Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

neonate

 
A newborn child (Module 37).

neurogenesis

 
The creation of new neurons 
(Module 9).

neurons

 
Nerve cells, the basic elements of the 
nervous system (Module 7).

neuroplasticity

 
Changes in the brain that occur 
throughout the life span relating to the addition 
of new neurons, new interconnections between 

long-term memory

 
Memory that stores infor-
mation on a relatively permanent basis, 
although it may be diffi cult to retrieve 
(Module 20).

major depression

 
A severe form of depression 
that interferes with concentration, decision 
making, and sociability (Module 47).

mania

 
An extended state of intense, wild 
elation (Module 47).

manifest content of dreams

 
According to 
Freud, the apparent story line of dreams 
(Module 14).

masturbation

 
Sexual self-stimulation 
(Module 34).

mean

 
The average of all scores, arrived at by 
adding scores together and dividing by the 
number of scores (Module 56).

means-ends analysis

 
Involves repeated tests 
for differences between the desired outcome 
and what currently exists (Module 24).

median

 
The point in a distribution of scores 
that divides the distribution exactly in half 
when the scores are listed in numerical order 
(Module 56).

medical perspective

 
The perspective that sug-
gests that when an individual displays symp-
toms of abnormal behavior, the root cause will 
be found in a physical examination of the indi-
vidual, which may reveal a hormonal imbal-
ance, a chemical defi ciency, or a brain injury 
(Module 46).