epiphenomenon

n. (pl. epiphenomena) a mere by-product of a process that has no effect on the process itself. The term is used most frequently to refer to mental events considered as products of brain processes. Thus, though mental events are real in some sense, they are not real in the same way that biological states and events are real, and not necessary to the explanation of mental events themselves. Epiphenomena are conceived of as having no causal power. See epiphenomenalism. —epiphenomenal adj.

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Psychology term of the day

August 31st 2024

learning paradigm

an experimental design used to research incidental learning. Groups of participants are shown the same stimuli (e.g., a list of 20 words) but asked to perform different tasks with them (e.g., picture associated words, determine the average number of letters in each word). Afterward, the participants unexpectedly are asked to recall as many of the presented items as possible.