Psychology Chapter 1: Course Intro

The study of how our minds process information, including thinking, memory, perception, and problem-solving.

A technique used in cognitive psychology to observe brain activity and understand how different areas of the brain function during mental processes.

A technique used in Cognitive Psychology to understand human behavior, including thinking, memory, perception and problem solving.

A type of neuroimaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the brain structures and activity.

A type of neuroimaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting electrical signals in the brain.

The process by which our brain strengthens and makes memories more stable through creating or modifying neural connections.

A heightened state of physiological arousal, resulting in increased activity in the amygdala, the brain region associated with emotion.

Memories that are exceptionally vivid and detailed, often for significant and emotionally charged events.

The tendency to modify memories based on discussions with others, leading to potential inaccuracies.

The process of recalling and retelling a memory, which can influence its accuracy.

Memories that are exceptionally vivid and detailed, often for significant and emotionally charged events.

The ability to remember details and events from the past.

The tendency for some traumatic memories to be lost or inaccurate due to factors such as head injuries, sleep deprivation, drugs, or alcohol.

A neutral stimulus that is paired with an unconditioned stimulus and eventually produces a learned response when presented alone.

A naturally occurring stimulus that elicits an automatic, unlearned response.

The learned response to the conditioned stimulus.

Learning that occurs through association between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus.

A type of learning where behavior is modified by the consequences that follow it.

Something that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Something that decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

A mental representation of a category based on an average or ideal example, embodying common features.

Specific, remembered instances of a category.

The process of using prototypes to categorize objects. It focuses on common features and a generalized representation.

The process of using individual exemplars to categorize objects, considering specific examples rather than a generalized representation.

The idea that we use both prototypes and exemplars to make quick judgments about categories based on resemblance.

How typical an object is compared to the prototype or exemplar representation of a category.

Atypical features, while not typical, do not necessarily exclude an object from a category.

The process of deciding if something belongs to a category based on essential attributes, not just typicality.

The ability to focus on one specific piece of information while ignoring others. This ability is limited in its capacity, meaning we cannot focus on everything at once.

A psychological phenomenon where we fail to notice obvious stimuli if we are focusing on something else.

An experiment where participants listen to two different messages played simultaneously, one in each ear. The participants are asked to focus on one message while ignoring the other.

The ability to filter out irrelevant sounds and identify a specific sound, like your name, in a crowded environment.

The phenomenon where some information from the unattended channel in a dichotic listening task is still processed, even though we are not consciously aware of it.

A disorder where individuals have difficulties perceiving motion. They may see the world as a series of still images, rather than continuous movement.

The ability of the brain to combine different sensory information, such as visual and auditory cues, to create a unified perception of the world.

A visual illusion where a series of static images, viewed in rapid succession, create the perception of movement.

The inability to notice changes in a scene even when looking directly at it. Imagine watching a magician perform a trick, but not noticing the crucial moment when the object disappears.

When only the attended input is fully processed while unattended information receives little or no analysis. Imagine a party; you focus on a conversation with a friend, unaware of background music.

All information is analyzed, but only the attended information is remembered. Imagine watching TV with a friend, you might hear a commercial, but forget it immediately.

A temporary bias in neuron sensitivity created by attention. Imagine a spotlight shining on a specific object, making it easier to see while dimming everything else in the background.

The process of preparing your brain to perceive something specific. Imagine anticipating the sound of a friend’s name in a crowded room, making you more likely to hear it.

Filters out potential distractions while allowing attended information to be processed. Think of noise-canceling headphones, focusing on your music by filtering out background noise.

The tendency to notice high-frequency or salient information, even without deliberate attention. Think of hearing your name even in a noisy environment.