Question 1

Synapse:

Accepted Answer

A junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. This tiny gap is called the synaptic gap or cleft.

Question 2

Action Potential:

Accepted Answer

Intensity remains the same throughout the length of the axon.

Question 3

Threshold:

Accepted Answer

Minimum intensity (threshold) needed for the neuron to fire an action potential.

Question 4

Agonist:

Accepted Answer

A molecule that increases a neurotransmitter's action.

Question 5

Antagonists:

Accepted Answer

A molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's action.

Question 6

Endorphins:

Accepted Answer

Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.

Question 7

Nerves:

Accepted Answer

Bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.

Question 8

Interneurons:

Accepted Answer

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord.

Question 9

Reflex:

Accepted Answer

A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.

Question 10

Endocrine:

Accepted Answer

A set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

Question 11

Hormones:

Accepted Answer

Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues.

Question 12

Adrenal Glands:

Accepted Answer

A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress.

Question 13

Lesion:

Accepted Answer

Tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.

Question 14

EEG:

Accepted Answer

Electroencephalogram; An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface. Measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

Question 15

PETscan:

Accepted Answer

A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.

Question 16

MRI:

Accepted Answer

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.

Question 17

Limbic System:

Accepted Answer

Neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.

Question 18

Aphasia:

Accepted Answer

Loss of ability to understand or express speech. Caused by brain damage.

Question 19

Broca's Area:

Accepted Answer

Region of the brain concerned with the production of speech. Located in the cortex of the dominant frontal lobe.

Question 20

Wernicke's Area:

Accepted Answer

Region of the brain concerned with the comprehension of language. Located in the cortex of the dominant temporal lobe.

Question 21

Plasticity:

Accepted Answer

The brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.

Question 22

Neurogenesis:

Accepted Answer

The formation of new neurons.

Question 23

Corpus Callosum:

Accepted Answer

The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.

Question 24

Prosocial Behavior:

Accepted Answer

Positive, constructive, helpful behavior.

Question 25

Behaviorism:

Accepted Answer

The view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes.

Question 26

Modeling:

Accepted Answer

The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior.

Question 27

Operant Behavior:

Accepted Answer

Behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences.

Question 28

Latent Learning:

Accepted Answer

Learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it.

Question 29

Cognitive Map:

Accepted Answer

A mental representation of the layout of one's environment.

Question 30

Primary Reinforcer:

Accepted Answer

An innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need.

Question 31

Shaping:

Accepted Answer

An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior.

Question 32

Mirror Neurons:

Accepted Answer

Frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when performing certain actions or when observing others doing so.

Question 33

Law of Effect;

Accepted Answer

Responses that produce a satisfying effect in a particular situation become more likely to occur again in that situation, and responses that produce a discomforting effect become less likely to occur again in that situation.

Question 34

Discrimination:

Accepted Answer

In classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.

Question 35

Operant Chamber:

Accepted Answer

In operant conditioning research, a chamber containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer.

Question 36

Generalization:

Accepted Answer

The tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses.

Question 37

Intrinsic Motivation:

Accepted Answer

A desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake.

Question 38

Higher Order Conditioning:

Accepted Answer

A procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experiment is paired with a new neutral stimulus. creating a second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus.

Question 39

Acquisition:

Accepted Answer

The initial learning stage in classical conditioning in which an association between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus takes place.

Question 40

Spontaneous Recovery:

Accepted Answer

The re-emergence of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a delay.

Question 41

Stimulus Generalization:

Accepted Answer

The act or process of making a different but similar response to the same stimulus.

Question 42

Stimulus Discrimination:

Accepted Answer

Learning an association between CS and UCS.

Question 43

Secondary Reinforcer:

Accepted Answer

Provide access to other desirable rewards and are an important component of operant conditioning.

Question 44

Variable-Ratio Schedule:

Accepted Answer

A schedule of reinforcement wherein a reinforcer is provided following a pre-determined average number of responses.

Question 45

Fixed-Interval Schedule:

Accepted Answer

A schedule of reinforcement used within operant conditioning.

Question 46

Variable-Interval Schedule:

Accepted Answer

The concept of reinforcement is that the reinforcer should provide motivation for the behavior to be repeated. I

Question 47

Reinforcement:

Accepted Answer

Rewarding a good behavior so that it will be encouraged.

Question 48

Punishment:

Accepted Answer

A negative consequence for committing a problem.

Question 49

Latent Learning:

Accepted Answer

A form of learning that occurs without any obvious reinforcement of the behavior or associations that are learned.

Question 50

Intrinsic Motivation:

Accepted Answer

Engaging in a behavior because it is personally rewarding.

Question 51

Extrinsic Motivation:

Accepted Answer

Motivation to perform a behavior or engage in an activity to earn a reward or to avoid punishment.

Terms Psych #2

Terms for physcholgy test #2

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