What is a neuron? List and describe the principle physical features of a neuron.

Community College of Philadelphia Nervous System Questions

1

What is a neuron? List and describe the principle physical features of a neuron.

What is the function of a neuron? How does function relate to the principle features of the cell?

What are glial cells? How do they differ from Neurons?

What is the action potential? Describe the 4 steps of the action potential.

In your own words, how does the action potential relate to psychology?

What are synapses? List and describe they key features of a synapse.

Describe the process of chemical transmission that occurs at the synapse.

2

 

How do drugs affect activity at the synapse?

What is the difference between an agonist and antagonist?

Define the following classes of drugs. Next, list and describe include examples of each and describe both the bodily and cellular effects.

Stimulants

Hallucinogens

Depressants

Narcotics

Marijuana

What are endorphins? How do they relate to narcotics?

 

 

3

 

What is Monism? How does it relate to the function of the nervous system?

What is the central nervous system? What is the peripheral nervous system?

What are the 3 divisions of the brain?

What is the cerebral cortex? 

Describe their key functions and structures associated with the four lobes of the cortex.

Describe the role of hemispheres in the brain. How does these regions interact? Describe some examples of how disconnection of the hemispheres can alter behavior.  

What does the term “subcortical” refer to? List and describe the functions of key subcortical regions.

What is the autonomic nervous system? Describe its organization and function.

What does the term “plasticity” refer to? How does this differ from new cell growth?

What is the binding problem? How is this topics relevant to psychology?

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

What are stimuli? What does the nervous system use to detect stimuli?

What is light? How does our body detect light?

Describe the following structures of the eye: pupil, iris, retina, cornea, lense, fovea.

Compare and contrast the two types of visual receptors (photoreceptors).

Describe the process of dark adaptation. How does this process affect our night vision?

Describe the pathway of neurons from the photoreceptors to the brain.

What is the trichromatic theory of color vision? What aspects of color vision does this theory account for?

What is the opponent-process theory of color vision? What aspects of color vision does this theory account for?

What is the retinex theory of color vision? What aspects of color vision does this theory account for?

List and describe the different forms of color vision deficiency.

 

 

5

 

What is an absolute sensory threshold? How does it relate to signal-detection theory? Why are these concepts important for psychology?

What is subliminal perception? How does a psychologist’s definition of this phenomenon differ from popular media portrayal of “subliminal messages?”

What are feature detectors? How would these cells aid in visual perception? What aspects of vision do these cells not explain?

What is Gestalt Psychology? How does it contribute to our understanding of perception?

Describe how each of the following Gestalt Psychology terms relates to perceptual experiences.

Bottom-up Process

Top-Down Process

Figure & Ground

Reversible Figures

Proximity

Similarity

Continuation

Closure

Common Fate

Good Figure

What is visual constancy? How does it contribute to visual perception?

How is movement perceived? What stimulus information do we use to determine whether an object is moving?

What is depth perception? What factors contribute to depth perception?

What is an optical illusion? What are some explanations for common optical illusions?

6

 

Describe the concept of circadian rhythms. What processes does the circadian rhythm influence?

Compare and contrast “Morning People” and “Evening People.” How does each pattern of behavior influence day-to-day life?

What is jet lag? What direction of travel is easier to adjust to?

What brain structure regulates the circadian rhythm? How is the function of this structure influenced by environmental stimuli?

What evidence is there that we need sleep? What are some of the proposed functions of sleep?

Describe the stages of sleep. What are some key characteristics of each stage? How are they measured in an experimental setting?

Compare and contrast the typical sleep abnormalities (insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy).

What are dreams? Describe the typical content that dreams contain.

How did Freud describe dreams? How well do those theories hold up today?

What is the activation-synthesis theory of dreams? What is the neurocognitive theory of dreams?

7

 

What are emotions? Why is it difficult to define an “emotion?”

What four components are typically associated with an emotional state? Create an example to further illustrate this point.

Compare and contrast the measurements of emotions. What are some advantages and disadvantages of each?

Compare and contrast how the James-Lange and Schachter& Signer theories explain emotional states. How do these theories explain the relationship between cognitions and emotions?

What is meant by the term “Basic Emotions?” What are some of the proposed criteria for defining a basic emotion?

How have facial expressions been used in the study of emotions?

What evidence does the study of facial expression provide for describing basic emotions?

How easily does the study of facial expressions translate to other cultures? What does the cross-cultural study of emotional facial expressions suggest about emotions?

What is the Circumplex Model of emotions? Why is this an important alternative to “basic emotion?”

It has been proposed that emotions must have a function? Describe this argument and some evidence that supports it.

How do emotions influence moral decision making? What regions of the brain seem to be involved in these processes?

What does the term “Emotional Intelligence” describe? How well do measures of emotional intelligence predict life outcomes in individuals?

 

 

8

 

What is fear? What is anxiety? How is anxiety typically measured in a laboratory setting?

What role does the amygdala play in fear and anxiety?

What are polygraph machines? How does their function relate to fear or anxiety? How accurate are they?

What is the guilty-knowledge test? How does it differ from a polygraph?

Describe anger, disgust, and contempt. How are these terms possibly related?

What is positive psychology? What is subjective well-being? How do these relate to happiness?

Describe the evidence for what influences a person’s subjective well-being. What are some ways to improve happiness?

What is sadness? What role does crying play in sadness?

What are surprise and embarrassment? What evidence is there that these experiences are emotions?

9

 

What is healthy psychology? What does this branch of psychology focus on studying?

What is stress? How does stress relate to cortisol release?

Describe the stages of Hans Selye’s general adaptation syndrome.

What are some typical means of measuring stress? What are some criticisms with these measures?

What does it mean to say there are “indirect effects” of stress?

What does the term “direct effects” refer to in terms of stress?

How is heart health influenced by stress? What are some personality factors that may be involved?

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? How does PTSD development relate to a stressful experience?

Describe, compare, and contrast the three categories of stress coping strategies. Be sure to provide examples for each.