Nervous System Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary characteristic of confounding variables?

They make it easy to separate their effects from the independent variable.

They have no impact on the dependent variable.

They can only be controlled in laboratory settings.

They are linked in a way that obscures the specific effects of each variable. (correct)

Which statement best describes the correlation coefficient?

It can determine the specific effect of each variable involved.

It represents the degree of relationship between two variables on a scale from -1 to 1. (correct)

It only applies to positive relationships between variables.

It indicates the absolute cause of one variable affecting another.

What is a major disadvantage of conducting experiments?

They require extensive participant involvement.

They provide a clear cause-and-effect relationship.

They cannot be conducted in natural settings.

They often produce artificial conditions. (correct)

Which of the following research methods can detect cause-and-effect relationships?

Experiments Signup and view all the answers

Who is considered the founder of psychology?

Wundt Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon can alter the behavior of participants during a study according to their awareness of being observed?

Reactivity Signup and view all the answers

What does behaviorism primarily focus on?

Observable responses Signup and view all the answers

Which psychological approach emphasizes personal growth and self-concept?

Humanism Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary focus of psychodynamic theory?

Unconscious determinants of behavior Signup and view all the answers

What does positive psychology primarily study?

Creativity and fulfilling aspects of existence Signup and view all the answers

Which research area in psychology focuses on how people learn and teach?

Educational psychology Signup and view all the answers

Evolutionary psychology examines behavior based on which principle?

Natural selection Signup and view all the answers

Which area of psychology deals with the genetic factors impacting behavior?

Behavioral neuroscience Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes clinical psychologists from psychiatrists?

Clinical psychologists attend graduate school for a doctorate. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of the scientific approach in psychology?

To measure and describe behaviors Signup and view all the answers

In an experiment, what is the independent variable?

The variable that is manipulated to observe effects Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?

To ensure that results are due to the independent variable Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a hypothesis?

A testable statement about the relationship between variables Signup and view all the answers

What is an operational definition in research?

A precise description of how variables will be measured Signup and view all the answers

Why is peer review essential in psychological research?

To control for errors and ensure research quality Signup and view all the answers

Which type of psychology focuses on improving workplace morale?

Industrial and organizational psychology Signup and view all the answers

What is one disadvantage of using surveys in psychological research?

They may be subject to social desirability bias. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the role of axons in neurons?

Axons transmit signals away from the soma. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of a sample in empirical studies?

It must be representative of the population being studied. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of neurotransmitters?

They enable communication between neurons. Signup and view all the answers

What is a major advantage of conducting surveys in research?

Surveys are effective for studying difficult-to-observe behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What does the synapse represent in the nervous system?

The gap between two neurons for signal transmission. Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with mood regulation?

Norepinephrine Signup and view all the answers

What is a common issue that might affect the validity of research findings?

Experimenter bias Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of cones in the retina?

Daylight and color vision Signup and view all the answers

Which structure in the visual pathway is responsible for processing the left visual field?

Right hemisphere Signup and view all the answers

Which principle explains the distinction between the object of focus and its background?

Figure-ground relationship Signup and view all the answers

What does feature analysis entail in visual perception?

Detecting and assembling elements into complex forms Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of feature detectors in the visual cortex?

Responding to specific and complex stimuli Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements describes top-down processing?

Recognizing a whole stimulus before analyzing individual features Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when light hits the optic disc?

Blind spot formation due to no photoreceptors Signup and view all the answers

How does depth perception interpret the distance of objects?

By interpreting visual cues that indicate distances Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Nervous System

The nervous system is made up of neurons and glia.
Neurons are responsible for receiving and transmitting information.
The connection point where information is passed from one neuron to another is called a synapse.
The cell body or soma of a neuron contains the nucleus which produces neurotransmitters.
Dendrites receive incoming signals while axons send signals away from the soma.
Axon terminals release chemicals to affect the activity of other neurons.

Neurotransmitters and their Functions

Acetylcholine (ACh): involved in attention, arousal, and memory. A deficiency of ACh is linked to Alzheimer's disease.
Dopamine: plays a critical role in voluntary movement. Drugs which elevate dopamine levels are often abused. Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and addictive disorders are associated with dopamine imbalances.
Norepinephrine: influences mood and arousal. It is linked to depression.
Serotonin: regulates sleep, eating, and aggression.

Vision

Rods and cones are the photoreceptor cells in the retina responsible for detecting light.
Cones: specialized for daylight vision and colour vision. The fovea, a small area in the center of the retina, contains only cones, leading to sharper vision there.
Rods: specialized for night and peripheral vision. There are far more rods than cones.
The optic disc is the point on the retina where the optic nerve fibers, including rods and cones, exit the eye. It contains no photoreceptors, creating a blind spot.
Optic chiasm: The left visual field strikes the right side of each retina and is processed by the right hemisphere of the brain.
Visual cortex: located in the back of the occipital lobe receives visual input.
Feature detectors: are neurons in the visual cortex that respond to specific and complex stimuli.

Feature Analysis

Feature analysis is the process of detecting specific elements in visual input and assembling them into a more complex form, like recognizing lines to perceive figures.
Bottom-up processing: starts with individual elements of a stimulus, combines them into more complex forms, leading to recognition. Works from the world to the senses to the brain.
Top-down processing: starts with a hypothesis about the entire stimulus, examines features to confirm the hypothesis, and then recognizes the stimulus. Works from the whole to its elements.

Auditory Perception and Sensation

Sound waves travelling through the air reach the eardrum, causing vibrations that stimulate tiny hairs in the inner ear, resulting in the auditory experience.
Amplitude: determines loudness, while frequency: determines pitch.

Perception

Perception: is the elaboration, transformation, and interpretation of sensory input, giving meaning to sensory experiences.

Form Perception: Gestalt Principles

Figure-ground relationship: distinguishes the object being viewed (figure) from its surrounding background (ground).
Grouping principles:

Depth Perception

Depth perception involves interpreting visual cues that indicate how near or far away objects are.
Our brain transforms two-dimensional images on the retina into three-dimensional perceptions.
Distal stimuli: are objects we perceive from a distance.
Proximal stimuli: are how we actually experience them through our senses.
A perceptual hypothesis: is an inference about which distal stimuli could be responsible for the proximal stimuli sensed.
To see objects in the distance, the lens of the eye flattens. When focusing on closer objects, the lens becomes more rounded.
Reversible figure: a drawing with two interpretations that can shift back and forth.

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Description

Explore the intricate functions of the nervous system in this quiz. Discover how neurons communicate, the role of neurotransmitters, and their significance in various mental health conditions. Test your knowledge of the structures and functions pivotal to neural processes.