AP PSYCH TRI 2 VOCAB GOOD LUCK

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Activation Synthesis

Theory that dreams result from the brain’s attempt to make sense of random neural activity during sleep.

Narcolepsy

Sleep disorder causing sudden, uncontrollable sleep attacks.

Hypnosis

Altered state of consciousness involving deep relaxation and suggestibility.

Inattentional Blindness

Failing to notice an object because attention is elsewhere.

Insomnia

Persistent trouble falling or staying asleep.

Blindsight

Ability to respond to visual stimuli without conscious awareness due to brain damage.

Change Blindness

Failing to notice changes in a visual scene.

Circadian Rhythm

Natural 24-hour cycle regulating sleep, body temperature, and hormones.

Consciousness

Awareness of oneself and surroundings.

Somnambulism

Sleepwalking, occurring during deep sleep stages.

Sleep Apnea

Breathing disorder causing frequent awakenings due to oxygen deprivation.

Consolidation Theory

Theory that sleep helps strengthen and store memories.

Memory Consolidation and Restoration

Sleep function that aids learning, memory, and body repair.

nREM Stage 1 Sleep

Light sleep, transition from wakefulness, with possible hypnogogic sensations.

nREM Stage 2 Sleep

Sleep stage with sleep spindles; light but deeper than stage 1.

nREM Stage 3 Sleep

Deepest sleep, slow delta waves, essential for body restoration.

Hypnogogic Sensations

Vivid, dream-like sensations occurring during sleep onset.

REM Rebound

Increased REM sleep following sleep deprivation.

REM Sleep

Stage of sleep with vivid dreams, muscle paralysis, and rapid eye movement.

Reflex Arc

Neural pathway controlling reflex actions without brain involvement.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Disorder where muscles don’t paralyze during REM, leading to acting out dreams.

Selective Attention

Focusing on one stimulus while ignoring others.

Cocktail Party Effect

Ability to focus on one conversation despite background noise.

Absolute Threshold

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

Afterimages

Visual images that persist after stimulus removal, often in complementary colors.

Accommodation (Vision)

Eye lens changing shape to focus on near or far objects.

Nearsightedness

Close objects are clear, distant objects appear blurry.

Farsightedness

Distant objects are clear, close objects appear blurry.

Phantom Limb Syndrome

Sensation that an amputated limb is still present.

Binocular Depth Cues

Depth perception cues requiring both eyes (e.g., retinal disparity).

Blind Spot

Area of retina lacking photoreceptors where optic nerve exits.

Bottom Up Processing

Perception starting with sensory input before higher-level processing.

Cones

Retinal photoreceptors for color and detail, mostly in the fovea.

Depth Perception

Ability to perceive three-dimensional space.

Figure Ground

Distinguishing objects from their background.

Fovea

Central area of the retina with the highest concentration of cones for sharp vision.

Ganglion Cells

Retinal cells that transmit visual information to the brain.

Gate Control Theory

Theory that spinal cord "gates" regulate pain perception.

Gestalt Theory

Psychological approach emphasizing whole perception rather than individual parts.

Kinesthesis

Sense of body position and movement.

Semicircular Canals

Inner ear structures that detect head movement and aid balance.

Lens

Transparent structure that focuses light onto the retina.

Occipital Lobe

Brain region responsible for visual processing.

Prosopagnosia (Face Blindness)

Inability to recognize faces.

Color Vision Deficiencies

Inability to perceive certain colors due to cone defects.

Olfactory Sense

Sense of smell.

Pheromones

Chemical signals influencing social or reproductive behavior.

Closure

Tendency to perceive incomplete figures as complete.

Relative size

Depth cues where distant objects appear hazier or smaller.

Texture Gradient

Depth cue where closer objects have more texture detail.

Linear Perspective

Parallel lines appear to converge in the distance.

Interposition

Depth cue where closer objects block further ones.

Opponent Process Theory

Color vision theory based on opposing color pairs (red-green, blue-yellow, black-white).

Blue Wavelengths

Shortest, highest frequency.

Green Wavelengths

Medium wavelength, medium frequency.

Red Wavelength

Longest, lowest frequency.

Perception

Interpretation of sensory information by the brain.

Parallel Processing

Brain’s ability to process multiple sensory aspects simultaneously.

Size Constancy

Perceiving objects as the same size despite changes in distance.

Shape Constancy

Perceiving objects as the same shape despite changes in perspective.

Color Constancy

Perceiving consistent colors despite lighting changes.

Perceptual Set

Tendency to perceive things based on expectations.

High Pitch

high pitch = short wavelengths.

Loudness

Sound intensity measured in decibels.

Gustation Sense

Sense of taste.

Types of Tasters

Super tasters (more sensitive), normal tasters, and non-tasters (less sensitive).

Place Theory

Different sound frequencies activate different areas of the cochlea.

Volley Theory

Groups of neurons fire in succession to process high frequencies.

Frequency Theory (Audition)

Sound frequency determines how fast neurons fire.

Priming

Exposure to stimuli influencing later perceptions or behaviors.

Proximity

Tendency to perceive objects close together as related.

Similarity

Grouping similar objects together in perception.

Pupil

Adjustable eye opening controlling light entry.

Retina

Light-sensitive inner eye layer converting light into neural signals.

Rods

Retinal photoreceptors for black-and-white vision, functioning in low light.

Sensation

Process of detecting stimuli from the environment.

Sensory Adaptation

Reduced sensitivity to constant stimulation.

Sensory Interaction

One sense affecting another (e.g., smell influences taste).

Synesthesia

Condition where stimulation of one sense triggers another (e.g., seeing sounds).

Top Down Processing

Perception guided by prior knowledge and expectations.

Difference Threshold

Minimum change in stimulus required for detection.

Sound Localization

Ability to identify sound direction based on differences between ears.

Vestibular Sense

Sense of balance, regulated by inner ear structures.

Visual Cliff Apparatus

Experiment testing infants' depth perception.

Hearing Loss

Caused by damage to outer or middle ear structures.

Hearing Loss (Sensorineural)

Caused by damage to inner ear or auditory nerve.

Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic Theory

Theory that color vision is based on three cone types (red, green, blue).

Neuron

Basic cell of the nervous system that transmits electrical and chemical signals.

Axon

Long fiber that carries electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body.

Dendrites

Branch-like structures that receive messages from other neurons.

Myelin Sheath

Fatty coating that speeds up neural transmission.

Synapse

Gap between neurons where neurotransmitters carry messages.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messenger that transmits signals across synapses.

Excitatory Neurotransmitters

Increase the likelihood of neuron firing.

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

Decrease the likelihood of neuron firing.

Reuptake

Process where neurotransmitters are reabsorbed into the neuron.

Reuptake Inhibitor

Blocks reuptake, increasing neurotransmitter levels.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Important for muscle movement, learning, and memory.

Dopamine

Involved in pleasure, movement, and addiction.

Serotonin

Affects mood, sleep, and appetite.