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Basal ganglia—clusters of neurons deep in the brain (including the caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, and substantia nigra) that regulate initiation of movements, balance, eye movements, and posture.

Basic-level category—a concept that makes important distinctions between different categories—between a superordinate and subordinate category.

Behavior modification—therapy in which the client selects a goal and as he/she gets closer to that goal receives small rewards until finally reaching the intended goal; also a field that applies the behavioral approach scientifically to solve problems (applied behavior analysis).

Behavior therapy—treatment approach that uses applications of learning principles to eliminate unwanted behaviors.

Behavioral approach—psychological perspective concerned with behavioral reactions to stimuli, learning as a result of experience.

Behaviorism—the view that psychology should be an objective science based on observable and measurable behaviors.

Belief bias—the tendency for our preexisting beliefs to distort logical reasoning, making illogical conclusions seem valid or logical conclusions seem invalid.

Belief perseverance—the tendency for people to cling to a particular belief even after information that led to the formation of that belief has been discredited.

Big 5 or OCEAN—trait theory of personality that says our personalities are composed of different amounts of common traits—openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

Binocular cues—clues about distance that require two eyes and that include retinal disparity and convergence.

Biofeedback—a system for electronically recording, amplifying, and giving back information regarding a subtle physiological state.

Biological preparedness—the species-specific predisposition to learn in certain ways but not in others.

Bipolar cells—second layer of neurons in the retina that transmit impulses from rods and cones to ganglion cells.

Bipolar disorder—a mood disorder characterized by extreme mood swings from unusual excitement to serious depression.

Bisexuality—a tendency to direct sexual desire toward people of both sexes.

Blastula—the hollow ball stage of cell division during first two weeks after conception.

Blind spot—region of the retina, without receptor cells or vision, where the optic nerve leaves the eye.

Blocking—the inability to condition a second stimulus because of prior conditioning to another stimulus that is also present during training.

Blood-brain barrier—a collection of cells that press together against the walls of capillaries to block many substances from entering the brain, while allowing others to pass.

Borderline personality disorder—maladaptive behavior characterized by rapidly shifting and unstable mood, self-concept, and interpersonal relationships, as well as impulsiveness; self-mutilation and anger directed inwards; promiscuity and other self-destructive habits like drug addiction common.

Bottom-up processing—data-driven information processing that begins with sensory receptors and works up to the brain’s integration of sensory information to construct perceptions.

Brain—portion of the central nervous system above the spinal cord.

Brainstem—also called the hindbrain, includes the medulla, pons, and cerebellum.

Brainstorming—a popular technique practiced during creative problem solving that encourages the generation of many ideas in a nonjudgmental environment.

Broadbent filter theory of memory—inputs are analyzed for each stage of memory and most filtered out; only the most important are encoded.

Broca’s area—region in left frontal lobe that controls production of speech.

Bulimia nervosa—an eating disorder characterized by a pattern of eating binges involving intake of thousands of calories, followed by purging either by vomiting or using laxatives.

Bystander effect—tendency for an observer to be less likely to give aid if other observers are present.

Cannon-Bard theory—theory that