AP Psychology Unit 1 Pt. 2

Consciousness

Subjective awareness of oneself and one’s environment.

Cognitive Neuroscience

The study of brain activity linked with cognition.

Dual Processing

Information is processed on both conscious and unconscious tracks simultaneously.

Blindsight

Responding to visual stimuli without conscious experience.

Parellel Processing

Unconscious processing of multiple aspects of a stimulus/problem at the same time.

Sequential Processing

Conscious processing of one aspect of a stimulus/problem at a time.

Sleep

Periodic loss of consciousness.

Circadian Rhythm

The body’s biological 24hr clock that governs sleeping times.

REM Sleep

Reoccurring sleep stage in which dreams occur, muscles are relaxed while brain is active.

Alpha Waves

Brainwaves produced while an individual is awake and in a relaxed state.

NREM Sleep

Term denoting all stages of sleep that are not REM sleep.

N1 Sleep

Stage of sleep where one is falling asleep, can experience hypnagogic sensations.

Hypnagogic Sensations

Feelings of falling or floating when entering sleep.

N2 Sleep

Stage of sleep denoted by periodic sleep spindles.

Sleep Spindles

Bursts of rapid rhythmic activity in N2 sleep.

N3 Sleep

Deepest stage of sleep denoted by delta waves.

Sleep Paralysis

Sensation in which muscles are locked from REM sleep, but the individual is conscious.

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

Structure in brain responsible for controlling the circadian rhythm and regulating melatonin production.

Free Radicals

Molecules that are toxic to neurons.

Insomnia

Sleep disorder that makes falling asleep difficult, leading to chronic fatigue.

Narcolepsy

Sleep disorder leading to attacks of sleepiness, and falling asleep randomly.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep disorder in which breathing stops, leading to fatigue and depression.

Sleepwalking

Episodic complex motor behavior in N3 sleep.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Sleep disorder where behaviors are acted out during sleep.

Dreams

Sequences of images/emotions/thoughts in a person’s unconscious mind.

Prosopagnosia

Face Blindness

Sensation

The process by which sensory receptors and the nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies.

Sensory Receptors

Nerve endings that respond to stimuli.

Perception

The process by which the brain organizes and interprets sensory perception to recognize various stimuli.

Bottom-Up Processing

Processing that starts with sensory receptors and eventually ends with information integration.

Top-Down Processing

Higher level processing that consists of constructing perceptions based on experience and expectations.

Transduction

The conversion of one form of energy to another, in processing–the change between physical energy and electrical.

Psychophysics

The study of relationships between characteristics of stimuli and psychological experience.

Absolute Threshhold

The minimum stimulus energy needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time.

Signal Detection Theory

Theory that predicts how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus amid background stimulation, stating that detection is based on multiple factors.

Subliminal

Term denoting stimuli that can’t be subconsciously detected more than 50% of the time.

Difference Threshold

The minimum difference between stimuli required for detection 50% of the time.

Weber’s Law

Law stating that for the average person to see a difference, a stimuli must differ by a consistent minimum percentage.

Sensory Adaptation

Diminished sensitivity due to constant stimulation.

Cornea

The clear protective outer layer of the eye.

Pupil

The small adjustable opening in the eye.

Iris

The colored muscle that dilates/constricts in response to light intensity.

Lens

The transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to focus images.

Retina

The light sensitive back surface of the eye that contained layered receptors/neurons.

Accommodation 

The process by which the lens changes shape to focus on far/close objects.

Optic Nerve

Structure that carries neural impulses into the brain, crosses at the optic chiasm.

Blindspot

The point at which the optic nerve exits the eye.

Fovea

Central region of the retina that contains cones.

Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic Theory

Theory stating that the retina only contains receptors for three colors, red, green, and blue.

Opponent-Process Theory

Theory stating that opposing retinal processes enable color vision, photoreceptors respond, then opponent cells.

Rods

Photoreceptors specializing in movement, low light, and peripheral vision.

Cones

Photoreceptors associated with color, and fine detail.

Fusiform Face Area

Area of cortex that specializes in recognizing faces.

Feature Detectors

Nerve cells that respond to specific features of a stimulus to recognize objects.

Eardrum

Structure in ear that initially vibrates to auditory stimuli.

Middle Ear

Section of ear that includes the malleus, incus, and stapes.

Malleus, Incus, and Stapes

Also known as the hammer, anvil, and stirrup, three bones that transfer eardrum vibrations into the inner ear.

Cochlea

Coiled, fluid filled tube in the inner ear that contains hair cells.

Inner Ear

Section of ear that includes the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs.

Oval Window

Membrane that covers the surface of the cochlea and transfers vibrations into it.

Basilar Membrane

Membrane on the surface of the cochlea that is covered in hair cells.

Auditory Nerve

Bundle of axons that transfer electrical signals from the ear to the auditory cortex.

Auditory Cortex

Structure in the temporal lobes responsible for integrating auditory information.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

The most common type of hearing loss spanning from damage to cochlear receptors.

Conduction Hearing Loss

Form of hearing loss caused by damage to the middle ear.

Place Theory

Theory stating that different pitches are interpreted from hair cells in different parts of the cochlea activating.

Frequency Theory

Theory stating that different pitches are interpreted through the amount of neural impulses.

Volley Theory

Theory stating that neural cells in the ear alternate firing to achieve a higher combined frequency.

Gate-Control Theory

Theory stating that the spinal cord contains a neurological gate that blocks or allows signals to pass.

Nociceptors

Sensory receptors that respond to pain stimuli.

Endorphins

Natural analgesics.

Gustation

The sense of taste.

Olfaction

The sense of smell, which bypasses the thalamus.

Pheromones

Chemical olfactory messengers, often associated with sexual desire.

Proprioceptors

Receptors in the body that provide feedback about muscular movement.

Kinesthesis

The sense of the movement and positioning of body parts.

Vestibular Sense

The fastest sense, associated with balance.

Vestibular Sacs

Structures in the inner ear that contain calcium crystals which shift in relation to the head’s position, stimulating hairs which communicate to the cerebellum.

McGurk Effect

Effect where senses blend two differing sensory stimuli to create an alternate third result.

Embodied Cognition

Body sensations and gestures combine to alter judgements and preferences.

Synthesia

Condition where various unlike senses interact in novel ways.