AP Psych Vocab Pt. 1

Hindsight Bias

the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one could have predicted that outcome all along

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to selectively look for information that conforms to our hypothesis and to overlook information that argues against it.

Correlation

A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and how well either factor predicts the other.

Case Study

an in-depth study of a single person or group to reveal some universal principle

Meta-Analysis

a statistical procedure that summarizes a large body of evidence, from multiple studies, to determine overall trends.

operational definition

a statement of the procedures used to define research variables

Independent Variable

The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.

dependent variable

The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

confounding variable

a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment

Generalizability

the extent to which the results of an study can be applied to the broader population

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing and coordinating sensory information.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

all the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; connects the CNS to the rest of the body.

Somatic Nervous System

The division of the PNS that controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscle

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

division of the PNS consisting of nerves that control all of the involuntary movements of muscles, organs, and glands

Sympathetic Nervous System

part of the ANS that prepares the body for stress related activity (EX Fight or Flight)

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Part of the ANS that calms the body conserves energy

Glial Cells

Support cells in the nervous system, they nourish, protect, and support neurons

multiple sclerosis

A disease in which the immune system eats away at the protective covering of nerves, disrupting communication between brain and body.

myasthenia gravis

a chronic autoimmune disease that causes serious weakness of voluntary muscles due to the breakdown of communication between nerves and muscles.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's pleasure and reward system.

Serotonin

Affects mood, hunger, sleep and arousal. Undersupply linked to depression.

Norepinephrine

helps control alertness and arousal, also acts as stress hormone

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

GABA

a major inhibitory neurotransmitter, reduces neural activity

Endorphins

natural painkiller neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

Substance P

a neurotransmitter involved in pain perception

Acetylcholine

Involved in muscle movement, leaning, and memory; low amounts linked to Alzheimer's

Agonist

a drug that mimics or enhances the effects of a neurotransmitter

Brainstem Medulla

Controls basic life functions (Heartbeat, breathing)

Reticular Activating System

Regulates wakefulness and alertness

Thalamus

The brains sensory control center; directs messages to the cortex

Hypothalamus

Regulates hunger, thirst, and body temperature; also controls pituitary gland

Hippocampus

involved in forming new memories

Amygdala

Involved in emotion, especially fear and aggression

occipital lobes

processes visual information

Temporal Lobes

processes auditory information and language

parietal lobes

processes sensory input for touch and body position

Frontal Lobes

involved in reasoning, planning, movement, and problem solving

Broca's area

controls speech production;

Wernicke's area

Involved in language comprehension,

Brain Plasticity

the brains ability to change and adapt as a result of experience.

REM Sleep

a stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements and paralysis of voluntary muscles, high level of brain activity

REM Rebound

the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprevation

Insomnia

A sleep disorder involving recurring problems falling or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep.

absolute threshold

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

Transduction

conversion of one form of energy into another. In sensation, the transforming of stimulus energies, such as sights, sounds, and smells, into neural impulses our brains can interpret.

sensory adaptation

diminished sensitivity to a stimulus as a consequence of constant stimulation/exposure

Retina

Light sensitive layer of the eye; contains rods and cones

Photoreceptors (Rods)

Detect intensity of light: black, white, shades of gray. Crucial for peripheral and night vision.

Photoreceptors (Cones)

high light threshold - allow bright light vision; color vision; details

Fovea

the central focal point in the retina, with the highest concentration of cones

Vestibular Sense

the sense of body movement and position, including the sense of balance

semicircular canals

Structures in the inner ear that are responsible in maintaining balance

Kinesthesis

the system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts (Whole body, arms, legs, etc)