Psych Exam 1!

Psychology is a scientific discipline that focuses on understanding the mental processes and behavior of individuals and how they interact with their environment.

Natural sciences and social sciences have distinct focuses and subject matters that set them apart from each other. While natural sciences deal with the physical world and the laws that govern it, social sciences study human behavior and society's dynamics.

The correct answer highlights the various pitfalls associated with relying on personal experience, authority, consensus, common sense, and faith as non-scientific ways of knowing. The incorrect answers provided do not accurately capture the range of problems discussed in the correct answer.

Science follows a method of proposing hypotheses, testing them, and comparing findings. These findings should be confirmable and replicable, open to criticism and refutation, forming a body of knowledge that is objective and not influenced by personal beliefs.

Systematic observations involve a structured approach to collect data that can be quantified and analyzed systematically. It is the opposite of random or haphazard observations.

Random assignment involves randomly selecting participants to ensure that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any of the groups or conditions being studied, reducing bias and increasing the validity of the results.

Cell phones emit more radiation than radios due to the proximity of the device to the body and the higher frequency of radio waves used.

The brain is a vital organ that plays a crucial role in controlling our thoughts, emotions, actions, and bodily functions. Understanding the brain is essential for understanding the complexities of the human mind and behavior.

The cerebral cortex is not a part of the spine, a neurotransmitter, or a specific area controlling emotional responses. It is the outermost layer of the brain composed of grey matter containing cell bodies, and an inner layer of white matter consisting of fatty myelin.

Brain anatomy includes various structures responsible for different functions, such as the cerebral lobes for higher brain functions, the hippocampus for memory, the amygdala for emotions, the corpus callosum for connecting hemispheres, and the hemispheres for overall brain coordination.

The cerebral lobes have distinct functions related to different aspects of sensory and cognitive processing.

The amygdala is responsible for regulating emotions, not related to digestion, memory recall, or muscle coordination.

The corpus callosum is a structure in the brain responsible for connecting the two hemispheres, allowing them to communicate with each other and share information.

Patient H.M. underwent the removal of part of his hippocampus due to severe seizures, which resulted in anterograde amnesia while keeping his skill learning intact.

Contralaterality in the brain refers to the phenomenon where the left lobe processes information from the right side of the body and vice versa. This cross-over arrangement allows for efficient coordination and control of movements and sensory input.

Plasticity refers to the brain's ability to change and remapping occurs specifically after injury, such as the loss of a limb. The incorrect answers provide varying definitions and contexts that are not related to neuroscience.

The somatosensory (Penfield) homunculus specifically represents the processing of sensations on the sensory cortex, with areas that are physically close on the body being close to each other in the brain.

Phantom limbs are a sensory perception that occurs in individuals who have lost a limb, where they still feel sensations and movement from the missing body part. This phenomenon is due to changes in the brain's representation of the body, known as the homunculus, which leads to the perception of a phantom limb.

Capgras syndrome is a rare psychiatric disorder characterized by the delusional belief that a person or people in the individual's life have been replaced by imposters.

Galvanic skin response measures the conductivity of the skin, which can indicate excitement or arousal levels in an individual. It is not directly related to heart rate, blood pressure, or body temperature.

Split brain studies involve dividing the two hemispheres to disrupt communication between them. This allows researchers to observe how this disruption affects an individual's ability to recognize images, with the individual only able to perceive one side of the picture (right).

The sub-fields of psychology cover various aspects like interactions, abnormal behavior, biological structures, individual dispositions, cognitive processes, and more.

Experimental, naturalistic, and correlational designs are three main types of research designs commonly used in psychology that help researchers investigate different aspects of human behavior and psychological processes.

The left and right hemispheres of the brain have specific functions that are complementary to each other, with the left side typically responsible for language-related processes and logical reasoning, while the right side is involved in aspects like creativity, emotions, and spatial awareness.

Anterograde amnesia is a type of memory loss characterized by the inability to form new long-term memories, while past memories remain intact. It is not the same as forgetting past memories, recalling memories excessively, or having difficulty forming short-term memories.

Lateralization of function refers to the specialization of certain functions in one hemisphere of the brain, rather than being spread evenly across both hemispheres.

Topographic maps in the context of brain function refer to the mapping of sensory information on specific regions of the brain, such as the sensory cortex. It is not related to geographical features or hiking trails.

Cortical magnification refers to the fact that certain body parts that require more precise and detailed sensory information, such as the lips and fingers, have larger representation in the brain's somatosensory cortex.