psychologyexam

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

1. Formulate hypothesis; 2. Design & collect data; 3. Analyze & conclude.

Case studies, naturalistic observation, surveys; describe but cannot prove causation.

Measures relationship between variables; correlation does not equal causation.

Manipulates independent variable, measures dependent variable; allows causal inference.

Informed consent, confidentiality, beneficence, right to withdraw, debriefing after deception.

CNS (brain + spinal cord); PNS (somatic, autonomic). Autonomic: sympathetic (fight/flight), parasympathetic (rest/digest).

Dendrites (receive), Soma, Axon, Myelin sheath, Axon terminals (release NTs), Synapse.

Muscle action, memory.

Reward, movement; imbalance linked to Parkinson’s and schizophrenia.

Mood, sleep, appetite; low levels linked to depression.

Arousal, alertness.

Main inhibitory neurotransmitter; calming effect.

Main excitatory neurotransmitter; learning and memory.

Pain relief, euphoria.

Medulla (vital functions), Pons (sleep), Reticular formation (arousal).

Balance, coordination, procedural learning.

Amygdala (fear/emotion), Hippocampus (memory), Hypothalamus (homeostasis/drives).

Sensory relay center.

Movement and habits.

Executive function, motor control, Broca’s speech area.

Somatosensory processing, spatial awareness.

Hearing, Wernicke’s language comprehension.

Vision processing.

Brain’s ability to change structure/function with experience across lifespan.

NREM1 (light), NREM2 (spindles), NREM3 (deep/slow-wave), REM (dreams, atonia).

Restoration, memory consolidation, emotion regulation.

Difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Sudden REM attacks, cataplexy.

Breathing stops repeatedly during sleep.

Night terrors, sleepwalking (NREM).

Acting out dreams due to missing paralysis.

Learning by associating stimuli (US, UR, CS, CR).

Phase where CS–CR association is learned.

CR decreases when CS presented without US.

Reappearance of CR after rest period.

Irrational fear often acquired by conditioning.

Behavior influenced by consequences.

Increases behavior (Positive = add pleasant; Negative = remove unpleasant).

Decreases behavior (Positive = add unpleasant; Negative = remove pleasant).

Use of reinforcement/shaping to change behavior.

Learning by watching others (Bandura).

Children imitated aggression after observing models rewarded.

Imitating another’s behavior.

Seeing a model rewarded increases imitation.

Seeing a model punished decreases imitation.