AP Pyschology Unit 3 Test 4

activation-synthesis theory

dreams result from the brain attempting to make sense of random neural activity

alpha waves

slow, relaxed brain waves of an awake but drowsy state

blindsight

ability to respond to visual stimuli without consciously perceiving them

circadian rhythm

the body’s roughly 24-hour biological cycle

consciousness

awareness of yourself and your environment

delta waves

large, slow brain waves of deep NREM-3 sleep

dream

sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts during sleep

dual processing

information processed simultaneously on conscious and unconscious tracks

EEG patterns

electrical brainwave activity associated with sleep stages

hallucinations

false sensory experiences perceived without stimuli

hypnagogic sensations

fleeting sensory events during NREM-1 sleep

insomnia

recurring difficulty falling or staying asleep

jet lag

fatigue/disruption caused by circadian rhythm shifts after travel

memory consolidation

strengthening and stabilizing memories during sleep

narcolepsy

disorder involving sudden REM sleep attacks

NREM sleep

non–rapid eye movement sleep (stages 1–3)

paradoxical sleep

REM sleep; active brain but paralyzed muscles

parallel processing

unconscious processing of many aspects of information at once

REM rebound

increased REM sleep after REM deprivation

REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement sleep)

sleep stage with vivid dreams and muscle paralysis

REM sleep behavior disorder

acting out dreams due to failure of REM paralysis

sequential processing

conscious, step-by-step problem solving

shift work

irregular work schedules that disrupt circadian rhythms

sleep

periodic, natural loss of consciousness

sleep apnea

temporary breathing stoppages during sleep

somnambulism

sleepwalking during NREM-3 sleep

absolute threshold

minimum stimulation needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time

accommodation

process by which the lens changes shape to focus light

afterimage

visual image that persists after the stimulus is removed

amplitude

height of a sound or light wave, determining loudness or brightness

audition

sense of hearing

blind sight

ability to respond to visual stimuli despite cortical blindness

blind spot

retinal area without receptor cells where the optic nerve exits

bottom-up processing

analysis starting with sensory receptors and building to perception

cochlea

snail-shaped inner-ear structure that converts sound to neural signals

cochlear implant

device converting sounds into electrical signals sent to the cochlea

conduction hearing loss

hearing loss due to mechanical damage to the ear structures

cones

retinal receptors responsible for color and fine detail

cornea

clear outer covering that bends light entering the eye

dark adaptation

increased retinal sensitivity in low light

dichromatism

color blindness due to missing one cone type

difference threshold

minimum difference needed to detect a change 50% of the time

embodied cognition

influence of bodily sensations on thoughts and judgments

farsightedness (Hyperopia)

distant objects appear clearer than nearby ones

feature detectors

specialized neurons responding to specific stimulus features

fovea

central retinal area with highest visual acuity

frequency

number of sound waves per second, determines pitch

frequency theory

pitch determined by the frequency of neural impulses

ganglion cells

neurons that form the optic nerve

Gate Control Theory

spinal “gate” mechanism controlling pain signals

gustation

sense of taste

hue

dimension of color determined by wavelength

inner ear

innermost ear region containing cochlea and semicircular canals

intensity

amount of energy in a wave; determines brightness or loudness

iris

colored muscle controlling size of the pupil

just noticeable difference (JND)

smallest detectable difference between two stimuli

kinesthesis

sense of body position and movement

lens

structure that focuses light onto the retina

loudness

perception of sound intensity

light adaptation

decreased retinal sensitivity in bright light

medium tasters

individuals with average taste sensitivity

middle ear

chamber containing hammer, anvil, and stirrup bones

monochromatism

total color blindness

nearsightedness (Myopia)

nearby objects are clearer than distant ones

nontasters

individuals with low taste sensitivity

oleogustus

taste quality associated with fats

olfaction

sense of smell

opponent-process theory

color vision based on opponent color pairs

optic nerve

carries visual information from eye to brain

phantom limb sensation

perception of sensations from an amputated limb

pheromones

chemical signals influencing behavior of others

photoreceptors

rods and cones detecting light

pitch

perception of sound frequency

place theory

pitch determined by where the cochlea’s membrane is stimulated

priming

unconscious activation of associations

prosopagnosia

inability to recognize faces

psychophysics

study of the relationship between physical stimuli and perception

pupil

adjustable opening in the center of the eye

retina

light-sensitive inner surface of the eye

rods

retinal receptors for dim light and peripheral vision

semicircular canals

structures involved in balance and head movement

sensation

process of detecting sensory information

sensorineural hearing loss

hearing loss from damage to cochlea or auditory nerve

sensory adaptation

reduced sensitivity after constant stimulation

sensory interaction

senses influencing one another

sensory receptors

specialized cells detecting sensory stimuli

signal detection theory

predicts detecting faint stimuli amid background noise

sound localization

ability to determine sound direction

subliminal

below conscious awareness threshold

supertasters

individuals with extremely sensitive taste receptors

synesthesia

blending of senses (e.g., hearing colors)

taste receptors

chemical receptors for taste on the tongue

thalamus (smell)

olfactory signals bypass the thalamus unlike other senses

threshold

level of stimulation required to trigger a response

top-down processing

perception guided by experience and expectations

transduction

converting stimulus energy into neural impulses

umami

savory taste

vestibular sense

sense of balance and head position

volley theory

groups of neurons alternately fire to code high frequencies

wavelength

distance between light or sound wave peaks