The Science of Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Psychology
The part of the neuron that sends messages away from the cell body
Axon
The body’s internal clock that regulates sleep and wake cycles
Circadian Rhythm
The first step in the memory process where information is taken in
Encoding
This psychologist is famous for studying dogs and salivation
Ivan Pavlov
This type of psychologist applies psychological principles to legal issues, such as working with courts or evaluating criminal behavior
Forensic Psychologist
This famous case showed that damage to the brain can change personality
Phineas Gage
The stage of sleep where most vivid dreaming occurs
REM Sleep
This type of memory briefly holds information we are actively using
Short Term Memory
Learning that occurs through rewards and punishments
Operant Conditioning
This branch of psychology focuses on how we think, remember, and solve problems
Cognitive Psychology
These chemicals carry messages across the synapse
Neurotransmitters
This condition occurs when a person does not get enough sleep and may experience poor focus and mood changes
Sleep Deprivation
The process of getting information out of memory storage
Retrieval
This reinforcement schedule is based on unpredictable timing, like checking your email and sometimes seeing a new message
Variable Interval
The reason psychologists rely on experiments and data instead of opinions
To produce reliable scientific evidence using the Scientific Method
The brain region responsible for decision-making and impulse control
Frontal Lobe
According to one theory, these help process emotions and experiences from the day
Dreams
This type of memory test provides cues, like multiple-choice questions
The bell in Pavlov’s experiment AFTER it has been paired with food and now causes salivation
Conditioned Stimulus
This perspective focuses on how behavior helps humans adapt and survive
Functionalism
The insulating layer that helps speed up neural communication
Myelin Sheath
This theory suggests dreams are the brain making sense of random activity
Activation-synthesis theory
This memory strategy involves grouping information into meaningful units
Chunking
After repeated exposure, hearing Druski’s voice and immediately laughing is this
Conditioned Response