Research Basics
When two variables move together, such as more practice and higher scores or less practice and lower scores, researchers call the relationship a?
Correlation
This 3-step phase is the main function of your nervous system.
Receive, Process, Respond
This hindbrain structure controls basic survival functions such as heart rate and breathing.
Medulla
After repeatedly hearing several unexpected fire alarms at work, Naomi becomes more alert whenever she hears even a small alarm-like sound. This increased responsiveness is what type of nonassociative learning?
Sensitization
A scientist argues that reliable knowledge should be built from Observation, Experience, and Evidence collected through the senses. This position is known as what?
Empiricism
This is a prediction a researcher makes before testing an idea.
A hypothesis
These two structures make up the central nervous system.
The brain and spinal cord
1. What brain structure receives sensory information, organizes it, and directs much of that information to the appropriate areas of the brain?
2. What structure is strongly connected to fear responses, like suddenly seeing a snake beside your foot?
3. What structure is strongly associated with forming new memories?
1. Thalamus
2. Amygdala
3. Hippocampus
A teacher gives students participation points whenever they contribute to class discussion. Over time, students participate more frequently because their behavior produces a consequence. This is an example of what type of conditioning?
Operant conditioning
Match each example below with the correct reinforcement schedule: A. fixed ratio, B. variable ratio, C. fixed interval, or D. variable interval.
1. Free coffee after 8 purchases
2. An employee works harder as Friday approaches because they receive a paycheck every Friday.
3. Slot-machine wins
4. Checking unpredictable text messages
A, C, B, D
Researchers change the amount of background noise students hear while studying and then measure how many words the students remember. What are the independent and dependent variables?
Background noise: The variable changed by the researcher is the independent variable
Memory performance: The variables measured are the dependent variables
Taylor nearly gets into a car accident. Immediately, their heart begins pounding, and their breathing speeds up. Several minutes later, both heart rate and breathing return to normal. Which systems were primarily responsible for these two responses (the increase in heart rate and breathing, and the later return to normal)? Which one is which?
The sympathetic nervous system: Heart pounding and breathing speeding up.
The parasympathetic nervous system: Heart rate and breathing return to normal.
In split-brain surgery, doctors sever the bundle of fibers that allows the brain's two hemispheres to communicate. What is this bundle called?
Corpus callosum
Wil's dog, Bailey, perks up every time he opens the cheese drawer because she knows she will get some (cheese tax). Bailey Does Not react when Wil opens up any other drawer. What concept of classical conditioning is taking place?
Stimulus discrimination
During a basketball game, LeBron focuses closely on the player he is guarding and doesn't even notice the crowd chanting and the scoreboard changing above him. This process allows him to concentrate on one stimulus while ignoring other information in the environment.
Selective attention
Before accepting an online claim, what is the first critical-thinking question students should consider?
"Is the source believable"
Match the following: A.Dendrites, B.Cell Body, C.Axon, D.Axon Terminals, E.Myelin Sheath, F.Synapse, G.Neurotransmitters
1. Integrates and processes information received by the neuron.
2. Receives signals from other neurons.
3. Carries the electrical signal away from the cell body.
4. The gap between the axon terminals of one neuron and the dendrites of another.
5. Chemical substances that carry messages from one neuron to another.
6. Sends signals to the next neuron.
7. Layer around the axon that helps signals travel faster.
B, A, C, F, G, D, E.
Tom gets into a car accident, experiences damage to a brain region, and afterward struggles with planning, decision-making, attention, and voluntary movement. Which lobe is most likely affected?
Frontal
While chopping vegetables, a tiny bit of tomato juice gets into Boris's eye and makes him blink automatically. In classical conditioning terminology, the tomato juice is the _____ _____ and blinking is ____ ____?
Hint: (CS, CR, US, UR)
Unconditioned stimulus and unconditioned response
Ted repeatedly asks Marshall for help with a difficult task. Marshall eventually helps him. Receiving help makes Ted more likely to ask again in the future, while the requests stopping makes Marshall more likely to help again. Identify the reinforcement for both.
Ted: ______ reinforcement
Marshall: ______ reinforcement
Positive; negative
Who made great leaps in establishing the first psychology laboratory?
Wilhelm Wundt
Which neuroscience techniques measure changes in blood flow, which record electrical activity in the brain, and which use magnetic stimulation?
FMRI, EEG, and TMS
Sean and Mark are at the lake and trying to show off their impressive diving skills for the ladies. They go to the highest rock they can find, both jump off, and end up with concussions. Sean has difficulty rearranging furniture and drawing pictures, while his friend Mark has trouble speaking clearly and understanding language after a brain injury. Sean most likely has damage to the ______ hemisphere, which is more involved in ______, while Mark most likely has damage to the ______ hemisphere, which is more involved in ______.
right; spatial organization; left; language
A fisherman goes out fishing every day, but only occasionally does he catch something. Because successful catches occur only some of the time, this demonstrates what type of reinforcement?
Partial reinforcement
A medication is designed to treat depression by affecting a neurotransmitter involved in mood. If the medication works by blocking that neurotransmitter from binding to its receptor, it's acting as a(n)____? If the drug instead mimics the neurotransmitter or increases its effect at the receptor, its acting as a(n)_____?
antagonist; Agonist