Vocab number 2

anychange in surroundings that occurs after a given response which reduces the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future

Thorndike’s Law that holds that behavior is chosen/modified because of consequences

Darwin’s work that introduced evolution and his theory of natural selection which is considered the foundation of evolutionary biology

in classical conditioning, it is the previously neutral stimulus that eventually comes to trigger a conditioned response

learning to distinguish between two similar stimulus one which predicts reinforcement and one which does not

the unlearned response that occurs naturally in response to the unconditioned stimulus

the stimulus that naturally triggers a response; the smelling of food (makes you hungry)

(instinct) any unlearned behavior

the protocol for determining when responses or behaviors will be reinforced; ex. variable ratio

a tendency to approach situations the same way because that way worked in the past.

the psychological process in which there is a decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated exposure to that stimulus over time

when a subject learns a specific behavior to a specific stimulus and then responds similarly to other similar stimulus; ex. fear of pitbulls after an attack leads to fear of all dogs

a tendency to maintain a balance or constant internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry around a certain level

breaking down a complex behavior and rewarding each individual action in order to produce adesired response

(reflex) any unlearned behavior

any reinforce that gains its reinforcing properties through association with aprimary reinforce (reinforcement is not a necessity such as food/water)

Withholding something essential from an organism in order to increase responsiveness.

a learning process early in life where species specific patterns of behavior are established

a reinforcement that satisfies a biological need

A delay between presenting stimulus and reinforcement

the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus, as in the cocktailparty effect

the reappearance of the conditioned response after a rest period or period of lessened response.

a special cage designed by Skinner that has a bar or pedal on one wall that, when pressed, causes a little mechanism to release a food pellet into the cage; used with operant condition

the belief that all behavior is the result of operant or classically conditioned processes.

a stimulus is removed or "subtracted" from the situation as a form of reinforcement.

part of the nervous system that contains the brain and spinal cord

chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, there by influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon that is generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon’s membrane

The side of the brain that focus on the literal meanings, exact calculation, cannot think abstractly or symbolically.

the “little brain” attached to the rear of the brainstem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance

the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface. ‘These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp

the part of the cerebral cortex that deals primarily with emotional processing and social conduct

a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes

the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein

chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active

cool

a sex hormone, secreted ingreater amounts by females than by males; In nonhuman female mammals, estrogen levels peak during ovulation, promoting sexual receptivity

the frontal region ofthe cerebral cortex mostly responsible for judgment, muscle movements, and planning

a neural structure thatdirects bodily functions such as eating, drinking, and body temperature

the back region ofthe brain primarily responsible for the process of sight

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing itsenergy in stressful situations

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs

thread like structuresmade of DNA molecules that contain the genes

a sex gland, either testis orovaries, in which gametes are produced

the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter central nervous system. It plays a role in regulating neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system.