All Flashcards
What is neuroplasticity?
The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.
What is neurogenesis?
The growth and formation of new neurons in the brain.
What is consciousness?
Your awareness of yourself and your environment.
What is the mere-exposure effect?
The tendency to prefer familiar stimuli over new ones.
What is priming?
Exposure to one stimulus influences our response to a later stimulus.
What is blindsight?
Blind people can describe the path of an object they can't see.
What is cognitive neuroscience?
The study of the biological processes that underlie our ability to think, especially through neural connections.
What is addiction?
Compulsive craving of drugs or behaviors, despite negative consequences.
Define psychological dependence.
A desire for the drug.
What is the preconscious level of awareness?
Information not currently in your awareness but easily retrievable.
Compare neuroplasticity and neurogenesis.
Neuroplasticity is about rewiring existing connections, while neurogenesis is about creating new neurons.
Compare conscious and unconscious processing.
Conscious processing is limited, while unconscious processing can handle many details simultaneously.
Compare the conscious and preconscious levels of awareness.
The conscious level is what you are currently aware of, while the preconscious level is information easily retrievable.
Compare the preconscious and unconscious levels of awareness.
Preconscious information is easily retrievable, while unconscious information is not readily accessible.
Compare subconscious and nonconscious levels of awareness.
Subconscious influences behavior, nonconscious controls body processes.
Compare spontaneous and physiological states of consciousness.
Spontaneous arises naturally (daydreaming), physiological induced by bodily changes (hallucinations).
Compare psychological and physiological states of consciousness.
Psychological induced by mental techniques (meditation), physiological induced by bodily changes (hallucinations).
Compare psychological and spontaneous states of consciousness.
Psychological induced by mental techniques (meditation), spontaneous arises naturally (daydreaming).
Compare psychological and psychological dependence.
Psychological dependence is a desire for a drug, psychological states of consciousness are induced by mental techniques.
Compare cognitive neuroscience and dual processing.
Cognitive neuroscience studies biological processes of thought, dual processing suggests conscious and unconscious tracks.
How is neuroplasticity applied in real life?
Blind people have enhanced hearing and deaf people have enhanced visual perception.
How does the mere-exposure effect apply in real life?
That song you didn't like at first but now love.
How does priming apply in real life?
A mental shortcut.
How does dual processing apply in real life?
Driving a car. You're consciously aware of the road, but your unconscious mind is handling many of the small details.
Give an example of a spontaneous state of consciousness.
Daydreaming.
Give an example of a physiological state of consciousness.
Hallucinations.
Give an example of a psychological state of consciousness.
Meditation.
How can neurogenesis impact an individual's abilities?
It can help in healing brain injuries.
How does neuroplasticity impact an individual's behavior?
The brain rewiring itself after a stroke.
How does the conscious level of awareness influence our thoughts?
It guides actions.