Neurology

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APPLIED RESEARCH

research aimed toward answering a practical question, for example, a clinical question, rather than developing a theory or obtaining knowledge

AROUSAL

1. a state of physiological alertness and readiness for action. 2. a pervasive state of cortical responsiveness believed to be

ASOMATOGNOSIA

n. describes a lack of sensory awareness in one

ASTROCYTE

a star-shaped glial cell (see neuroglia) that is involved in numerous processes (extensions) that run in all directions. The processes

ATTENTIONAL NARROWING

the restricting of attention in high-stress situations to a small set of critical displays. If critical information occurs outside this

AUDITORY AMNESIA

refers to the permanent loss of the ability to comprehend sounds or speech. See also Wernicke

AUTISM

n. 1. a behavioral syndrome of neurological dysfunction characterized by impaired reciprocal social interactions, impaired verbal and nonverbal communication, impoverished

AUTONOMY VERSUS SHAME AND DOUBT

refers to the second of Erik Erikson

BABBLING

refers to pre-speech sounds, such as mamama, made by infants from around 6 months of age. Babbling is usually regarded

BASAL MENTAL AGE

n. level of mental age at which all items in a standardized intelligence test can be passed. Specifically, it applies

BEHAVIORAL CONTRAST

n. in research, refers to a phenomenon which illustrates the possible consequences of reinforcement. In positive contrast, the response increases

BELIEF-DESIRE REASONING

n. the process wherein a person tends to predict and explain someone else's behavior based on how the former understands

BIOCHEMICAL APPROACH

n. an approach to the study of behavior patterns and mental disorders as viewed from the biochemical changes which occur

BIOLOGICALLY SECONDARY ABILITY

n. a specialized form of ability which develops from a primary one. Since it involves mastery of the skill, it

BLOCH'S LAW

n. in vision, refers to the temporal law of summation which describes how the duration of time must be doubled

BOUNDED RATIONALITY

n. a concept about decision-making in which human rationality is constrained by the amount of information they have access to,

BUFFER

n. a reserve or temporary storage of memory for future use. In computer science, also refers to that region of

CAREER PATTERN THEORY

n. any of the many theories which attempt to enumerate and describe the stages people go through in developing their

CATTELL-HORN THEORY OF INTELLIGENCE

n. a theory which proposes that general intelligence can be divided into two broad sets of abilities, namely: (1) G-f,

CENTERING

n. in sports psychology, refers to a technique that enhances athletic peformance. It instructs and assists athletes on how to