ASSOCIATION NUCLEI
nuclei of the thalamus that does not receive direct input from the ascending sensory systems. These nuclei connect widely to…
ASSOCIATIVE THINKING
an unconscious or uncontrolled cognitive activity in which the mind wanders
ASTIGMATISM
n. a visual disorder that occurs when the light rays of a visual stimulus do not all focus on a…
ATAXIC GAIT
a wide-based, staggering gait, that is often seen in individuals with cerebellar damage, or ataxia.
ATTENDANT CARE
1. nonmedical, in-home personal care provided to individuals with a physical or mental disability. Typically, these people can live independently…
ATTITUDE MEASURE
a procedure in which individuals' attitudes and responses are assigned quantitative values. Several broad categories of this type of measure…
ATTRIBUTABLE RISK
in epidemiology, the incidence rate of a disease or disorder that can be considered to have been caused by exposure…
ATYPICAL DISSOCIATIVE DISORDER
in the DSM-lll, this represented a category of dissociative disorders. In the DSM-IV-TR these are labeled dissociative disorder not otherwise…
AUDITORY ABILITIES
refers to the abilities to encode and discriminate different sounds or tones. These abilities, according to some theories of intelligence…
AUDITORY FLICKER
refers to sound presented as discrete units (with gaps) rather than as continuous noise. Fusion occurs when, despite the gaps,…
AUDITORY STIMULUS
any stimulus capable of eliciting auditory sensation. This usually refers to a distinct airborne sound, but can also include vibration…
AUSTRIAN SCHOOL
the theoretical developments in psychology associated principally with the universities of Vienna and Graz in Austria around the end of…
AUTISTIC DISORDER
a behavioral syndrome of neurological dysfunction characterized by impaired reciprocal social interactions, impaired verbal and nonverbal communication, impoverished or diminished…
AUTOMATED DESENSITIZATION
the use of devices like audiotapes, videotapes, and digitized media to mimic the presentation of anxiety-provoking and relaxing stimuli during…
AUTOMATIC WRITING
the act of writing while one's attention is not focused - for example, writing without conscious awareness. This occurs during…