The type of study often used to examine the influence of genetics by comparing identical twins raised apart.
What are twin studies.
This is the part of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord.
What is the central nervous system.
This part of the neuron receives incoming messages from other neurons.
What are dendrites.
This part of the brain is responsible for processing sensory information like touch and temperature.
What is the parietal lobe.
This statistical measure is used to indicate the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables, ranging from -1 to +1.
What is the correlation coefficient.
The concept that while genes provide the potential for certain traits, environmental factors influence whether and how these traits are expressed.
What is gene-environment interaction.
This is the part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the “fight or flight” response.
What is the sympathetic nervous system.
This insulating layer around the axon of a neuron speeds up the transmission of electrical impulses.
What is myelin sheath.
This brain structure, part of the limbic system, is involved in the formation of memories.
What is the hippocampus.
This principle requires that participants must provide their permission to be involved in a study after being fully informed about the procedures and risks.
What is informed consent.
This evolutionary process explains how traits that enhance survival and reproduction become more common in a population over time.
What is natural selection.
This part of the brainstem is responsible for vital functions like breathing and heart rate.
What is the medulla.
This brief electrical charge travels down the axon of a neuron during neural firing.
What is action potential.
This structure connects the two hemispheres of the brain and allows them to communicate.
What is corpus callosum.
This organization oversees the ethical standards of psychological research and practice in the United States.
What is the American Psychological Association (APA).
This occurs when both the participants and the researchers are unaware of which group (control or experimental) the participants are in.
What is double-blind procedure.
This system includes the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands and regulates hormones.
What is the endocrine system.
This process occurs when neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the sending neuron after they’ve transmitted their message.
What is reuptake.
Chronic use of addictive substances can impair neuroplasticity, reducing the brain's ability to do this.
What is form new neural connections or adapt to new experiences.
This method of data presentation visually represents frequency distributions, allowing researchers to easily identify patterns, trends, and outliers in data.
What is a histogram.
This type of research method is used to determine whether a relationship exists between two variables, without implying causation.
What is correlational study.
These neurotransmitters are natural painkillers produced by the brain and linked to feelings of euphoria.
What are endorphins.
The period after a neuron fires, during which it cannot fire again until it recharges.
What is refractory period.
Damage to this area of the brain, located in the frontal lobe, can result in significant changes in personality, impulsivity, and executive function, famously highlighted in the case of Phineas Gage.
What is prefrontal cortex.
This term refers to the ethical principle that involves ensuring that the potential benefits of research outweigh any risks to participants.
What is beneficence.