Intro to Psychology Pitt Exam 1

believed in nativism (nautre) people are biologically predispoitioned to know things

believed in empircism; enviornments influence our development

Founder of functionalism, which is studying how humans use perception to function in our environment. He also was the first to use a scientific approach to study psychology

(consciousness and introspection)
- Structuralism: analyze the mind by breaking it down into its basic components

a specific, precise procedure by which a variables is defined and measured.

a specific, precise procedure by which a variables is defined and measured. (valid in what you are meausring)

pschology defintion

BIPOC, different sexualities representated in expirement; avoids bias

the philosophical view that certain kinds of knowledge are innate or inborn (Plato)

the view that knowledge originates in experience (Aristotle)

the tendency for a measure to produce the same measurement whenever it is used to measure the same thing (consistency)

those aspects of an observational setting that cause people to behave as they think they should (ex. rumors about an expirement)

observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

the fact that an observed correlation between two variables may be due to the common correlation between each of the variables and a third variable rather than any underlying relationship (in a causal sense) of the two variables with each other.

neither the subjects nor those who interact with them and measure the response variable know which treatment a subject received

the group of the test group that had a variable

In an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.

matching within sample (control 10 yo to expiremental 10 yo; control female right hand; expiremental female right hand)

1. Informed consent
◦ 2. freedom from coercion
◦ 3. protection from harm
◦ 4. risk-benefit analysis
◦ 5. deception
◦ 6. debriefing
◦ 7. confidentiality

using empirical observations to come up with new ideas

uses hypotheses and test those with empirical observations

Scientific method

an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behavior or events-not just a hunch

tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories.

thinking that a past event was predictable after it occurred

Why do we need ethics in research?

what are neurons?

neuron branches that receive incoming signals (neurotransmitters) from other neurons, acting as the cell's main input receivers, and then transmit these electrochemical messages toward the cell body (soma)

What's the difference between the nucleus and the soma?

purpose is to insulate nerve fibers (axons)

convert electrical nerve signals into chemical signals (neurotransmitters) to communicate with other neurons, muscles, or glands

the part of a neuron that transmits information to other neurons, muscles, or glands

How we receive neuron signals

excitory signals

inhibitory signals

the junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another

chemicals that transmit information across the synapse to a receiving neuron's dendritesl; work like a lock and key

Types of neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitter that deals with memory and muslce

Neurotransmitter that does regulation of sleep and wakefulness, eating and aggressive behavior- anxiety and depression

Neurotransmitter that regulates motor behavior, motivation, pleasure and emotional arousal, reward systems

Neurotransmitter that deals with pain relief and mood boosting

diseass asociated with increased neurotransmitters (glutamate and dopamine)

diseases associated with decreased neurotransmitters (acetylcholine and dopamine

Body's electrical communication network

In the Peripheral nervous system, what movements are in the somatic area

in the peripheral nervous system, what moveemnts are in the automatic nervous system

sympathetic (automatic)

parasympathetic (automatic)

What is the central nervous system composed mainly of?

slower, and a chemical communication system

Most influential gland in the endorcrine system

hormone involved in birthing, nursing, and orgasms

Lobes of the brain and their function

emotional processes- formation of emotional memories (processing fear)

fine motor skills, precisionalance

creating new memories

heart rate, respiration, circulation

receive sensory info (not smell) and decides where it needs to go to be processed

Arch shaped region at the back of the frontal lobes that directs muscular output

Receives incoming
sensory signals

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

Electrodes placed on the outside of the skull that
detect electrical activity in the brain (i.e.,
brainwaves)
-noninvasive, time sensitive
-location insensitive

Inject (harmless) radioactive glucose
into patients, See which parts of the brain use the
glucose
Strength- location sensitive
weakness- super expensive

MRI- Uses magnets to take a snapshot of the brain’s
soft tissues
fMRI- Uses magnets to take a snapshot of the brain’s
soft tissues
If MRI is like a picture of the brain, then fMRI is
like a video of what the brain is doing
Strength-location sensitive
weakness- only a picture

in identical twins, what similarities are more common?

How many chromosomes do we have?

-indentical twins develop from single (monozygotic) fertilized egg that splits into two

-fraternal twins develop from separate (dizygotic) fertilized eggs- same prenatal environment

what are genes

subjective, moment-to-moment awareness of oneself, one's internal sensations (thoughts, feelings, bodily states), and the external environment

the biological clock goes through our 24 hours

2 main types of sleep

pre 1 we are awake, these are called waking beta waves

1. Alpha- still awake but relaxed
2. Theta- spindles and K-complex- K complex is when your eyes are moving, this is normally the hardest stage to wake someone up in
3. Delta

our brain is active, heart rate and breathing increases, dreaming usually takes place here

1. Evolutionary Approach- we need type to restecover, ancestors slept when there was no sunlight to see
2. Sleep helps us recover
3. Sleep feeds creativity

whats are the effects of sleep deprivation

persistant problems will falling/staying asleep

Average sleep cycle

uncontrollabel "sleep" attacks

people periodically stop breathing while asleep. Decreased blood oxygen arouses them, disrupts slow wave sleep, they also don’t remember these epsiodes

infant stops breathing in sleep and die. Prevented by putting infants on their back

usually children, occurs in stage 3, wakes up feeling terrified and don’t know why, and don’t remember the dream

What stage does sleepwalking occur in?

Why do we dream?

substances that, when taken in or administered into one's system, affect mental processes, e.g. perception, consciousness, cognition or mood and emotions.

A psychoactive drug that slows brain activity, induces relaxation, reduces anxiety, and causes sleepiness.

Alcohol, benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax, Valium), barbiturates.

Increase brain activity, energy, alertness, and wakefulness. through dopamine

Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines (e.g., Adderall, Ritalin).

Relieve pain and can induce a state of euphoria and tranquility.

Heroin, morphine, codeine, fentanyl, prescription painkillers (e.g., Oxycodone

Alter perception, thought patterns, and mood; cause sensory distortions and hallucinations.

LSD, psilocybin (magic mushrooms), mescaline, DMT, ketamine.

most addictive substance