Foundations & Research Methods
What term describes everything we do that can be directly observed?
Behaviour
Which sampling method gives every single member of a population an equal chance of being selected?
Random sampling
Which two major components make up the central nervous system?
Brain and spinal cord
When a neuron receives incoming information, where do the signals arrive first?
Dendrites
Which neurotransmitter is the most prevalent and primarily excitatory, stimulating neurons to fire?
Glutamate
Wilhelm Wundt’s approach to discovering the basic structures of mental processes through trained observers is called what?
Introspection
What does WEIRD stand for in the context of psychological samples?
Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic
Which branch of the autonomic nervous system calms the body ("rest and digest")?
Parasympathetic branch
What is the name of the fatty insulation wrapping around an axon that makes impulses travel faster via saltatory conduction?
Myelin sheath
Which neurotransmitter is heavily involved in voluntary movement, motivation, attention, and reward processing?
Dopamine
Which research design manipulates an independent variable and randomly assigns participants to prove cause-and-effect?
Experimental research
What does it mean when a research result is "statistically significant"?
The observed difference is not reasonably attributed to chance alone
Which hindbrain structure automatically regulates vital survival functions like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure?
Medulla
A neuron fires only when it reaches a certain threshold, producing what electrical wave that travels down the axon?
Action potential
When a student tries to remember a definition, which neurotransmitter helps support memory and learning?
Acetylcholine
A company claims its drink unlocks "invisible brain frequency" but refuses to say how to measure or disprove it. Which scientific principle is violated?
Falsifiability
What is the primary difference between confidentiality and anonymity?
Confidentiality protects collected data/identities, while anonymity means participant identities cannot be linked to the data at all
Which structure serves as the brain's main sensory relay station, routing all incoming data except smell?
Thalamus
In multiple sclerosis, neural messages become disrupted because what specific structure is damaged, slowing communication?
Myelin sheath
What modern gene-editing technology allows researchers to modify specific DNA sequences?
CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)
When a person learns a new skill, the brain strengthens connections through a process allowing long-term adaptation called what?
Neuroplasticity
Two siblings may look different even with identical or similar genes because what trait is shaped by both genetics and environment?
Phenotype
During voluntary movement, signals travel from the brain to muscles through which division of the nervous system?
Somatic nervous system
After a brain injury, surviving neurons may form new branches to reconnect pathways in a process known as what?
Collateral sprouting
When someone faces a sudden threat, the body responds with acute stress; however, long-term exposure to stress can weaken which body system, making a person more vulnerable to illness?
Immune system