Biopsych + sensation/perception

Evolution/Natural Selection

Darwin's theory that traits aiding survival are passed on to successive generations.

Nature vs. Nurture

Debate concerning whether biology (nature) or environment (nurture) shapes individuals more.

Neuron

A nerve cell that transmits nerve impulses, consisting of dendrites, soma, axon, myelin sheath, and axon terminals.

Dendrites

Parts of a neuron that receive signals.

Soma

The cell body of a neuron.

Axon

Part of a neuron that sends signals.

Myelin sheath

Insulating layer that speeds up impulse transmission in a neuron.

Axon terminals

Parts of a neuron that send signals to the next neuron.

Types of Neurons

Sensory neurons, motor neurons, and interneurons.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in movement and pleasure.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that influences mood.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A neurotransmitter important for muscle action and memory.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter associated with alertness.

GABA

An inhibitory neurotransmitter.

Glutamate

An excitatory neurotransmitter.

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters that provide pain relief.

CNS

Central Nervous System, consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

PNS

Peripheral Nervous System, which includes all other neural elements.

Somatic Nervous System

Part of the PNS that controls voluntary movements.

Autonomic Nervous System

Part of the PNS that manages involuntary functions.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for 'fight or flight' responses.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that promotes 'rest and digest' activities.

Brainstem

The part of the brain responsible for basic life functions.

Limbic System

Part of the brain involved in emotions and memory.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the brain involved in complex thought.

Frontal Lobe

The brain region responsible for planning, decision making, and motor control.

Parietal Lobe

The brain region involved in touch and sensory information.

Temporal Lobe

The brain region associated with hearing and language.

Occipital Lobe

The brain region that processes visual information.

Cerebral Dominance

The tendency for one hemisphere of the brain to control certain functions more than the other.

Left Hemisphere

The brain hemisphere that is primarily responsible for language and logic.

Right Hemisphere

The brain hemisphere that is primarily responsible for spatial and creative tasks.

Split Brain

Condition resulting from cutting the corpus callosum, preventing communication between hemispheres.

Transduction

The process of converting physical stimuli into neural signals.

Sensory Adaptation

The process by which sensitivity decreases when a stimulus is constant.

Absolute Threshold

The minimum stimulation needed to detect a stimulus.

Difference Threshold

The smallest detectable difference between two stimuli.

Signal Detection Theory

Theory stating that detecting a stimulus depends on expectations, fatigue, and other factors.

Retina

Layer of cells at the back of the eye containing rods and cones for vision.

Fovea

The central focus point of the retina with the highest concentration of cones.

Optic Nerve

The nerve that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.

Cochlea

The part of the inner ear that transduces sound waves into neural signals.

Hair Cells

Receptors located in the cochlea that detect sound.

Place Theory

Theory that pitch is determined by the location of hair cell activation in the cochlea.

Frequency Theory

Theory that pitch is determined by the rate of impulses traveling up the auditory nerve.

Bottom-Up Processing

Perceptual processing that starts with sensory input.

Top-Down Processing

Perceptual processing that uses prior knowledge to interpret sensory information.

Binding Problem

The challenge of understanding how the brain combines features from different stimuli into a coherent whole.

Perceptual Constancy

The phenomenon where objects are perceived as unchanging despite changes in sensory input.

Figure & Ground

A perceptual organization where the focused object is seen as the figure and the background as the ground.

Closure

The tendency of the brain to fill in gaps to perceive a complete image.

Gestalt Laws

Principles that govern how we perceive groups of objects.

Depth Cues

Clues that help us perceive depth and distance.

Binocular Cues

Depth cues that require the use of both eyes.

Monocular Cues

Depth cues that can be perceived with one eye.

Perceptual Set

The influence of expectations on perception.