Research
The dependent variable in an experiment is
The measured outcome
During the refractory period of a neuron
The neuron cannot fire again until it resets to resting potential
Which brain structure is most associated with regulating sleep and circadian rhythms?
amygdala
Define consciousness
The awareness of external and internal stimuli
Which sleep stage is known for vivid dreaming?
REM sleep
Which research method is best for studying cause-and-effect relationships?
Experimental studies
The main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain is:
GABA
The hippocampus does what?
Memory formation
The phenomenon where a person follows a suggestion after hypnosis has ended, without consciously remembering the suggestion.
What is a posthypnotic suggestion?
The brain structure responsible for secreting melatonin and regulating sleep-wake cycles.
What is the pineal gland?
A confound in an experiment is
An uncontrolled variable that affects results
The action potential occurs when
Electrical charge inside the neuron becomes more positive
what lobe is Broca's area?
left frontal lobe
This psychological theory of hypnosis argues that people behave according to social expectations rather than entering a true altered state.
What is the sociocognitive theory of hypnosis?
This disorder causes sudden sleep attacks and sometimes muscle paralysis during transitions between sleep and wakefulness.
What is narcolepsy?
In experimental research, operationalization is essential because it
Defines abstract variables in measurable terms
Which neurotransmitter imbalance is most directly associated with symptoms of severe anxiety disorders?
Decrease in serotonin
Damage to medulla can cause ____ Why?
paralysis, loss of sensation, respiratory failure, and even death. This is because the medulla is vital for regulating basic life-sustaining functions like breathing, heart rate, and reflexes
Subliminal cues are most likely to influence behavior when a person is in this type of psychological or physical state.
What is a motivated state (motivation or need state)?
This theory suggests dreams are the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity during sleep.
What is the activation-synthesis theory?
This problem in correlational research occurs when it's unclear whether variable A causes B, or B causes A.
What is the directionality problem?
When studying the action potential, the membrane becomes most permeable to which ion during depolarization?
Sodium (Na⁺)
This myth falsely claims that people are either "left-brained" logical thinkers or "right-brained" creative thinkers.
What is the left brain/right brain myth?
In Timothy Wilson’s 1977 study, subliminally priming participants with detergent-related words led them to favor which brand?
What is Tide?
During REM sleep, this brainstem structure suppresses muscle activity, causing "muscle atonia" to prevent acting out dreams.
What is the pons?