ATTENTIONAL CAPTURE
the unintentional focusing of attention, for example by a change in a stimulus, which interrupts other processing - for example,…
ATTENUATOR
refers to a calibrated device that accurately controls the intensity of tones or lights on electronic instruments, such as audiometers,…
ATTRACTION RELATIONS
refers to patterns of liking-disliking, acceptance-rejection, and inclusion-exclusion among members of a given group. Such patterns may also be known…
ATYPICAL CONDUCT DISORDER
in the DSM-lll, this represented a diagnostic category for a disorder that in the DSM-IV-TR, is classified as disruptive behavior…
AUBERT PHENOMENON
the illusion that occurs when a vertical line appears to tilt in the opposing direction from the direction the head…
AUDIOVERBAL AMNESIA
one type of auditory aphasia in which the individual may be able to retain and repeat certain single words presented…
AUDITORY FATIGUE
a relatively transient form of hearing loss, that is usually caused by exposure to a loud noise. It is marked…
AUDITORY SENSATION UNIT
refers to the just noticeable difference in sound intensity. See also difference threshold.
AUTHORITY PRINCIPLE
refers to the concept that each member of an ordered social hierarchy is expected to comply with the wishes of…
AUTOCORRELATION
n. in statistics and experimental design, the correlation of observations with themselves over time - usually experienced in repeated measures…
AUTOMAINTENANCE
n. refers to the maintenance of behaviors established by behavior-independent stimulus-reinforcer pairings. For example, key-pecking behavior in pigeons that is…
AUTOMATIC SPEAKER RECOGNITION
the concept of a computer recognizing a human voice and the characteristics of his or her speech. Also known as…
AUTONOETIC MEMORY
the recall of a personal memory and the simultaneous level of conscious awareness that one is reliving a moment from…
AUTONOMOUS DEPRESSION
1. a major depressive episode that that may come on suddenly, but lack an identifiable obvious psychosocial stressor. See also…
AUTOREGRESSIVE MODEL
a model used in a time series analysis. In this mode, each successive observation depends, at least in part, on…
AVERSION SYSTEM
refers to one conception of neuroticism, as represented by an individual's relative sensitivity to aversive (negative, punishing) cues and stimuli…
AVOIDANT ATTACHMENT STYLE
refers to an interpersonal style characterized by a discomfort in being close to others - or having rigid interpersonal boundaries.
AXON REFLEX
refers to a peripheral nerve reflex, in which stimulation of nerve fibers cause impulses to pass along the fibers to…