Download Psych 202 Exam 1.docx

Psych 202 Exam 1
Chapter 2: Research Methods
 What are “hit or miss” observations? Why can they be problematic?
o Hit or miss observations are going to random places and asking surveying
random people. Making conclusions based on only whatever is around us. Some
problems that might occur is the region or age demographic you are asking.
 What are the 3 main categories of research methods?
o Descriptive, Correlational and Experimental
 What are some examples of descriptive methods?
o Naturalistic Observations (Ex. observing cell phone use of pedestrians), case
studies (ex. people with certain types of brain damage), Surveys (ex. survey
about attitudes towards refugee programs)
 What are some problems with descriptive studies?
o Observer bias
o Hawthorne effect: Productivity goes up b/c participants know they’re being
watched
 What is the correlational method? How are scatterplots used to determine direction and
degree of relationship within correlations?
o Correlational methods determines whether relationship exists btwn 2 dependent
variables. Scatterplots depict negative/positive correlations and strength of
relationship.
 What are some problems with interpretation of correlations?
o Correlation does NOT equal causation
o Directionality of relationship
o Third variable problem
 What is the different between a true independent variable and an attribute variable?
How can you use random assignment to determine the difference between these two
types of variables?
o True variable is the presumed cause of the dependent variable , the presumed
effect. Condition that cause changes in behavior. Attributable variable is when an
independent variable is not manipulated. Inherent characteristics of participants
(ex. age, gender, intelligence, etc.) Random Assignment is when each participant
has an equal chance of getting into any condition of experiment. If you can
randomly assign participants to you IV then it’s a true IV; if you can’t then it’s
attributable.
 Can we claim causation with studies involving attributable variables? Why or why not?
o Can’t claim causation with attributable variables because you can’t manipulate
them. Experiments with attributable variables is called quasi-experiments.
 What are operational definitions? What are 3 main types of operational definitions?
o Operational definitions are detailed definitions for DVs and IVs. 3 mains types are
physiological, behavior and self-report.
 What are some operational definitions? What are some examples of operational
definitions when studying infants or animals?
This study source was downloaded by 100000840507698 from CourseHero.com on 02-16-2022 17:54:18 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/47686851/Psych-202-Exam-1docx/
o An example of an operational definition would be a researcher measuring
happiness and depression in college students decides to use a ten-question
happiness scale to measure positive outlook in her subjects. In other words,
her operational definition of happiness in this case is a given subject’s score on the
test. An example In children is moral development and observing the behaviors a
child might have towards a puppet. In animals, an example would be knowing what
hand the treat will be in.
 What is reliability? Validity? How are they different?
o Reliability is the extent to which a test yields consistent results. Validity is the
extent to which a test measure or predicts what it’s supposed to do. Validity
measures how accurate something is and reliability measure how consistent it is.
Example: Someone steps on a scale and weighs 150lbs over and over (reliability)
however they are actually 120lbs (not valid)
 What is replication and why is it important?
o Replication is a tentative nature of scientific conclusions. Replication is repeating
an experiment. It is important because studies that have been replicated multiple
times become more trustworthy.
 What is meta-analysis?
o Analyzes results of studies on same topic, variables. It’s the larger view of
replication and looks at the overall patterns. (Ex. math ability and gender 
there was a small difference or none at all between the two.)
Pearson (2010)
 What is the main research question of the study?
o To see the attitudes towards immigrants
 What is IV and DV?
o IV: The term to describe a Mexican immigrant (random assignment)
o DV: stereotypes, threats, taxation, emotional coldness ,etc.
 Results?
o Received negative stereotypes
 Classified as true experiment?
o Yes because the IV was randomly assigned which means the participants received
random terms.
Text
Chapter 4: Brain and Behavior
 What are some methods for studying brain structure and function?
o Brain damage effects (ex. strokes, lesions, etc.)
o Observing brain in action (ex. PET, fMRI, etc.)
 What are the major structure of the brain and what are the main functions of each?
o Spinal Cord: Apart of the CNS and can function independently of brain
o Brainstem: Basics of survival
 Medulla: vital involuntary function (breathing, etc.)
This study source was downloaded by 100000840507698 from CourseHero.com on 02-16-2022 17:54:18 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/47686851/Psych-202-Exam-1docx/



 Pons: connects cerebellum to rest of brain
 Reticular formation: sleep, arousal, attention
 Midbrain: sensory reflexes, movement, pain
o Cerebellum: movement, balance, motor coordination
o Subcortical Structures: basic drives and emotions
 Thalamus: sensory relay station: consciousness
 Basal Ganglia: voluntary movement
 Amygdala: fear, disgust, aggression
 Hippocampus: memory formation
 Hypothalamus: regulates temp, hunger, activity of ANS
 Cingulate cortex: decision making, emotion, visual processing
 Nucleus accumbens: reward, pleasure, social inclusion
o Cerebral cortex: complex mental activity
 Frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital
 Motor cortex
 Somatosensory cortex: touch
 Broca’s area: language production/speaking
 Wernicke’s: language reception/understanding
How does split brain research allow us to understand the functions of the left and right
hemispheres?
o Sever of the corpus collosum breaks communication between the left and right
hemispheres. This allows us to see how the two hemispheres work
independently of each other.
What types of errors do split brain patients make during cognitive tests? How do these
errors help us understand right vs left hemispheric function?
o You might see something from your left eye and your right hemisphere will take
that information but your left side won’t. The left side will do whatever the right
eyes sees. The right side is face recognition, spatial/perceptual tasks. The left side
mostly language.
What are some examples of brain plasticity?
o Recovery from illness, injury (ex. retraining after stroke, motor training for MS,
etc.), blindness and deafness, phantom limb (mirror box therapy)
Part 2: General Organization of Nervous System – The Neuron
 What are the main components and subcomponents of the CNS and PNS?
o CNS: Brain and spinal cord
o PNS: Somatic and autonomic nervous system
 Autonomic divides into: Sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric
 What are the basic structures of the neuron?
o Axon: transmit info
 Synapse
o Dendrite: collects info
o Cell body: integrates info
This study source was downloaded by 100000840507698 from CourseHero.com on 02-16-2022 17:54:18 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/47686851/Psych-202-Exam-1docx/





o Neuron communicates through electric impulses and chemical signals
What is the difference between sensory, motor and interneurons?
o Sensory (afferent) : incoming info to CNS
o Motor (efferent): outgoing info from CNS to muscles
o Interneurons: connects sensory and motor neurons
 Works within CNS transmission of info and performs integration and
organization function
What are glial cells?
o Supports function
o Formation of blood brain barrier
o Supplies nutrients to neurons and support structure
o Formation of myelin sheath
What is myelin and how does it affect neuronal communication?
o Myelin is insulation for axon and it increase neural transmission speed so action
potentials can jump across
How does neural communication work?
o Action potential is an electrical impulse that travels down the axon and triggers
the release of neurotransmitters. Occurs at the Nodes of Ranvier. The electrical
signaling can be hyperpolarization or depolarization.
 Hyperpolarization: increase in membrane potential. Inside of neuron
becomes more negative.
 Depolarization: inside of cell becomes less negative and increases
opportunity for action potential
How does neuronal communication function at the synapse?
o Action potential triggers release of neurotransmitters and bind to postsynaptic
receptors and make it more or less likely to fire an action potential
Part III: Psychoactive Drugs; Dopamine and Addiction
 What are major categories of neurotransmitters?
o Acetylcholine: Motor control, mental motivation
o Monoamines: affect arousal and motivation
o Amino Acids: excitatory and inhibitory transmission
o Peptides: modulate neurotransmission
 What are the main function of specific neurotransmitters?
o Acetylcholine
 Learning and memory, causes muscle contraction, regulates attention,
memory and sleep
 Shortage: Low levels in Alzheimer’s patients  drops as you get older
 That’s why Alzheimer’s patients have bad memory problems
 Excess: muscle spasms
o Monoamines
 Epinephrine and norepinephrine
 NE: increases physiological arousal
This study source was downloaded by 100000840507698 from CourseHero.com on 02-16-2022 17:54:18 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/47686851/Psych-202-Exam-1docx/


 Shortage: depression
 Excess: mania
 Serotonin
 Physiological arousal, sleep/wakefulness, aggression (low
serotonin)
 A lot of serotonin in schizophrenic patients
 Dopamine
 Movement, motivation, pleasure and reward
 shortage depression
o Parkinson’s Disease: tracts of DA degenerate in basal
ganglia which is why they have difficulty with movement
 excess: schizophrenia
o Cholecystokinin
 Digestion, satiety
 Excess: anxiety
o Endorphins
 Natural pain relivers, calm and pleasure
 Acts within pain pathways and emotion center for brain
 Shortage: chronic pain
 Binds to same sites as morphine and heroine
o Substance P
 Pain perception, vasodilation inflammation, mood disorders, anxiety and
stress
o GABA
 Inhibits sending neurons
 Drugs mimic GABA used to treat anxiety, insomnia
 Shortage: epilepsy, Huntington’s disease and anxiety
 Excess: unmotivated
o Glutamate
 Excitatory
 Helps learning and memory: increased speed of synaptic cleft
What is the difference between an agonist and antagonist?
o Agonist: increase effect of neurotransmitter
o Antagonist: decreases/blocks effects of neurotransmitter
What are the actions of drugs we learned in lecture? Do they work as agonists or
antagonists?
o Naloxone: blocks heroine from binding to receptors  saves person from
overdose (antagonists)
o Tricyclic Antidepressants: inhibits reuptake of NE and treats depression, ADHD.
 Works as agonists
o SSRIs: treats depression, OCD, eating disorders, etc.
 Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
 Agonists
This study source was downloaded by 100000840507698 from CourseHero.com on 02-16-2022 17:54:18 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/47686851/Psych-202-Exam-1docx/





o Antipsychotic: blocks DA and serotonin. Treatment for bipolar, schizophrenia
 Antagonists
o Alcohol, sedatives (agonists): mimics effects of GABA, glutamate inhibitor
o Amphetamines, cocaine (agonists): increases DA and NE, blocks reuptake and
increases release, activates sympathetic system
o Nicotine (agonists): acts same site as Ach, receptors activated by Ach and
nicotine, brain decreases production of Ach, so more nicotine is require highly
addictive
o Benzos (agonists): increases response to GABA
o Opioids (agonists): activate receptors that respond to endorphins  where
people get the “high”, increases DA by binding with opiate receptors
 highly addictive due to dual activation of DA and opiate receptors
o Hallucinogens: LSD has similar structure to serotonin
o Marijuana: THC produces relaxed state, mood, distortions, memory impairment
due to concentration of cannabinoid receptors in hippocampus
What does the Sapolsky video tell us about how uncertainty affects DA release?
o It is about the anticipation, the pursuit that increases DA levels. As reinforcement
becomes unpredictable DA levels go up
What the brain learns when DA is released?
o Brain learns to repeat situation in order to get the high level of DA
How DA release is different for natural experiences vs drug use?
o DA levels drop in natural experiences but remain the same when taking drugs
The factors that help predict who becomes addicted?
o Genetic factors, age, etc.
How chronic drug abuse affect DA D2 receptors?
o D2 receptors are destroyed when someone is addicted. Has the same effect with
obesity. D2 receptors regulate self-control.
Text:
Chapter 5: Sensation and Perception
 What are the main biological components of visual sensation and transduction?
o Sensation: detection of stimuli
o Transduction: Translation of sensory info
 How do Trichromatic Theory and Opponent Process Theory Differ?
o Trichromatic: 3 cones that can detect blue, green and red in different amounts
firing each type
o Opponent Theory: competing channels for color tire some, other compensate
 What is top down processing and how does it differ from bottom up?
o Top down: using ideas, models, etc. interpret info
o Bottom up: taking info and assembling and integrating it
 What is the Gestalt effect?
o Brain’s organizing tendencies allow to perceive things as organized whole
(bottom up)
This study source was downloaded by 100000840507698 from CourseHero.com on 02-16-2022 17:54:19 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/47686851/Psych-202-Exam-1docx/








What are some monocular cues for depth perception? Binocular cues?
o Monocular: Linear Perspective, occlusion, texture gradient, etc.
o Binocular: Stereopsis (binocular disparity)
What do errors from visual illusion tell us about visual processing?
o The brain attempts to piece together, categorize and make sense of what we’re
seeing
What are the main biological components of auditory processing?
o Pinna: helps localize sounds as being above or below the head. Channeled
through auditory canal.
o Cochlea: structure in inner ear that contains auditory receptors
 Organ of Corti: located in basilar membrane and contain auditory
receptors
What is frisson?
o Sudden strong feeling of excitement, fear; a thrill
What cues are used for sound localization?
o Pinna helps localize sounds but main method is comparing arrival time of sound
at each ear.
o Judge differences in intensity of sounds reaching each ear.
What do errors from auditory illusion tell us about auditory processing?
What are the main components of olfactory sensation and transduction?
o Receptors
o No direct connections btwn olfactory receptors and thalamus
o Olfactory receptors  olfactory bulbs  olfactory cortex
What is biological explanation for why olfactory stimuli often have strong emotional
connections?
o Connections to amygdala which has strong emotional connections to odor
Text:
Chapter 6: Consciousness
 What are 3 different definitions of consciousness?
o Variation in alertness
o Awareness of ongoing sensations
o Self-awareness
 What is mirror recognition and what does it tell us about consciousness?
o Recognizing one’s self in the mirror is believed to be a major development
milestone in achieving self-awareness
 What are the EEG patterns of wakefulness?
o Alpha: awake but relaxed
o Beta: active data processing
o Gamma: processing sensory network
 What is the DMN? What is its function?
o Default mode network maintains high level of unconscious, background activity
as it helps prepare the brain for conscious thought
This study source was downloaded by 100000840507698 from CourseHero.com on 02-16-2022 17:54:19 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/47686851/Psych-202-Exam-1docx/




Text:




What do the 3 examples of attention research tell us about how well we can pay
attention to many details at the same time?
o We are not very good at being able to multitask. If we are told to focus on one
thing then we won’t notice everything else around it.
What are the EEG patterns of sleep? How does REM differ from non-REM?
o REM sleep: waveforms resembling waking by rapid motion of eyes, muscular
paralysis, activating of sympathetic system and paradoxical sleep.
o Non REM: characterized by theta and delta wave activity, deep physical
relaxation
 Stage 1 – Theta
 Stage 2 – k complexes sleep episodes
 Stage 3+4 – delta waves
Why is REM sleep important?
o Large proportion of REM sleep across lifespan
o Memory deterioration with sleep deprivation (REM rebound)
o Restoration and integration
What are benefits of hypnosis? Mindfulness meditation?
o Hypnosis: altered state of consciousness characterized by relaxation and
increased suggestibility. Feeling that one’s actions are occurring involuntarily.
o Meditation: voluntary alteration of consciousness characterized by positive
emotion and absence of thought.
 Physiological and cognitive benefits
What are circadian rhythms? How does jet lag affect rhythms?
o Circadian rhythms: daily biological rhythm. Provides approx. schedule for various
physical processes.
o Jet lag produces fatigue, irritability and sleepiness.
What are some examples of sleep disorders?
o Sleep terrors
o Insomnia
o Narcolepsy
o Sleep apnea
o SIDS
What are some types of brain damages that affect consciousness?
o Coma
o Vegetative State: Wakefulness without consciousness
o Brain death
o Near death experiences
Why does drug tolerance occur?
o When a person must take a larger quantity of a drug to produce the desired
effects.
This study source was downloaded by 100000840507698 from CourseHero.com on 02-16-2022 17:54:19 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/47686851/Psych-202-Exam-1docx/
This study source was downloaded by 100000840507698 from CourseHero.com on 02-16-2022 17:54:19 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/47686851/Psych-202-Exam-1docx/
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)