You’re Just My Type... of Research!
What is the variable that the researcher manipulates in an experiment?
Independent Variable
Bonus!
What part of the neuron sends messages away from the cell body?
Axon
What sleep stage involves vivid dreams and muscle paralysis?
REM Sleep
What’s the first step in sensation where receptors detect stimuli?
Transduction
What part of the brain is responsible for memory formation?
Hippocampus
What type of study shows relationships but not cause and effect?
Correlational Study
Which neurotransmitter is linked to movement and Parkinson’s disease?
Dopamine
Which sleep disorder causes sudden attacks of sleep during the day?
Narcolepsy
Which part of the eye focuses light onto the retina?
Lens
What is the 50% detection point for any stimulus called?
Absolute Threshold
Bonus!
What term describes an unintended factor that affects the experiment’s results?
Confounding Variable
What brain structure controls hunger, thirst, and body temperature?
Hypothalamus
What is the difference between tolerance and withdrawal?
Tolerance = need more; Withdrawal = symptoms after stopping
What are the two types of receptor cells in the retina?
Rods and Cones
Which neurotransmitter is linked to mood and depression?
Serotonin
What is the main ethical requirement that ensures participants know what they are agreeing to?
Informed Consent
Which part of the brain processes visual information?
Occipital Lobe
What is sensory adaptation and why does it occur?
Decreased sensitivity to constant, unchanging stimuli so the brain can focus on new information.
What is the difference between top-down and bottom-up processing?
Top-down = expectations; Bottom-up = sensory data
What ethical step occurs at the end of a study to explain its purpose?
Debriefing
What is the difference between random sampling and random assignment?
Sampling = who’s in study; Assignment = who gets treatment
What connects the two hemispheres of the brain?
Corpus Callosum
What is the difference between physiological and psychological dependence on a drug?
Physiological = body craves the drug; Psychological = mind believes it’s needed for normal functioning.
Bonus!
Why does the sense of smell (olfaction) often trigger emotional memories?
Because smell bypasses the thalamus and connects directly to the limbic system, including the amygdala and hippocampus.
Bonus!
How does the endocrine system interact with the nervous system?
Hormones from glands (like adrenaline or cortisol) work with the nervous system to regulate stress, arousal, and energy.