An empirical study results of verifiable evidence from a systematic collection and analysis of data that has been objectively observed measured and undergone experimentation basic research research that answers fundamental questions about behaviors applied research research that investigates issues that have implications for everyday life and provides solutions to everyday problems theory an integrated set of principles that explains and predicts many but not all observed rela tionships with a given domain of inquiry Three tenants of critical thinking 1 curiosity 2 skepticism 3 humility claiming certainty should be a red flag Importance of a good theory falsifiable simple parsimonious generate ideas for future research Important of a good hypothesis it must be testable specific case study examine individual in depth Pro lots of really good info Con not necessarily generalizable Survey watch out for wording effects Naturalistic Observation observer bias observer effect interrater reliability Importance of good methodology results must be reliable and easily replicated Good measurement operation definitions conceptual variables must be quantifiable Pro can get lots of data Con self report data is subject to an incredible amount of biases inconsistencies sample carefully selected segment of a larger group of internet correlation relationship does not mean 2 variables cause each other A statistic that represents a correlation can fall between 1 and 1 the closer to 1 and 1 the stronger the relationship the closer to 0 the weaker the relationship Positive relationship the direction of the 2 variables is the same Negative relationship there is an inverse relationship How do we determine cause and effect Experiments manipulation of factors of interest while controlling for other factrs 2 necessary criteria for experiments Random Assignment 1 Control Group 2 Placebo effect belief that an inactive treatment of pseudo manipulated IV has had an effect Neuron a cell in the nervous system whose function it is to receive and transmit information 3 parts 1 cell body soma 2 dendrite 3 axon soma contains the nucleus of the cell and keeps the cell alive dendrite a branching treelike fiber collects information from other cells and sends the info to the soma axon transmits information away from the cell body toward other neurons or to the muscles and glands terminal buttons form junctions with other cells myelin sheath covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses layer of fatty tissue synapses spaces between the cells resting potential a state in which the interior of the neuron contains a greater number of nega tively charged ions than does the area outside the cell Nodes of Ranvier gaps in between the myelin sheaths 1000 sec neurotransmitter a chemical that relays signals across the synapses between neurons reuptake a process in which neurotransmitters that are in the synapse are reabsorbed into the transmitting terminal buttons vesicles of neurotransmitters can be found in PRE SYNAPTIC terminal buttons agonist a drug that has chemical properties similar to a particular neurotransmitter and mimics the effects of the neurotransmitter Alcohol inhibits the excitatory channels on the postsynaptic neuron brain stem older and innermost region of the brain controls the most basic functions of life including breathing atten tion and motor responses medulla the area of the brain stem that controls heart rate and breathing pons spherical shape above the medulla a structure in the brainstem that helps control the movements of the body balancing and walking also important for sleeping waking dreaming and arousal reticular formation a long narrow network of neurons job is to filter out some of the stimuli that are coming into the brain from the spinal cord and to relay the remainder of the signals to other areas of the brain plays an important role in walking eating sexual activity and sleeping controls arousal superior colliculi primitive visual inferior colliculi primitive auditory thalamus egg shaped structure sitting just above the brain stem that applies more filtering to the sensory information coming from the spinal cord and through the reticular formation and relays some of these remaining signals to the higher brain levels relays sensory info to the upper re gions of the brain sensory switch boards cerebellum 2 wrinkled ovals behind the brain stem functions to coordinate voluntary move ments limbic system largely responsible for memory and emotions set of distinct and important brain structures located beneath and around the thalamus amygdala 2 almond shaped clusters primarily responsible for regulating our perceptions of and reactions to aggression and fear hypothalamus helps regulate body temperature hunger thirst and sex drive and re sponds to the satisfactions of these needs by creating feelings of pleasure bodily maintenance flight fight feed and sexual functioning hippocampus 2 horns stores information in long term memory Anterior cingulate error threat protection cerebral cortex outer bark like layer of our brain that allows us to use language acquire complex skills and create tools and live in social groups most evolved cortizalization folding of the cerebral cortex glial cells cells that surround and link to the neurons protecting them providing them with nu trients and absorbing unused neurotransmitters fissures the folds separating the 4 lobes frontal lobe thinking planning memory and judgement parietal responsible for processing information about touch receives sensory information and helps us know where our bodies are in space occipital processes visual info temporal hearing and language motor cortex the part of the cortex that controls and executes movements of the body by sending signals to the cerebellum and the spinal cord controls voluntary movements sensory cortex processes body touch and movement sensations somatosensory cortex receives info from different parts of the body located at the front of the parietal lobe visual cortex in occipital cortex processes visual information auditory cortex responsible for hearing and language in temporal lobe the frontal lobe prefrontal cortex is responsible for inhibition abstract though planning imagination consciousness flexible response to challenge threat can override limbic system almost infinite learning abilities Neuroplasticity the brains ability to change its structure and function in response to experiences or
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