdala

In his research on the limbic system, Dr. Harrington electrically stimulates the _____ of cats and then measures their rage and fear reactions

amygdala

The limbic system structure that influences aggression is called the

same-sex identical twins

My brother and I developed from a single fertilized egg. We are

People who grow up together, biologically related or not, do not resemble one another in personality.

According to the text, what is the "stunning finding" from studies of hundreds of adoptive families

mutation

Because of a random error in genetic replication, a lion is born with a heightened sense of smell. This variation in an inherited trait is caused by:

parallel processing

When a person is talking to his best friend about something important, she continues to check her PDA and watch for people she knows. Nevertheless, she seems to be able to listen attentively and respond appropriately to what he is saying. This type of beh

temporary blindness

Selective attention is NOT illustrated by which of the following

sleep apnea

Which sleep disorder is MOST strongly associated with obesity

People who are good at role playing are good subjects for hypnosis

According to social influence theory, hypnosis is a social phenomenon. Which is BEST explained by social influence theory

role playing

In an experiment, hypnotized subjects are told to scratch their ear every time they hear the word "psychology." The results indicate that they do this only if they think the experiment is still under way. These findings seem to support the theory that hyp

Posthypnotic

_____ suggestions have helped alleviate headaches, asthma, and stress-related skin disorders

education pointing out how many of their friends take a drug

Drug prevention and treatment programs should NOT emphasize which of the following

teratogen

A pregnant woman was recently arrested for using heroin. She is addicted to heroin, and there is a risk that her fetus will be born a heroin addict as well. Heroin is a _____ for the fetus

placenta

Nutrients and oxygen are transferred from a mother to her developing fetus through the:

remembers the original stimulus, making the new stimulus seem different

When an infant gazes more intently at a new stimulus, researchers conclude that the infant recognizes that stimulus as different. It follows that the infant:

8

Beginning at about _____ months, children may greet strangers by crying and reaching for their familiar caregivers

insecure attachment

Marissa resents the burden and constraints of caring for her infant daughter. She frequently ignores her daughter's cries for attention. As a consequence, her daughter may display signs of:

an emotionally healthy child with strong multiple attachments

Within minutes, an infant girl born to an Efe woman in Zaire is handed over to another woman. That woman then passes the newborn to a third woman. This infant will be fed and held by many women during the coming weeks. This type of caregiving results in:

integrity vs. despair

Wilbur is 68 years old and is sitting in his recliner reflecting on the mistakes he made as well as his dreams that went unfulfilled. According to Erik Erikson, Wilbur is in the stage of development called:

trust vs. mistrust

Erik Erikson proposed that at each stage of life people face a psychosocial task that needs resolution. According to this theory, the first task that infants wrestle with is:

longitudinal

A researcher who administers a personality test to the same children every three years is conducting a(n) _____ study

synapse

an empty space where chemical info is transmitted. Neurons never physically touch one another

acetylcholine

Excitatory, skeletal muscle control, memory creation

serotonin

Inhibitory, mood control, sleep inducer

dopamine

Excitatory, reward sensations, approach motivation, "reward chemical

reuptake

step 4 in sending neuron message, used neurotransmitters broken down, components moved back into sending neuron and reassembled for later use

hindbrain

oldest portion of the brain, regulates survival functions, (brain stem)

medulla

base of the brain, regulates involuntary survival functions (breathing, heart rate)

Pons

Bridge", connects sensory info from higher brain areas to lower areas

reticular formation

regulates attention and wakefulness

cerebellum

Little brain", controls fine motor movements, "Muscle memory

Basal Ganglia

midbrain, regulate mood, initiate actions, acts as a connection between hindbrain and forebrain

Substantia Nigra

part of the basal ganglia, house dopamine and serotine

forebrain

newest and most complex part of the brain

thalamus

integrates sensory info

hypothalamus

regulates biological needs, sends info to glands

hippocampus

sea horse", responsible for formation of long-term memories

limbic system

generates emotional impulses

Amygdala

Major structure within the limbic system, responsible for linking emotion to behavior (among other things)

Cerebrum

Largest and most complex part of the brain, highly developed in humans, has two hemispheres

Functional Crossover

left side of brain controls right, left receives sensory info from right

left hemisphere

language production and comprehension, math and logical reasoning

right hemisphere

musical ability, spatial reasoning, facial recognition

corpus callosum

thick band of neurons and fibers, connects left and right hemispheres of the brain

occipital lobe

responsible for processing visual info

temporal lobe

primary auditory cortex, speech and language processing, some object recognition

parietal lobe

sensory integration, motion processing

Frontal lobe

highly developed area of the brain, controls association and reasoning, language production and impulse control

consciousness

the awareness of internal and external stimuli

dual processing

processing info on separate conscious and unconscious tracks

selective attention

focusing of conscious awareness on particular stimulus

inattentional blindness

failing to see visible objects when attention directed elsewhere

sleep

most common altered state of consciousness

psychoactive drugs

chemical substances that modify mental, emotional, or behavioral functioning

blood-brain barrier

biological mechanism, restricts flow of substances into the brain, only substances that dissolve in fat can pass

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)

most common anti-depressants, blocks reuptake of serotonin, more "everything is fine" messages

cocaine

blocks reuptake of dopamine, more reward messages (potentially for improper things)

ecstacy

causes complete serotonin release, reuptake is a limited process, "suicide Monday

opiates

mimic brains natural pain killers (morphine, heroin)

sedatives

decrease CNS activation and behavioral activity (Barbiturates, Benzodiazepine)

stimulants

increase CNS activation and activity

hallucinogens

powerful effects on mental, emotional functioning, distort sensory and perceptual experience

cannabis

plant containing Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (marijuana, hashish)

alcohol

variety of beverages containing ethyl alcohol, depresses nervous system activity, similar to sedatives, in frontal lobes

cognitive development

development during infancy, four stages: sensorimotor, pre operational, concrete operational, formal operational

sensorimotor stage

ages 0-2 years, sucking, rooting, grasping, and interacting with the world, object permanence, sense of self

pre operational stage

ages 2-7 years, improved ability to represent objects mentally, egocentrism, theory-of-mind, centration

egocentrism

inability to take another's perspective

theory-of-mind

understanding that others do not know things that I know

centration

understanding that change in surface properties does not change more internal properties

concrete operational stage

ages 7-11 years, capable of mental operations required for reasoning, objects need to be physically present

formal operational stage

ages 11-adult, abstract reasoning, hypothetical thinking, most prominent change (frontal lobe development)

autism spectrum disorder

large collection of disorders marked by: social deficits, flat affect(few displayed emotions, and difficulty interpreting emotions of others

structuralism

used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind

functionalism

explored how mental and behavioral processes function- how they enable the organism to adapt, survive and flourish

behaviorism

psychology should study behavior without reference to mental processes

humanistic psychology

perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people

cognitive neuroscience

study of the brain activity linked with cognition (perception, thinking, memory, language)

nature-nuture issue

controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors

natural selection

principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed onto succeeding generations

levels of analysis

the differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon

biopsychosocial approach

an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis

neuroscience perspective

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

evolutionary perspective

how the natural selection of traits has promoted the survival of genes

behavior genetics perspective

how our genes and our environment influence our individual differences

psychodynamic perspective

how behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts

behavioral perspective

how we learn observable responses

cognitive perspective

how we encode, process, store, and retrieve info

social-cultural perspective

how behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures

basic research

pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

applied research

scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

counseling psychology

assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, relationships) and in achieving greater well-being

clinical psychology

studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders

psychiatry

branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders, practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical treatments as well as psychology therapy

positive psychology

study of human functioning, with goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive

hindsight bias

tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it (I-knew-it-all-along)

operational definition

a statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables

case study

an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

double-blind procedure

experimental procedure in which both the research participants and research staff are ignorant about whether the have the treatment or placebo

placebo effect

experimental results caused by expectations alone

SQ3R

study method: survey, question, read, retrieve, review

neuron

a nerve cell, basic building block of the nervous system

dendrites

a neuron's bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

axon

the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

myelin sheath

fatty tissue layer encasing the axons of some neurons, enables greater transmission speed

glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons, plays a role in learning and thinking

action potential

a neural impulse, a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse

endorphins

morphine within", natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord

nerves

bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming info from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

motor neurons

neurons that carry outgoing info from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

autonomic nervous system

controls glands and muscles of the internal organs (peripheral nervous system)

sympathetic nervous system

division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

endocrine system

the body's "slow" chemical comm. system, a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel thru bloodstream and affect other tissues

adrenal glands

pair of endocrine glands that sit above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress

lesion

tissue destruction

brainstem

oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where spinal cord swells as it enters skull. Responsible for automatic survival functions

cerebral cortex

interconnected neural cells covering cerebral hemispheres, control and info-processing center

frontal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying behind forehead, involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

sensory cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

association areas

in cerebral cortex, not involved in primary motor or sensory functions, involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking and speaking

plasticity

brain's ability to change by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

neurogenesis

formation of new neurons

split brain

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them

epigenetics

the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

blindsight

a condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it

change blindness

failing to notice changes in the environment

alpha waves

the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state

delta waves

the large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep

suprachiasmatic nucleus

a pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that responds to light-sensitive retinal proteins, causes pineal gland to increase or decrease production of melatonin, modifying our feelings of sleepiness

manifest content

accord. to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream

latent content

accord. to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream

dissociation

a split in consciousness, which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others

barbiturates

drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement

amphetamines

drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes

developmental psychology

branch that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span

zygote

fertilized egg, develops into an embryo

embryo

developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization thru the second month

fetus

the developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth

habituation

decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation

maturation

biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior, relatively uninfluenced by experience

critical period

an optimal period early in life when exposure to stimuli or experiences produces normal development

cognition

all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering and communicating

schema

a concept or framework that organizes and interprets info

assimilation

interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas

accommodation

adapting our current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new info

conservation

the principle that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects

cross-sectional study

study in which people of different ages are compared with one another

longitudinal study

research in which the same people are restudied and retested over a long period

GABA

A number of antiepileptic medications work to increase this neurotransmitter in order to prevent seizures, tremors, and insomnia.

neural networks

musicians process the lyrics and the tunes in separate brain areas.

peripheral nervous system

The spinal cord is like an information highway that connects the _____ to the brain

somatic

This part of the peripheral nervous system controls the voluntary movements of the skeletal muscles

growth

In addition to controlling other endocrine glands, the pituitary also has primary responsibility for regulating

parathyroids

J.B. was diagnosed with an imbalance in the regulation of calcium in his blood. This imbalance was caused by abnormal

amygdala

In his research on the limbic system, Dr. Harrington electrically stimulates the _____ of cats and then measures their rage and fear reactions

amygdala

The limbic system structure that influences aggression is called the

same-sex identical twins

My brother and I developed from a single fertilized egg. We are

People who grow up together, biologically related or not, do not resemble one another in personality.

According to the text, what is the "stunning finding" from studies of hundreds of adoptive families

mutation

Because of a random error in genetic replication, a lion is born with a heightened sense of smell. This variation in an inherited trait is caused by:

parallel processing

When a person is talking to his best friend about something important, she continues to check her PDA and watch for people she knows. Nevertheless, she seems to be able to listen attentively and respond appropriately to what he is saying. This type of beh

temporary blindness

Selective attention is NOT illustrated by which of the following

sleep apnea

Which sleep disorder is MOST strongly associated with obesity

People who are good at role playing are good subjects for hypnosis

According to social influence theory, hypnosis is a social phenomenon. Which is BEST explained by social influence theory

role playing

In an experiment, hypnotized subjects are told to scratch their ear every time they hear the word "psychology." The results indicate that they do this only if they think the experiment is still under way. These findings seem to support the theory that hyp

Posthypnotic

_____ suggestions have helped alleviate headaches, asthma, and stress-related skin disorders

education pointing out how many of their friends take a drug

Drug prevention and treatment programs should NOT emphasize which of the following

teratogen

A pregnant woman was recently arrested for using heroin. She is addicted to heroin, and there is a risk that her fetus will be born a heroin addict as well. Heroin is a _____ for the fetus

placenta

Nutrients and oxygen are transferred from a mother to her developing fetus through the:

remembers the original stimulus, making the new stimulus seem different

When an infant gazes more intently at a new stimulus, researchers conclude that the infant recognizes that stimulus as different. It follows that the infant:

8

Beginning at about _____ months, children may greet strangers by crying and reaching for their familiar caregivers

insecure attachment

Marissa resents the burden and constraints of caring for her infant daughter. She frequently ignores her daughter's cries for attention. As a consequence, her daughter may display signs of:

an emotionally healthy child with strong multiple attachments

Within minutes, an infant girl born to an Efe woman in Zaire is handed over to another woman. That woman then passes the newborn to a third woman. This infant will be fed and held by many women during the coming weeks. This type of caregiving results in:

integrity vs. despair

Wilbur is 68 years old and is sitting in his recliner reflecting on the mistakes he made as well as his dreams that went unfulfilled. According to Erik Erikson, Wilbur is in the stage of development called:

trust vs. mistrust

Erik Erikson proposed that at each stage of life people face a psychosocial task that needs resolution. According to this theory, the first task that infants wrestle with is:

longitudinal

A researcher who administers a personality test to the same children every three years is conducting a(n) _____ study

synapse

an empty space where chemical info is transmitted. Neurons never physically touch one another

acetylcholine

Excitatory, skeletal muscle control, memory creation

serotonin

Inhibitory, mood control, sleep inducer

dopamine

Excitatory, reward sensations, approach motivation, "reward chemical

reuptake

step 4 in sending neuron message, used neurotransmitters broken down, components moved back into sending neuron and reassembled for later use

hindbrain

oldest portion of the brain, regulates survival functions, (brain stem)

medulla

base of the brain, regulates involuntary survival functions (breathing, heart rate)

Pons

Bridge", connects sensory info from higher brain areas to lower areas

reticular formation

regulates attention and wakefulness

cerebellum

Little brain", controls fine motor movements, "Muscle memory

Basal Ganglia

midbrain, regulate mood, initiate actions, acts as a connection between hindbrain and forebrain

Substantia Nigra

part of the basal ganglia, house dopamine and serotine

forebrain

newest and most complex part of the brain

thalamus

integrates sensory info

hypothalamus

regulates biological needs, sends info to glands

hippocampus

sea horse", responsible for formation of long-term memories

limbic system

generates emotional impulses

Amygdala

Major structure within the limbic system, responsible for linking emotion to behavior (among other things)

Cerebrum

Largest and most complex part of the brain, highly developed in humans, has two hemispheres

Functional Crossover

left side of brain controls right, left receives sensory info from right

left hemisphere

language production and comprehension, math and logical reasoning

right hemisphere

musical ability, spatial reasoning, facial recognition

corpus callosum

thick band of neurons and fibers, connects left and right hemispheres of the brain

occipital lobe

responsible for processing visual info

temporal lobe

primary auditory cortex, speech and language processing, some object recognition

parietal lobe

sensory integration, motion processing

Frontal lobe

highly developed area of the brain, controls association and reasoning, language production and impulse control

consciousness

the awareness of internal and external stimuli

dual processing

processing info on separate conscious and unconscious tracks

selective attention

focusing of conscious awareness on particular stimulus

inattentional blindness

failing to see visible objects when attention directed elsewhere

sleep

most common altered state of consciousness

psychoactive drugs

chemical substances that modify mental, emotional, or behavioral functioning

blood-brain barrier

biological mechanism, restricts flow of substances into the brain, only substances that dissolve in fat can pass

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)

most common anti-depressants, blocks reuptake of serotonin, more "everything is fine" messages

cocaine

blocks reuptake of dopamine, more reward messages (potentially for improper things)

ecstacy

causes complete serotonin release, reuptake is a limited process, "suicide Monday

opiates

mimic brains natural pain killers (morphine, heroin)

sedatives

decrease CNS activation and behavioral activity (Barbiturates, Benzodiazepine)

stimulants

increase CNS activation and activity

hallucinogens

powerful effects on mental, emotional functioning, distort sensory and perceptual experience

cannabis

plant containing Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (marijuana, hashish)

alcohol

variety of beverages containing ethyl alcohol, depresses nervous system activity, similar to sedatives, in frontal lobes

cognitive development

development during infancy, four stages: sensorimotor, pre operational, concrete operational, formal operational

sensorimotor stage

ages 0-2 years, sucking, rooting, grasping, and interacting with the world, object permanence, sense of self

pre operational stage

ages 2-7 years, improved ability to represent objects mentally, egocentrism, theory-of-mind, centration

egocentrism

inability to take another's perspective

theory-of-mind

understanding that others do not know things that I know

centration

understanding that change in surface properties does not change more internal properties

concrete operational stage

ages 7-11 years, capable of mental operations required for reasoning, objects need to be physically present

formal operational stage

ages 11-adult, abstract reasoning, hypothetical thinking, most prominent change (frontal lobe development)

autism spectrum disorder

large collection of disorders marked by: social deficits, flat affect(few displayed emotions, and difficulty interpreting emotions of others

structuralism

used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind

functionalism

explored how mental and behavioral processes function- how they enable the organism to adapt, survive and flourish

behaviorism

psychology should study behavior without reference to mental processes

humanistic psychology

perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people

cognitive neuroscience

study of the brain activity linked with cognition (perception, thinking, memory, language)

nature-nuture issue

controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors

natural selection

principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed onto succeeding generations

levels of analysis

the differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon

biopsychosocial approach

an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis

neuroscience perspective

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

evolutionary perspective

how the natural selection of traits has promoted the survival of genes

behavior genetics perspective

how our genes and our environment influence our individual differences

psychodynamic perspective

how behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts

behavioral perspective

how we learn observable responses

cognitive perspective

how we encode, process, store, and retrieve info

social-cultural perspective

how behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures

basic research

pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

applied research

scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

counseling psychology

assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, relationships) and in achieving greater well-being

clinical psychology

studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders

psychiatry

branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders, practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical treatments as well as psychology therapy

positive psychology

study of human functioning, with goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive

hindsight bias

tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it (I-knew-it-all-along)

operational definition

a statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables

case study

an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

double-blind procedure

experimental procedure in which both the research participants and research staff are ignorant about whether the have the treatment or placebo

placebo effect

experimental results caused by expectations alone

SQ3R

study method: survey, question, read, retrieve, review

neuron

a nerve cell, basic building block of the nervous system

dendrites

a neuron's bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

axon

the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

myelin sheath

fatty tissue layer encasing the axons of some neurons, enables greater transmission speed

glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons, plays a role in learning and thinking

action potential

a neural impulse, a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse

endorphins

morphine within", natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord

nerves

bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming info from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

motor neurons

neurons that carry outgoing info from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

autonomic nervous system

controls glands and muscles of the internal organs (peripheral nervous system)

sympathetic nervous system

division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

endocrine system

the body's "slow" chemical comm. system, a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel thru bloodstream and affect other tissues

adrenal glands

pair of endocrine glands that sit above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress

lesion

tissue destruction

brainstem

oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where spinal cord swells as it enters skull. Responsible for automatic survival functions

cerebral cortex

interconnected neural cells covering cerebral hemispheres, control and info-processing center

frontal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying behind forehead, involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

sensory cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

association areas

in cerebral cortex, not involved in primary motor or sensory functions, involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking and speaking

plasticity

brain's ability to change by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

neurogenesis

formation of new neurons

split brain

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them

epigenetics

the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

blindsight

a condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it

change blindness

failing to notice changes in the environment

alpha waves

the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state

delta waves

the large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep

suprachiasmatic nucleus

a pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that responds to light-sensitive retinal proteins, causes pineal gland to increase or decrease production of melatonin, modifying our feelings of sleepiness

manifest content

accord. to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream

latent content

accord. to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream

dissociation

a split in consciousness, which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others

barbiturates

drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement

amphetamines

drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes

developmental psychology

branch that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span

zygote

fertilized egg, develops into an embryo

embryo

developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization thru the second month

fetus

the developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth

habituation

decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation

maturation

biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior, relatively uninfluenced by experience

critical period

an optimal period early in life when exposure to stimuli or experiences produces normal development

cognition

all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering and communicating

schema

a concept or framework that organizes and interprets info

assimilation

interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas

accommodation

adapting our current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new info

conservation

the principle that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects

cross-sectional study

study in which people of different ages are compared with one another

longitudinal study

research in which the same people are restudied and retested over a long period