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