PSY 101 Straighterline Final Exam Questions
with Correct Answers
psychology the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
science psychology uses systematic methods to observe human behavior and draw
conclusions
behavior everything we do that can be directly observed
mental process The thoughts, feelings, and motives that each of us experiences privately
but that cannot be observed directly
critical thinking thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather,
it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.
empirical method gaining knowledge through the observation of events, the collection of
data, and logical reasoning
,structuralism focus on identifying the elemental parts or structures of the human mind;
William Wundt
functionalism A school of psychology that focused on how our mental and behavioral
processes function - how they enable us to adapt, survive, and flourish; William James
natural selection A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to
survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits; Charles
Darwin
neurons a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
glial cells cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
cell body Largest part of a typical neuron; contains the nucleus and much of the
cytoplasm
dendrites Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.
,axon the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which
messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands
myelin sheath fatty layer that covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural
impulses
resting potential The difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a
neuron's cell membrane; neg inside, pos outisde
action potential a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
all or nothing principle The principle that once the electrical impulse reaches a certain
level of intensity (its threshold), it fires and moves all the way down the axon without losing any
intensity.
synapses tiny gaps between dentrites and axons of different neurons
Neuraltransmitters transmit, or carry, information across the synaptic gap to the next
neuron
, Acetylcholine (ACh) stimulates the firing of neurons and is involved in the action of
muscles, learning, and memory
Alzheimer's disease degenerative brain disorder that involves a decline in memory, have
an acetylcholine deficiency
GABA a major inhibitory neurotransmitter
decreased GABA levels lead to anxiety
glutamate exciting many neurons to fire and is especially involved in learning and
memory
norepinephrine inhibits the firing of neurons in the central nervous system, but it excites
the heart muscle, intestines, and urogenital tract
dopamine control voluntary movement and affects sleep, mood, attention, learning, and
the ability to recognize rewards in the environment
with Correct Answers
psychology the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
science psychology uses systematic methods to observe human behavior and draw
conclusions
behavior everything we do that can be directly observed
mental process The thoughts, feelings, and motives that each of us experiences privately
but that cannot be observed directly
critical thinking thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather,
it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.
empirical method gaining knowledge through the observation of events, the collection of
data, and logical reasoning
,structuralism focus on identifying the elemental parts or structures of the human mind;
William Wundt
functionalism A school of psychology that focused on how our mental and behavioral
processes function - how they enable us to adapt, survive, and flourish; William James
natural selection A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to
survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits; Charles
Darwin
neurons a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
glial cells cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
cell body Largest part of a typical neuron; contains the nucleus and much of the
cytoplasm
dendrites Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.
,axon the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which
messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands
myelin sheath fatty layer that covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural
impulses
resting potential The difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a
neuron's cell membrane; neg inside, pos outisde
action potential a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
all or nothing principle The principle that once the electrical impulse reaches a certain
level of intensity (its threshold), it fires and moves all the way down the axon without losing any
intensity.
synapses tiny gaps between dentrites and axons of different neurons
Neuraltransmitters transmit, or carry, information across the synaptic gap to the next
neuron
, Acetylcholine (ACh) stimulates the firing of neurons and is involved in the action of
muscles, learning, and memory
Alzheimer's disease degenerative brain disorder that involves a decline in memory, have
an acetylcholine deficiency
GABA a major inhibitory neurotransmitter
decreased GABA levels lead to anxiety
glutamate exciting many neurons to fire and is especially involved in learning and
memory
norepinephrine inhibits the firing of neurons in the central nervous system, but it excites
the heart muscle, intestines, and urogenital tract
dopamine control voluntary movement and affects sleep, mood, attention, learning, and
the ability to recognize rewards in the environment
