AP PSYCH ALL TERMS

Single-Blind Study

Participants are unaware of which group (treatment or control) they are in.

Double-Blind Study

Neither participants nor researchers know who is in the treatment or control group.

Independent Variable

Variable manipulated by the researcher.

Dependent Variable

Variable measured to see if its affected.

Confounding Variable

Uncontrolled variable influencing the relationship.

Correlations

Statistical measure of how variables fluctuate together.

Standard Deviation

Measure of variation in a set of values.

Statistically Significant

Result unlikely due to chance.

Mean

Average of a set of numbers.

Mode

Most frequent value in a set of numbers.

Median

Middle value in a sorted set of numbers.

Operational Definitions

Detailed definition of a measure.

Placebo Effect

Beneficial effect due to belief in treatment.

Percentile

Value below which a given percentage falls.

Skewed Distributions

Asymmetrical distribution of data.

Random Assignment

Assigning participants by chance.

t-test

Test for significant difference between two means.

p-value

Probability of results if null hypothesis is true.

Hypothesis (Null)

Statement of no effect or difference.

Experiment Groups

Group receiving the treatment.

Control Groups

Group used as a baseline for comparison.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing subjects in their natural environment.

Case Study

In-depth investigation of a single individual or group.

Cross-sectional

Studies that examine data from a population at one specific point in time.

Longitudinal

A research design that involves repeated observations of the same variables over long periods of time.

Ethical Guidelines

Principles of conduct governing a group.

Behaviorist Psychology

Emphasizes objective, observable behaviors.

Cognitive Psychology

Focuses on mental processes like memory and problem-solving.

Evolutionary Psychology

Explores how evolution influences behavior.

Humanistic Psychology

Emphasizes individual growth and self-actualization.

Socio-Cultural Psych

Studies how cultural and social contexts affect behavior.

Psychoanalysis (Freud)

Focuses on the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences.

Structuralism (Wundt)

Identifies the basic elements of consciousness.

Functionalism (James)

Focuses on the purpose of consciousness and behavior in adapting to the environment.

Psychiatrist

Medical doctor specializing in mental health.

Counseling psychologist

Provides therapy and counseling services.

Axon Terminal

The endpoint of a neuron's axon, where signals are transmitted to other neurons or cells.

Re-uptake

The process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed back into the presynaptic neuron after transmitting a signal.

Antagonists

Substances that block or inhibit the action of neurotransmitters or other signaling molecules.

Agonists

Substances that activate receptors and enhance the effects of neurotransmitters or other signaling molecules.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons at synapses.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with reward, motivation, and motor control.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that affects mood, sleep, appetite, and social behavior.

AcH (Acetylcholine)

A neurotransmitter involved in muscle contraction and memory.

GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)

The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

EEG & PET

Techniques to record electrical activity in the brain (EEG) and measure metabolic activity (PET).

MRI & CAT

Imaging techniques providing detailed structural views of the brain.

Broca’s Area

Brain region associated with speech production.

Wernicke’s Area

Brain region associated with language comprehension.

Aphasia

Language disorder affecting the ability to communicate.

Limbic - Hypothalamus

Brain structure involved in regulating bodily functions.

Limbic - Thalamus

Brain structure that relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex.

Limbic - Amygdala

Brain structure involved in processing emotions.

Medulla

Part of the brainstem responsible for vital functions.

Pons

Part of the brainstem involved in motor control.

Hippocampus

Brain structure involved in forming and storing memories.

Cerebellum

Brain structure that coordinates movement and balance.

4 Lobes (F.P.O.T.)

The frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes of the cerebral cortex.

Corpus Callosum

The band of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres of the brain.

Hemispheres (R+L)

The right and left halves of the brain.

Plasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.

Sympathetic

The division of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for fight or flight.

Parasympathetic

The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body after a crisis.

Absolute Threshold

Minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time.

Difference Threshold

Minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection; also called JND.

Sensory Adaptation

Diminishing sensitivity to an unchanging stimulus.

Weber’s Law

The principle that to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant percentage.

Signal Detection Theory

A theory predicting how and when we detect faint stimuli amid background stimulation.

Transduction

Conversion of one form of energy into another.

Parallel Processing

The processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously.

Rods

Retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray.

Cones

Retinal receptor cells that detect fine detail and color.

Fovea

The central focal point in the retina, around which the eye's cones cluster.

Vestibular Sense

The sense of body movement and position, including balance.

Anosmia

Loss of the sense of smell.

Accommodation

Process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus objects.

Color Vision Theories

Two major theories related to seeing color.

Gate-Control Theory

The theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological “gate” that blocks pain signals.

Top-Down Processing

Information processing guided by higher-level mental processes.

Bottom-Up Processing

Analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain.

Gestalt psychology

A school of thought that looks at the human mind and behavior as a whole.

Depth Perception

The ability to perceive the world in three dimensions.

Monocular Cues

Depth cues available to either eye alone.

Retinal Disparity

A binocular cue for perceiving depth by comparing images from both eyes.

Selective Attention

The focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus.

Schema

A concept or framework that organizes and interprets information.

Stroop Effect

The difficulty in naming colors of printed words when colors and words conflict.

Circadian Cycle

A natural process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle.

REM and N-REM Sleep

Two main states of sleep.

REM rebound

The increased intensity of REM sleep after deprivation.

Manifest/Latent Content

In dream analysis, manifest content is the literal dream, while latent content is the hidden meaning.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness.

Insomnia

A sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Apnea

A sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts.

Stimulants

Drugs that increase alertness and energy.

Depressants

Drugs that slow down brain activity.

Hallucinogens

Drugs that alter perception and mood.

Cycle of Addiction

The stages of becoming addicted to something.

Tolerance

The reduced effect of a drug after repeated use.

Dependency

The state of relying on something.