Archives

Baseline The average of a variable over time before any experimental intervention; is used to compare with averages after intervention so as…

Basal metabolic rate The average minimal expenditure of energy of a body awake and at rest. It is measured after fasting a…

Basal ganglia Three pairs of nuclei at the base of the cerebral cortex including the caudate nuclei, putamen, and globus pallidus with…

Basal forebrain The area at the bottom of the forebrain near the hypothalamus which includes the nucleus basalis, diagonal band, medial septum,…

Baroreceptor A pressure-sensitive nerve cell in the heart and large arteries that send impulses toward the hypothalamus when blood pressure drops, which…

Barnum effect The tendency of people to believe vague and general predictions or comments about them is both true and unique. This…

Barber’s pole effect The illusion that a cylinder with spiral markings, such as a barber’s pole, appears to be moving up or…

Bandwagon effect In social psychology and political science, an accelerating tendency of more and more individuals to join in the behavior of…

Balance theory A theory in social cognition in which people are noted to create and be comfortable with cognitive systems which are…

Balanced bilingual A term used to describe an individual who has the same fluency in two languages, typically with native fluency and…