APOPATHETIC BEHAVIOR
behavior influenced and directed by the presence of other people - although not directed toward them. This may manifest in…
APPEARANCE-REALITY DISTINCTION
the implicit knowledge that the appearance of an object does not necessarily correspond to the reality. For example, a sponge…
APPLIED RESEARCH
research aimed toward answering a practical question, for example, a clinical question, rather than developing a theory or obtaining knowledge…
APPROACH MOTIVATION
motivation stemming from the expectation or desiring of a reward, which is a condition for goal-directed behavior.
ARCHAIC INHERITANCE
refers to the presumed phylogenetic influences inherent in the development of the individual
ARCUATE ZONE OF THE BRAIN
the bow-shaped portion of the reticular formation on the back of the brain that extends from the spinal cord to…
ARIPIPRAZOLE
n. an atypical antipsychotic agent that is thought to bind to the presynaptic D2 dopamine autoreceptor, and thereby inhibit the…
AROUSAL-REDUCTION MECHANISM
any stimulus or reaction that decreases the degree of arousal within an individual after arousal has reached an uncomfortably high…
ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATION (AVM)
an abnormal, congenital tangle of arteries and veins that are directly connected and lack any intervening capillaries. Such malformations may…
ASCENDING RETICULAR ACTIVATING SYSTEM (ARAS)
refers to the pathways that transmit nervous impulses from the reticular formation of the midbrain in an ascending manner through…
ASPERGER'S DISORDER
a pervasive developmental disorder associated with varying degrees of deficits in social, emotional and conversational skills, difficulties with set-shifting, and…
ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT
an instrument that is typically used in the evaluation of ability, achievement, interests, personality, psychopathology, or some other factor.
ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH IN OTOLARYNGOLOGY (ARO)
an association of scientists and physicians who collectively perform and share research on hearing, balance, speech, taste, and smell. The…
ASSOCIATIVE MEMORY
1. a memory of a past event or place that may occur by recalling something associated with it. 2. retrieval…
ASTHENIC TYPE
a body type characterized by a long- limbed, narrow-chested, weak looking physique. According to some typologies, such individuals tend to…
ASYMMETRICAL DISTRIBUTION
describes a statistical distribution whereby the frequency of scores above the mean does not equal that below the mean.