Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning that autistic individuals possess a varied set of strengths and challenges. The concept of neurodiversity recognizes autism as a natural variation in human brain development rather than a disorder or deficit.| Simply Psychology
Wernicke’s area is a structure of the brain that is believed to be involved in language comprehension, specifically the comprehension of speech sounds. It is also considered to be the receptive language center of the brain.| Simply Psychology
Gyri (singular: gyrus) and sulci (singular: sulcus) are the raised and folded structures, respectively, on the cerebral cortex of the brain.| Simply Psychology
Broca's area is a small but vital region in the brain responsible for producing speech and processing language. Located in the left frontal lobe, it corresponds to Brodmann areas 44 and 45. Most people rely on this part of the brain to form words, construct sentences, and organize grammar. Without it, fluent communication becomes difficult.| Simply Psychology
This section provides revision resources for AQA A-level psychology and the Schizophrenia chapter. The revision notes cover the AQA exam board and the new specification.| Simply Psychology
Long-term memory (LTM) is the final stage of the multi-store memory model proposed by Atkinson-Shiffrin, providing the lasting retention of information and| Simply Psychology
Declarative memory, also known as explicit memory, is a type of long-term memory that involves conscious recall. It's divided into two categories: semantic memory for facts and general knowledge, and episodic memory for personal experiences and specific events.| Simply Psychology
The cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of the brain, composed of folded gray matter. It plays a crucial role in various complex cognitive processes including thought, perception, language, memory, attention, consciousness, and advanced motor functions.| Simply Psychology
In psychology, the hippocampus is a crucial structure within the brain's medial temporal lobe. It plays a vital role in forming and retrieving memories, spatial navigation, and emotional responses. Damage to the hippocampus can lead to memory impairments and difficulty forming new memories, highlighting its importance in learning and cognition.| Simply Psychology
An endless array of internal and external stimuli, thoughts, and emotions constantly bombards us. Given this abundance of available data, it is amazing that| Simply Psychology
The amygdala is a complex structure of cells nestled in the middle of the brain, adjacent to the hippocampus (which is associated with memory formation). It is part of the limbic system and plays a key role in processing emotions and emotional reactions.| Simply Psychology
The limbic system is a complex set of brain structures involved in emotion, motivation, memory, and behavior regulation. Key components include the amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, and cingulate gyrus. It's central to emotional processing, memory formation, and various autonomic functions, bridging higher cognitive processes and primal emotions.| Simply Psychology
The brain's reward system is a network of structures responsible for pleasure, motivation, and reinforcement learning. Central to this system are the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) and the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc). When a rewarding stimulus is perceived, dopamine is released from the VTA, acting on the NAc, leading to feelings of pleasure. Dysfunctions in this pathway can underlie addiction and other behavioral disorders.| Simply Psychology
Fear is a basic, emotional response to a perceived threat or danger. It triggers the body's 'fight-or-flight' response, leading to physiological changes like increased heart rate and adrenaline levels. Fear is an essential survival mechanism, helping individuals react to potentially life-threatening situations. It can respond to immediate, tangible threats and more abstract or future concerns. Fear can also be learned through past experiences or observations.| Simply Psychology
The fight or flight response is a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival. It prepares your body to either confront or flee from the threat by triggering changes like increased heart rate, quickened breathing, and heightened alertness.| Simply Psychology