Midterm Review

AP Psych midterm review

Wilhelm Wundt

Father of psychology

Structuralism

Analyzing sensations, images, and feelings into their most basic elements

Introspection

Looking inward at one's own mental processes

Functionalism

Examining the underlying causes and practical consequences of certain behaviors and mental strategies

Sigmund Freud

Founder of psychoanalysis

Psychodynamic

Examining childhood experiences and fixations to understand behavior

Behavioral/Learning

Examining how individuals think and process information to understand behavior

Cognitive

Examining brain chemistry and hormonal issues to understand behavior

Humanistic

Examining if behavior helps individuals reach their own potential

Biological

Examining genetic predisposition and brain chemistry to understand depression

Socio-cultural/social psychological

Examining how gender and ethnic group affect behavior

Case Study

Detailed investigation into one or a few people

Naturalistic Observation

Studying subjects in their natural environment

Survey

Collecting data through questionnaires or interviews

Correlation

Examining the relationship between two variables

Validity

Accuracy of a study's results

Reliability

Consistency of a study's results

Positive correlation

Both variables increase or decrease together

Negative correlation

Variables are inversely related

Correlational coefficient

Numerical indicator of the strength of a relationship between two variables

Experiment

Method that proves causation

Operational definition

Specific description of the concepts involving the conditions of a scientific study

Confounding variables

Variables other than the independent variable that can affect the dependent variable

Independent variable

Factor being manipulated in an experiment

Dependent variable

Measured effect of the independent variable in an experiment

Experimental group

Group that receives the independent variable in an experiment

Control group

Group that does not receive the independent variable in an experiment

Random selection

Ensures equal chance of being selected for a survey

Double-blind study

Avoids experimenter bias and expectancy effects

Mean

Average of the scores

Median

Middle score when all scores are put numerically in order

Mode

Most frequently occurring score in the distribution

Range

Difference between the highest and lowest score

Standard Deviation

Average distance of scores around the mean

Statistically significant

Likelihood that the result occurred by chance

Positively skewed distribution

Mean is greater than the mode or median, longer tail to the right

Negatively skewed distribution

Mean is less than the median and mode, longer tail to the left

Sensory neuron

Brings information to the brain

Motor neuron

Carries information from the brain to the muscles and glands

Interneuron

Communicates information between neurons

Soma

Processes nutrients and provides energy for the cell to function

Myelin sheath

Covers axons and increases communication speed

Dendrites

Receive information from other neurons

Axon

Carries information away from the cell body

Axon terminal buttons

Location of the synaptic vesicles

Synaptic vesicles

Contain neurotransmitters

Synapse

Tiny space between two neurons

Glial cells

Provide structural support to neurons

Action potential

Neural impulse generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon's membrane

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that travel across the synapse

Dopamine

Excessive levels linked to schizophrenia, low levels linked to Parkinson's disease

Acetylcholine

Severe depletion linked to Alzheimer's disease, stimulates muscles to contract

Endorphins

Reduce the perception of pain, associated with the "runner's high"

Serotonin

Abnormal levels linked to depression, involved in sleep

Synaptic gap

Tiny space between two neurons

Pituitary gland

Body's master gland

Adrenal gland

Sits on top of the kidneys and releases norepinephrine

Hypothalamus

Controls the endocrine system

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

Measures brain waves

CT scan

X-ray of brain tissue

PET scan

Measures brain activity by tracking radioactive material attached to glucose

fMRI

Measures brain activity by tracking changes in blood flow and blood oxygen levels

Lesions

Used to remove harmed and unharmed areas of the brain for comparison

Frontal lobe, Parietal lobe, Temporal lobe, Occipital lobe

The four lobes of the brain

Visual Cortex

The part of the brain that allows you to understand the words that you are reading.

Occipital Lobe

The lobe responsible for understanding the words that you are reading.

Prefrontal Cortex

The lobe responsible for thinking of the answer to a question.

Frontal Lobe

The lobe responsible for thinking of the answer to a question.

Right Hemisphere

The hemisphere that controls left-hand touch.

Somatosensory Cortex

The part of the brain that allows you to feel a bug crawling on your arm.

Parietal Lobe

The lobe responsible for feeling a bug crawling on your arm.

Hypothalamus

The part of the brain that controls the endocrine system glands.

Broca's Area

The part of the brain responsible for our ability to speak.

Left Hemisphere

The hemisphere more active when reading a question.

Reticular Formation

The part of the brain responsible for our level of consciousness.

Cerebellum and Pons

The parts of the brain important for a gymnast performing on a balance beam.

Left Hemisphere

The hemisphere that controls speech.

Hippocampus

The part of the brain that creates new memories.

Right Hemisphere

The hemisphere most active while listening to music.

Cerebellum

Controls balance and coordination while driving a car.

Medulla

Controls autonomic life functions like breathing and heartbeat while driving a car.

Pons

Bridges information between the brainstem and other parts of the brain while driving a car.

Reticular Formation

Filters incoming stimuli and controls alertness while driving a car.

Thalamus

Relays information to the rest of the brain about incoming stimuli while driving a car.

Hypothalamus

Maintains homeostasis in the body while driving a car.

Amygdala

Linked with emotions and impacts anger and fear while driving a car.

Hippocampus

Stores explicit memories while driving a car.

Corpus Callosum

Connects the two hemispheres of the brain while driving a car.

Motor Cortex

Controls voluntary movements while driving a car.

Prefrontal Cortex

Regulates decision making and problem-solving skills while driving a car.

Somatosensory Cortex

Registers body touches and sensations of movement while driving a car.

Visual Cortex

Receives visual information while driving a car.

Auditory Cortex

Processes sounds while driving a car.

Anne's situation

Left hemisphere, visual cortex, auditory cortex, motor cortex, cerebellum, pons.

Crazy Eddie's situation

Motor cortex, cerebellum, pons, auditory cortex, hypothalamus, medulla, reticular formation.

Jill's situation

Wernicke's area, amygdala, hypothalamus, thalamus, frontal cortex.

Dual processing

The idea that we have a conscious and unconscious level of decision-making, with the unconscious level often initiating actions before the conscious level.

Mr

(a) Inability to produce speech, indicating damage to Broca's area.

Alyssa's experience

Inability to recognize faces, indicating damage to the right hemisphere.

Split brain patient

Corpus callosum is cut in the surgery.