unit 1 part 1 ap psych (copy) Allie’s

consciousness

subjective awareness of ourselves and environment

dual processing

information is simultaneously processed on separate conscious + unconscious tracks, affects perceptions, memory, attitudes, other

parallel processing

processing multiple aspects of stimulus or problem at same time

sequential processing

processing one aspect of stimulus or problem at a time, used to process new info or solve difficult problems

sleep

natural loss of consciousness, distinct from unconsiousness resulting from a coma, anesthesia, or hibernation

circadian rhythm

biological clock, regular body rhythms occur on 24-hour clock

sleep cycle

cycle through distinct sleep stages every 90 minutes while sleeping

nrem sleep

non rapid eye movement sleep, encompasses all sleep stages except for rem sleep

nrem stage 1

very brief + light, easy to wake up

hypnagogic sensations

bizarre experiences: jerking or feeling of falling while transitioning to sleep

nrem stage 2

lasts 20 minutes, deeper than nrem 1

sleep spindles

bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain wave activity associated with memory processing

nrem stage 3

deep sleep, lasts 30 minutes, gets shorter as the night goes through each cycle

rem sleep

rapid eye movement, vivid dreams commonly occur, known as paradoxical sleep: muscles relaxed, body systems are active

rem rebound

tendency for rem sleep to increase following rem sleep deprivation

suprachiasmatic nucleus (scn)

pair of cell clusters in hypothalamus controls circadian rhythm. response to light, scn adjusts melatonin production which makes feel sleepy

impact of sleep loss

performance, mood, appetite and weight, suppress immune system, slow reaction time

insomnia

recurring problems falling or staying asleep

narcolepsy

sudden sleep attacks where lapses directly in REM sleep

sleep apnea

stopping breathing repeatedly while sleeping

dream

sequences of images, emotion, thoughts occurring in sleeping persons mind during rem

information processing theory (consolidation theory)

dreams help process and form our days experiences into memories

activation synthesis theory

brains attempt to make sense of neural activity spreading up from brainstem, brain "weaves"stories around neural activity

sensation

sensory receptors and nervous system receive + represent stimulus energies from environment

bottom up processing

information processing begins with sensory receptors and works up to brains integration of sensory information (feature detection)

top down processing

information processing guided by higher level mental processes when construct perception drawing on experience and expectations

transduction

conversion of one form of energy into another, transforming of physical energy (sights, sounds, smells) into neural impulses that brain interprets

absolute threshold

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

signal detection theory

how + when detect presence of faint stimulus amid background stimulation, assumes no single absolute threshold and detection partly on persons experience, expectations, motivation, and alertness

difference threshold

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

sensory adaptation

diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation

wavelength

distance from peak of one light wave to peak of next

hue

dimension of color determined by wavelength of light (color we see)

cornea

eyes clear, protective outer layer, covers pupil and lens, bends light to help focus

pupil

adjustable opening in center of eye through which light enters

iris

ring of muscle tissue forms colored portion of eye around pupil, controls size of pupil opening to let in more or less light, responds to mood

lens

transparent structure behind pupil changes shape to help focus images on retina

accommodation

eyes lens changes shape to focus images of near or far object on retina

retina

light sensitive back inner surface of eye, contain receptor rods + cones, layers of neurons begin process of visual info

rods

retinal receptions detect black, white, grey, sensitive to movement, for peripheral and twilight vision when cones don't respond, 120m

cones

retinal receptions near center of retina, function in daylight or well lit conditions, detect fine detail, give rise to color sensations, 6m

fovea

central point of focus in retina around which cones are clusters

optic nerve

nerve carries neural impulses from eye to brain

young helmholtz trichromatic (three color) theory

retina contains three types of color receptors, red,green,blue, can produce perception of any color

opponent process theory

opposing retinal processes (red,green blue,yellow black,white) enable color vision (explains afterimages)

frequency

number of complete wavelengths pass a point in given time, measured in hertz, determines pitch

malleus/hammer, anvil/incus, stirrup/stapes

small bones in middle ear, located between ear drum + cochlea, concentrate vibrations in eardrum on cochlea's oval window

cochlea

coiled, bony, fluid filled tube in inner ear, sound waves travel through cochlear fluid trigger nerve impulses

basilar membrane

located in cochlea, covered in hair cells (cilia), bend with vibrations + trigger neural impulses to auditory nerve

auditory nerve

interconnected axons carry neural message to thalamus then auditory cortex of temporal lobes

sensorineural hearing loss

common form, damage to cochlea's receptor cells or auditory nerve (nerve deafness)

conduction hearing loss

less common, damage to mechanical system which conducts sound waves to cochlea

place theory

links the pitch we hear with place where cochlea's membrane is stimulated

frequency theory

rate of nerve impulses travel up auditory nerve matches frequency of tone, enables sense pitch (temporal coding)

volley theory

neural cells alternate firing, combined frequency above 1000 waves per sec

touch receptors

sensitive to pressure, warmth, cold, pain

gate control theory

spinal cord contains neurological gate, blocks pain signals/allows to pass to brain. gate opened by activity of pain signals traveling up small nerve fibers, closed by activity large fibers or info coming from brain

phantom limb sensations

brain creates pain when limb missing by misinterpreting and amplifying spontaneous cns activity

social cultural influences

perceive more pain when others in pain

controlling pain

placebo help with pain(expectation), distraction reduce pain

gustation

sense of taste

umami

protein to grow + repair tissues

oleogustus

fats for energy, insulation, cell growth

olfactory receptors

cells top of nasal cavity, receive stimuli, activate axons traveling to brain (smell bypasses thalamus)

sensory interaction

one sense can influence another

kinesthesis

movement sense, senses position + movement of body parts, sensors in muscles, joints, tendons called proprioceptors

vestibular sense

body movement + position enables sense of balance, controlled by semicircular canals and vestibular sacs

synesthesia

stimulation of one sense triggers an experience with another