Psychology: Brain and Behavior Concepts

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Questions and Answers

What role do specific cells play in repairing damaged neurons?

They solely produce neurotransmitters.

They help in the formation of new brain cells. (correct)

They block synaptic transmission.

They reduce the overall neural activity.

How does the synaptic cleft function in neuronal communication?

It releases hormones to influence behavior.

It absorbs neurotransmitters for storage.

It serves as a barrier to prevent signal transmission.

It facilitates the exchange of signals between neurons. (correct)

What is the primary function of the corpus callosum?

It connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain. (correct)

It generates electrical impulses.

It regulates body temperature.

It stores memories.

Which condition is related to the disruption of the corpus callosum?

Split brain syndrome. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of learning does homeostasis in the brain support?

It maintains stable neural conditions for efficient processes. Signup and view all the answers

Which brain imaging technique can identify structural or functional abnormalities?

MRI. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following may be influenced by a stroke in the frontal lobe?

Thinking and behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential focus of study for neuropsychologists?

Injuries and disorders affecting cognitive functions. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by external attention?

Noticing things happening around you Signup and view all the answers

When a person is daydreaming about a vacation, they are exhibiting what type of attention?

Internal attention Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'attention' refer to?

The mental process of concentrating on something specific Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the limitation of attention?

Attention can only focus on a restricted amount of information at any given time Signup and view all the answers

When reading a book and fully engaged in the story, which type of attention is primarily used?

Sustained attention Signup and view all the answers

Noticing a bird outside the window while watching a movie is an example of what?

Divided attention Signup and view all the answers

How does the brain handle information concerning attention?

It has a limited capacity for processing information Signup and view all the answers

Which example demonstrates external attention?

Focusing on the sound of traffic while reading Signup and view all the answers

What is mood-dependent memory?

The tendency to remember events that align with your current mood. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'memory distortion' refer to?

The alteration of memories due to new information or feelings. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the concept of 'meaning making tendency'?

Altering memories to fit personal beliefs or narratives. Signup and view all the answers

What does the misinformation effect illustrate?

The alteration of memories due to the introduction of incorrect information. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of 'schemas' in memory?

They help the brain organize and interpret information based on previous knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical capacity of short term memory according to the magical number seven?

Seven items Signup and view all the answers

Which example best illustrates the concept of long-term memory?

Remembering your first day of school Signup and view all the answers

What type of memory influences our actions without conscious thought?

Non-declarative memory Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of encoding in memory transfer?

Moving information to long-term memory Signup and view all the answers

What does the memory paradox refer to?

The simultaneous reliability and unreliability of memories Signup and view all the answers

How does the capacity of memory differ from working memory?

Capacity is the amount we can store; working memory is the amount we can utilize. Signup and view all the answers

What concept explains how we lose or fail to retrieve information over time?

Forgetting mechanism Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about mnemonic devices is accurate?

They can assist in remembering more complex information. Signup and view all the answers

What is a high cognitive task?

Solving a tricky math problem Signup and view all the answers

What defines a low cognitive task?

Easy and doesn't need much thinking Signup and view all the answers

What is attention bias?

Focusing on one type of thing despite other options Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'mental resources' refer to?

Brain's energy needed to perform tasks Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of reduced vigilance?

Missing signals in the environment Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario exemplifies emotional induced blindness?

Becoming so engrossed in a movie that you miss other happenings Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic best fits moderate cognitive load?

Task that is engaging but not overly challenging Signup and view all the answers

What does attentional bias modification aim to achieve?

Train the brain to ignore certain stimuli Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Brain and Behavior

The brain's ability to repair and regenerate neurons is crucial for learning and memory formation.
Synaptic changes strengthen or weaken neural connections, leading to more efficient information transmission.
Brain imaging techniques like MRI and CT scans are used to identify structural and functional abnormalities in the brain.

The Corpus Callosum

The corpus callosum is a thick band of nerve fibers connecting the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
It facilitates communication between the hemispheres, enabling the transmission of sensory, cognitive, and motor information.
Split brain syndrome occurs when the corpus callosum is severed, disrupting communication between the hemispheres.

Attention

Attention is the mental process of concentrating on specific information.
It involves selecting, modulating, and sustaining focus on chosen stimuli.
Attention is a capacity-limited resource, meaning the brain can only process a certain amount of information at once.

Types of Attention

External Attention: Paying attention to stimuli in the external environment, like watching a movie.
Internal Attention: Focusing on internal thoughts, feelings, or memories, like daydreaming.

Cognitive Load

High Cognitive Load: Demanding tasks requiring significant mental effort, like solving complex math problems.
Low Cognitive Load: Simple tasks requiring minimal mental effort, like coloring a picture.
Moderate Cognitive Load: Tasks that require a moderate amount of mental effort, like solving a moderately difficult puzzle.

Attention Bias

Attention bias occurs when the brain focuses excessively on specific stimuli, even when other stimuli are present.
It can be trained through attentional bias modification techniques to reduce unwanted focus.

Emotion-Induced Blindness

Emotional states can impact attention, leading to emotion-induced blindness.
Intense emotions like anxiety can make us miss important information.

Cognitive Control

The brain’s ability to focus and choose appropriate actions despite distractions.
Mental Resources: The effort or energy needed to perform tasks.

Working Memory

Short-term memory used for holding and manipulating information during cognitive tasks.
It’s capacity-limited and information is typically retained for 20-30 seconds.

Types of Memory

Declarative (Explicit): Memories we can actively recall and talk about.
Non-Declarative (Implicit): Memories that affect our actions without conscious awareness, stored for a long time.
Long-term Memory: Stored for a long time, with a vast storage capacity like an endless library.

Memory Mechanisms

Encoding: The process of converting incoming information into a memory representation.
Consolidation: The process of stabilizing and strengthening new memories.
Transfer Mechanism: Moving information from short-term to long-term memory.
Forgetting Mechanism: Processes that lead to memory loss or failure to retrieve information.

Memory Phenomena

Memory Paradox: The surprising fact that memories can be both reliable and unreliable.
Mood-Dependent Memory: Information is more easily recalled when in a similar mood as when it was encoded.
Autobiographical Memory: Our memories of personal experiences, often influenced by our current beliefs and emotions.

Memory Distortion

Memory Distortions: Changes or errors in our memories.
Meaning-Making Tendency: Our tendency to make sense of experiences, sometimes distorting memories to fit our current beliefs.
Schemas: Mental frameworks that organize knowledge and influence how we remember things.
Filling in Gaps: Our brains use existing knowledge to fill in missing details.

Memory Biases

Consistency Bias: The tendency to remember things in a way that aligns with our current beliefs and opinions.
Misinformation Effect: New, incorrect information can alter our existing memories.

Mnemonists

Individuals with extraordinary memory abilities, often capable of recalling large amounts of information.

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Description

Explore essential concepts related to the brain and behavior, including neuronal repair, the corpus callosum, and the role of attention. This quiz covers key ideas about synaptic changes and brain imaging techniques, as well as disorders like split brain syndrome. Test your understanding of how these processes contribute to learning and cognition.