Biopsychology
Which part of the brain controls emotions like fear and anger?
The amygdala.
What’s the difference between sensation and perception?
Sensation is detecting stimuli; perception is interpreting those signals.
What’s the difference between short-term and long-term memory?
Short-term holds info briefly; long-term stores it for extended periods.
What’s the difference between eustress and distress?
Eustress = positive, motivating stress; Distress = harmful, overwhelming stress.
Who was the “father of psychology”?
Wilhelm Wundt.
What would happen if neurons had a deficiency of myelin?
Neural signals would travel more slowly, causing problems with coordination and movement (as in multiple sclerosis).
What is the cocktail party effect?
The ability to focus on one voice (like your name) in a noisy environment.
What’s the difference between retrograde and anterograde amnesia?
Retrograde = can’t recall old memories; Anterograde = can’t form new ones.
What happens in the body during the fight-or-flight response?
Heart rate and breathing increase, pupils dilate, and adrenaline is released.
What did the Little Albert experiment show?
That fear can be conditioned (learned) through association.
What’s the main difference between the central and peripheral nervous systems?
The central nervous system (CNS) includes the brain and spinal cord; the peripheral nervous system connects the CNS to the rest of the body.
How does bottom-up processing differ from top-down processing?
Bottom-up processing - You rely only on what your senses detect, not on what you already know.
Top-down - Your brain “fills in the blanks” or makes quick guesses based on what it already knows.
What are the two main types of long-term memory?
Explicit (declarative) and implicit (nondeclarative) memory.
What are some healthy techniques for managing stress?
Mindfulness, deep breathing, exercise, journaling, talking with friends, and time management.
What was the main finding of the Asch conformity experiment?
People often conform to group pressure, even when they know the group is wrong.
What role does the hippocampus play in our everyday lives?
Low levels of serotonin and/or norepinephrine.It helps us form and store new memories, especially facts and events — like remembering where you parked your car or what you ate for breakfast.
Why can two people look at the same image and see different things?
Because perception depends on past experience, expectations, and attention, which shape how the brain interprets sensory information.
According to Sternberg’s triarchic theory, what are the three types of intelligence?
Analytical, creative, and practical intelligence.
Name the six basic emotions identified by psychologist Paul Ekman.
Happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust.
In the Milgram experiment, what was really being tested?
Obedience to authority, even when actions cause harm to others.
What are the mirror neurons? Explain their function
Mirror neurons activate both when performing and observing an action, allowing us to understand and imitate others’ emotions or behaviors.
What happens to brain activity and muscle tone during REM sleep?
The brain becomes highly active (like wakefulness), but the body experiences muscle paralysis to prevent acting out dreams.
What are some strategies that can help improve memory when studying?
Using mnemonics, chunking information, repetition, sleeping well, and active recall (testing yourself instead of rereading).
How does chronic stress affect the brain over time?
It can damage the hippocampus, reduce memory ability, and increase risks of anxiety and depression due to prolonged high levels of cortisol.
What lesson did the Stanford Prison Experiment reveal about human behavior?
Situational power can lead ordinary people to act cruelly when given authority and roles.