Unit 1: Foundations
What is the primary purpose of the myelin sheath on neurons?
To speed up the transmission of nerve impulses
What is a case study?
An in depth study of one individual or group
What part of the neuron receives incoming messages?
Dendrites
What is the difference between sensation and perception?
Sensation is the process of receiving sensory input, while perception is the process of organizing and interpreting that input
What is the difference between short term memory and long term memory?
Short-term memory holds information briefly, while long-term memory stores information permanently
Define operational definition
A clear, precise, and measurable definition of a variable
Explain the purpose of random assignment in experiments
It ensures that participants are randomly placed into groups to avoid bias
Name the neurotransmitter most associated with mood regulation and depression
Serotonin
What is absolute threshold?
The minimum level of stimulus intensity that a person can detect 50% of the time
Define implicit memory
Memory of skills and procedures that can be performed without conscious awareness (like riding a bike)
Name the two main types of conditioning associated with behavioral psychology
Classical conditioning and operant conditioning
What is a double-blind procedure?
An experimental method where neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving the treatment
What is the primary function of the corpus callosum?
To connect the two hemispheres of the brain and allow communication between them
What is the concept of sensory adaptation
The reduced sensitivity to a constant stimulus over time
What is the serial position effect?
The tendency to remember the first and last items in a list better than those in the middle
What is the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable in an experiment?
The independent variable is what the researcher manipulates, while the dependent variable is what is measured
What is the placebo effect?
When participants experience changes due to their expectations rather than the actual treatment
What is the function of the amygdala in the brain?
It is involved in processing emotions, especially fear and aggression
What is the role of the cochlea in hearing?
It is a fluid filled structure in the inner ear where sound waves are converted into neural impulses
What is the difference between proactive interference and retroactive interference?
Proactive interference is when old information disrupts new learning, while retroactive is when new information disrupts old learning
What is the purpose of a scatter plot?
To display the relationship between two variables
What does a p-value represent in hypothesis testing?
The probability that the observed results occurred by chance
What is the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics?
Descriptive statistics summarize data, while inferential statistics allow for predictions or generalizations
What is a normal distribution?
A bell-shaped curve where most values fall near the mean
What is an outlier, and how can it affect data analysis?
An outlier is a value much higher or lower than the others, which it can skew the mean and distort results