AP Psych Midterm Review

psychodynamic perspective

the unconscious mind; childhood memories and trauma

cognitive perspective

memory; emotion; thinking; intelligence

behavioral perspective

how we learn; observable responses to stimuli

humanistic perspective

goals; motivations; mindsets

Biological Perspective

nervous system; biochemistry; the brain

sociocultural perspective

family and peer influences; situational constraints

evolutionary perspective

impact of natural selection and adaption; genetic influences

biological approach

genetics, brain chemistry, and evolutionary traits

psychological approach

learned thoughts, emotions, and inner dialogue

social approach

relationships and external influences

correlation

relationship between two variables

Coefficient

the degree of this relationship

positive coefficient

both go up

negative coefficient

one goes up and one goes down

variables

an element, feature, or factor that is liable to vary or change.

independent variable

can be controlled or manipulated

dependent variable

affected by changes to the independent

control variable

unchanged element

a measure of variation

how similar or diverse the scores are

range

gap between high and low scores

standard deviation

varying scores around the mean

bell curve

symmetrical bell-shaped distribution (normal curve)

positive skew

cure where most values are on the lower end

negative skew

curve where most values are on the higher end

autonomic nervous system

regulates involuntary functions of the body

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

parasympathetic nervous system

calms after a response

somatic nervous system

creates a fight or flight response

endocrine system

pitutary (growth), pineal (sleep), adrenal (energy)

sensory neurons

senses

interneuron neuron

processing info

motor neuron

movement

dendrite

neuron part that receives signals

soma

neuron part that collects signals

axon

neuron part that sends signals

terminal buttons

neuron part that release signals

synapse

neuron part (space between)

threshold/action potential

doing

resting potential

recovering

serotonin

neurotransmitter - emotion

dopamine

neurotransmitter - motivation

acetylocholine

neurotransmitter - muscle movement

endorphins

neurotransmitter - pain relief

agonist

increases a neurotransmitter's action

antagonists

decrease or block a neurotransmitter

thalamus

inner part of the brain - sensory info

hypothalamus

inner part of the brain - motivations

Hippocampus

inner part of the brain - memory

amygdala

inner part of the brain - fear and anger

frontal lobe

thinking, memory, behavior, movement

parietal lobe

sensory/motor

occipital lobe

vision

temporal lobe

hearing

cerebellum

balance

Neuroplasticity

the ability within the brain to constantly change both the structure and function of many cells in response to experience or trauma

neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons

PET scan

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

MRI

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain

fMRI

A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans.

EEG

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

split brain

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them

circadian rhythm

internal body clock

NREM-1

the transition into sleep, marked by slowed breathing and irregular brain waves; hypnagogic sensations/hallucinations, and myclonic jerks may occur

NREM-2

Sleep stage characterized by its periodic sleep spindles, or bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain-wave activity. About half the night is spent in this phase.

NREM-3

sleep stage that lasts about 30 minutes and your brain emits large, slow delta waves, and you are hard to awaken.

REM

describes sleep in which vivid dreams typically occur; this type of sleep increases as the night progresses while stage 4 sleep decreases

sleep apnea

a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings

Insomnia

recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.

latent content

according to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream

manifest content

according to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream

depressants

slows down

hallucinogens

distorts senses

opiates

pain relief and euphoria

stimulants

speeds up

Social Infleunce

a good teacher makes a good student

dissociation

split in consciousness

Order of the eye

cornea, pupil, lens, retina, optic nerve

rods and cones

affect color and brightness

monocular vs. binocular

one eye vs. two eyes

visual cliff

depth perception

retinal disparity

slight differences are based on the angle of each eye

young-helmholtz

three color theory of sight

order of ear

ear canal, eardrum, mid ear bones, cochlea, auditory nerve

kinesthetic sense

awareness of body position and perception

vestibular sense

awareness of head movement and balance

sensory adaptation

reduction in sensitivity after exposure

top down processing

perception driven by cognition

bottom up processing

building up from smallest pieces of sensory info

cocktail party effect

ability to focus on one auditory thing at a time

perceptual set

expectations that shape experience

gestalt theory

study of perception in response to configurational wholes rather individual parts

parallel processing

ability to process different info at the same time

constancy

ability to see the same thing although some of it has changed

inattentional blindness

inability to notice new things that appear in the visual field

phi phenomenon

ability to perceive still images in rapid succession as moving

classical conditioning

Learning through association

operant conditioning

learning through rewards and punishments

conditioned vs unconditioned

learned vs. innate behavior

stimulus vs. response

the event vs. the result