PSYCH 101 Study Guide - Electroencephalography, Psychophysics, Olfaction

• School: UW
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH 101
• Professor: Voorhies

Document Summary

Information processing in neurons: within neurons, resting potential = 70mv inside, threshold of excitation is crossed, action potential = positive ions enter, travel down the length of the axon to terminal buttons, between neurons, synaptic transmission process, neurotransmitters excitatory and inhibitory. Structure of the brain: roughly divided into hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain, hindbrain oldest/survival, medulla coordinates heart rate, circulation and breathing, reticular formation wakefulness, alertness, cerebellum movement, midbrain orienting to pleasurable/threatening stimuli, tectum, forebrain = cerebral cortex + subcortical structures, subcortical. Signal: sound wave: frequency = wavelength, pitch how high or low a sound is, amplitude = wave height, loudness a sound"s intensity, timbre = wave complexity, complexity/quality/uniqueness. Ear and cochlea: sound waves get funneled into auditory canal; eardrum vibrates, ear bones (ossicles) mechanically transmit vibrations to cochlea, cochlea is the fluid filled organ of transduction, vibrations cause basilar membrane to undulate, hair cells respond by releasing neurotransmitter, transducing signal to brain.