narcissistic personality disorder A personality disorder characterized by an overblown sense of one’s own importance. 15
narcolepsy A condition in which a wide-awake person loses muscle control and lapses into sleep. 5
nativism A theory that language acquisition is controlled by the genetically programmed development of certain neural circuits in the brain. 9
nativist view A theory of perceptual development, linked to the direct perspective, which holds that perceptual processes are accounted for partly by learning and partly by the ways in which sensory systems work. 4
natural concepts Categories used in daily thought to classify objects. They are believed to be encoded through prototypes, not a list of defining features. 8
naturalistic observation The study of subjects in a natural setting without interference or distraction from the investigator. 2
negative punishment A punishment that involves the removal of some desired stimulus. 6
negative reinforcement Reinforcement that strengthens a response because the response removes some painful or unpleasant stimulus or enables the individual to avoid it. 6
negative state relief model A model of behavior holding that we seek relief from negative moods by doing something positive, something that will lift our spirits. 18
nerve deafness A hearing disorder resulting from damage to the basilar membrane and hair cells. 4
nerves Bundles of neurons that transmit messages by electrochemical impulses from one part of the body to another. 3
neuroscience An approach to understanding personality that explains thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in terms of the work-ings of the brain and nervous system. 1
neuroscientists Psychologists who study how basic processes are controlled by the nervous system, of which the brain is the central part. 1
neurotransmitters Chemical substances that diffuse across synapses and activate receptor sites on adjacent cells. 3
nodes of Ranvier Gaps in the myelin sheath of an axon that help speed the action potential impulses. 3
non-REM sleep All the stages of sleep, collectively, when rapid eye movement (REM) is absent. 5
nonshared environmental influences The effects of unique experiences of each individual. 2
norepinephrine A monoamine (neurotransmitter) found in the limbic system and frontal cortex of the brain. It plays a role in arousal and mood. 3
normal curve A line graph of a distribution having a bell-shaped curve. 2
normal distribution A statistical distribution showing a normal curve. 2
norms Standards of performance for a test. 14