Learning and Conditioning
What do psychologists call a relatively permanent change in behavior that results from experience?
Learning
What is the manipulated variable in an experiment?
Independent variable
What are the two major divisions of the nervous system?
Central and peripheral
What regulates sleep-wake cycles in the body?
Circadian rhythm
What category of drugs slows down the nervous system?
Depressants
What term best describes rewarding successive approximations of a target behavior?
Shaping
What type of research method involves observing behavior in its natural environment?
Naturalistic observation
Which brain lobe is responsible for higher-order thinking and decision-making?
Frontal lobe
Which stage of sleep is most associated with dreaming?
REM sleep
The somatosensory cortex is responsible for processing which types of sensory information?
Which type of reinforcement strengthens a behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus? Example: Wearing sunscreen to avoid a sunburn increases the likelihood of using it again.
Negative reinforcement
What is a confounding variable in an experiment?
A factor that affects both the independent and dependent variable, giving the false impression of cause and effect.
What neurotransmitter is involved in pleasure and addiction?
Dopamine
Victoria has accumulated a large sleep debt. What does this mean?
She suffers from chronic sleep deprivation.
What is the function of the vestibular system?
Maintains balance and spatial orientation.
Learning that occurs without immediate evidence but is demonstrated when needed
Latent learning
What is the primary function of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) in research
To review and approve research involving human participants to ensure ethical standards are met.
What brain structure controls basic survival functions like breathing and heart rate?
Brainstem
What is the difference between bottom-up and top-down processing?
Bottom-up = Sensory input influences perception. Top-down = Prior knowledge influences perception.
A mental representation of a physical or geographical space
Cognitive map
How do classical and operant conditioning differ in how behaviors are learned?
What type of research method involves collecting self-reported data from participants?
Surveys
Explain the difference between sensation and perception.
Sensation = Detecting stimuli; Perception = Interpreting stimuli
Explain the role of melatonin in sleep.
Hormone that promotes sleep, regulated by darkness
Explain the effects of stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens on the nervous system.
Stimulants = Increase CNS activity (alertness, energy).
Depressants = Slow CNS activity (relaxation, sedation).
Hallucinogens = Alter perception (LSD, shrooms).