402 • GlossaryNatural selection, theory of The idea, originating with Darwin, that genetically based
characteristics that enhance an animal’s ability to survive, and therefore reproduce, will
be passed on to future generations (3)
Nerve fiber See Axon. (2)
Nerve impulse An electrical response that is propagated down the length of an axon (nerve
fiber). Also called an Action potential. (2)
Nerve net A network of continuously interconnected nerve fibers (as contrasted with neural
networks, in which fibers are connected by synapses). (2)
Neural circuit Group of interconnected neurons that are responsible for neural processing. (2)
Neural code The representation of specific stimuli or experiences by the firing of neurons. (2)
Neuroeconomics An approach to studying decision making that combines research from the
fields of psychology, neuroscience, and economics. (13)
Neuron Cell that is specialized to receive and transmit information in the nervous system. (2)
Neuron doctrine The idea that individual cells called neurons transmit signals in the nervous
system, and that these cells are not continuous with other cells as proposed by nerve net
theory. (2)
Neuropsychology The study of the behavioral effects of brain damage in humans. (3)
Neurotransmitter Chemical that is released at the synapse in response to incoming action
potentials. (2)
Nondeclarative memory Memory that occurs when an experience affects a person’s behavior,
even though the person is not aware that he or she has had the experience. (6)Object discrimination problem A problem in which the task is to remember an object based
on its shape and choose it when presented with another object after a delay. Associated with
research on the what processing stream. (3)
Object-based attention Model of attention proposing that the enhancing effects of attention
can be located on a particular object. This contrasts with location-based attention, in which
attention is focused on a location. (4)
Oblique effect The finding that vertical and horizontal orientations can be perceived more
easily than other (slanted) orientations. (3)
Occipital lobe The lobe at the back of the brain that is devoted primarily to analyzing
incoming visual information. (2)
Omission bias The tendency to do nothing to avoid having to make a decision that could be
interpreted as causing harm. (13)
Operant conditioning Type of conditioning championed by B. F. Skinner, which focuses on
how behavior is strengthened by presentation of positive reinforcers, such as food or social
approval, or withdrawal of negative reinforcers, such as a shock or social rejection. (1)
Operators In problem solving, permissible moves that can be made toward a problem’s
solution. (12)
Opt-in procedure Procedure in which a person must take an active step to choose a course of
action—for example, choosing to be an organ donor. (13)
Opt-out procedure Procedure in which a person must take an active step to avoid a course of
action—for example, choosing not to be an organ donor. (13)a Connectionist Network Activation of Property Units in
See also Connectionist network; Hidden units; Input units. (9)
Overt attention Shifting of attention by moving the eyes. Contrasts with Covert attention. (4)Paired-associate learning A learning task in which participants are first presented with pairs of
words, then one word of each pair is presented and the task is to recall the other word. (7, 10)
Parahippocampal place area (PPA) An area in the temporal lobe that contains neurons that
are selectively activated by pictures of indoor and outdoor scenes. (2)
Parallel distributed processing (PDP) See Connectionism; see also Connectionist network. (9)
Parietal lobe The lobe at the top of the brain that contains mechanisms responsible for
sensations caused by stimulation of the skin, and also some aspects of visual information. (2)
Parsing The mental grouping of words in a sentence into phrases. The way a sentence is
parsed determines its meaning. (11)33559_14_glossary_p391-410.indd 40233559_14_glossary_p391-410.indd 402 13/04/10 5:47 PM13/04/10 5:47 PM
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