AP Psychology

0.5-1.3B Quiz

Informed Consent

Giving potential participants enough info about study to enable them to change whether they wish to participate and to understand the risks and benefits involved.

Debriefing

A process of informing participants about the study's purpose, procedures, and any deceptions after their involvement, ensuring they leave without adverse effects. Or, the post experimental explanation of a study including its purpose and any deceptions to its participants.

Histogram

Bar graph depicting frequency distribution.

Central Tendency

Single core that represents a whole set of scores

Mode

Most frequently occurring score in distribution

Mean

Arithmetic average of a distribution obtained by adding scores then dividing by number of scores

Median

Middle score in distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below.

Percentile Rank

Percentage of scores that are lower than given score.

Skewed Distribution

Representation of scores that lack symmetry around average value.

Range

difference between highest and lowest scores and distribution

Standard Deviation

Computed measure of how much scores vary around mean score

Normal Curve

Symmetrical bell shaped survey that describes distribution of many types of data, most scores fall near the mean

Meta Analysis

Statistical procedure for analyzing results of multiple studies to reach overall conclusion

Statistical Significance

Statistical statement of how likely it is that results occurred by chance

Effect Size

Strength of relationship between 2 variables, larger the effect size, the more one variable can be explained by the other

Behavior Genetics

Study of relative power and limits of genetic/environmental influences on behavior

Heredity

Genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

Environment

Every non-genetic influence from prenatal nutrition to the people and things

Chromosomes

Threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain genes

DNA-Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Complex molecule containing genetic info that makes up chromosomes

Genes

Biochem units of heredity that make up chromosomes; segments of DNA that synthesize protein

Genome

Complete instructions for making organism consisting of all genetic material in organisms chromosomes

Identical (Monozygotic) Twins

Develop from single fertilized egg that splits in two creating two identical organisms

Fraternal (Dizygotic) Twins

Develop from separate fertilized egg genetically no closer than ordinary siblings but share prenatal environment

Heritability

Proportion of variation among individuals in group that we can attribute to genes, depends of range of population and environments studied

Interaction

Interplay that occurs when effect of one factor depends on another

Molecular Genetics

Subfield of biology that studies molecular structure and function of genes

Molecular Behavior Genetics

Study of how structure/function of genes interact with our environment to influence behavior

Epigenetics

Study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur with our DNA change

Nervous System

Body’s speedy, electrochemical network, consisting of all nerve cells of peripheral and central nervous systems

Central Nervous System

Brain and Spinal Cord

Peripheral Nervous System

Sensory and motor neutrons that connect CNS to rest of body

Nerves

Bundled axons that form neutral cables connecting CNS with muscle glands and sense organs

Sensory (afferent) Neurons

Neurons that carry incoming info from body’s tissues and sensory receptors to brain and spinal cord

Motor (efferent) Neurons

Neurons that carry outgoing info from brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands

Interneurons

Neurons within brain and spinal cord which communicate internally and process info between sensory and motor outputs

Somatic Nervous System

Division of peripheral nervous system that controls body’s skeletal muscles also called skeletal nervous system

Autonomic Nervous System

Part of peripheral nervous system that controls glands and muscles of internal organs; Sympathetic division arouses; while parasympathetic division calms

Sympathetic Nervous System

Division of autonomic nervous system that arouses body; mobilizing energy

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Division of Autonomic nervous system that calms body conserving energy

Reflex

Simple automatic response to sensory stimulus

Endocrine System

Bodys slow chemical communication system set of glands that secrete hormones into bloodstream

Hormones

Chemical messengers manufactured by endocrine glands, travel through bloodstream and affect other tissues

Adrenal Glands

Pair of endocrine glands sit just above kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse body in stress

Pituitary Gland

Endocrine systems most influential gland under the hypothalamus which regulates growth and controls other glands

Cell Body

Part of Neuron that contains nucleus, life support center for cell

Dendrites

Bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages conducting impulses toward cell body

Axon

Neuron extension passes messages through branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

Myelin Sheath

Fatty tissue segmentally encasing axons of some transmission speed as neural impulse hop from one nerve to the next

Glial Cell

Cells in Neuron system that support, nourish and protect neurons; they also play role in learning, thinking, and memory

Action Potential

Neural impulse, brief electrical charge that travels down axon

Threshold

Level of stimulation required to trigger neural impulse

Refractory Period

Brief resting pause that occurs after neuron has fired; Subsequent action potentials cannot occur until axon returns to resting state

All or None Response

Neurons reaction of either firing or not

Synapse

Junction between axon top of sending neuron and dendrite of cell body of receiving neuron. Tiny gap at this junction is called Synaptic Gap or Cleft.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that cross Synaptic Gaps between neurons when released by sending neuron, they travel across Synapse and bind to receptors sites on receiving neuron, influencing whether or not that neuron will generate neural impulse

Reuptake

Neurotransmitters reabsorption by sending neuron

Endorphins

(Morpine within) - natural opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure

Agonist

Molecules that increases neurotransmitters action

Antagonist

Molecule that inhibits or blocks neurotransmitters action

Psychoactive Drug

Chemical substance that alters perception and mood

Substance Use Disorder

Disorder characterized by continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk

Tolerance

Diminishing effect with regular use of same dose of a drug requiring user to take larger doses before experiencing effect of drug

Withdrawal

Discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing addictive drug or behavior

Depressants

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdrawal, and a drive to continue problematic use

Barbiturates

Drugs that depress CNS activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement

Opiates

Opium and its derivatives like morphine and heroin; depress neural activity temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

Stimulants

Drugs that excited neural activity and speed up body functions

Nicotine

Stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco

Cocaine

Powerful and addictive stimulant derived from Coca plant; produces temporarily increased alertness and euphoria

Amphetamines

Drugs like methamphetamine that stimulate neural activity causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes

Methamphetamine

Addictive Drug stimulates CNS with accelerated body functions and energy/mood change over time appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels

Ecstasy MDMA

Synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen produces euphoria and social intimacy but with short term health risks and longer term harm to serotonin producing neurons, and to mood and cognition

Hallucinogens

Psychedelic drugs like LSD that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in absence of sensory input

Near Death Experience

Altered state of consciousness reported after close brush with death often similar to drug induced hallucinogens

LSD

Powerful hallucinogenic drug AKA acid

THC

Major active ingredient in marijuana triggers a variety of effects including mild hallucinations

Systematic Empiricism

Practice of relying on obsevation, and structured so observation support or refutes theory

Hindsight Bias

I knew it all along phenomenon

Confirmation Bias

To search for information that confirms belief

Overconfidence

Tendency to think we know more than we do

Case Study

Examines one individual or group in depth in hope of revealing things true of us all

Naturalistic Observations

Technique of observing and recording behavior in naturally occuring situations by not manipulating any factors

Survey

Technique for obtaining self reported attitudes or behaviors of group by questioning

Correlation

Measure of extent to which 2 factors vary together

Experiment

Investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe effect on behavior and/or mental process

Independent Variable

Factor that is manipulated in experiment

Confounding Variable

Factor other than one being studied that might influence result

Dependent Variable

Outcome of experiment that is measured and may change when independent variable is changed

Lesion

Naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

EEG

Amplified recording of waves of electrical activity sweeping across brains surface, measured by electrodes on scalp

MEG

Measures brains magnetic fields from brains natural electrical activity

CT

X ray photos combined into composite of slice of brain structure

PET

Visual display of brain activity detecting radioactive form of glucose while performing task

MRI

Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue, showing anatomy

fMRI

Reveals bloodflow and brain activity by comparing MRI scans, showing structure and function

Brain Stem

Central core of brain beginning where spinal cord swells as it enters the skull, responsible for automatic survival functions

Medulla

Base of brainstem, controls heartbeat and breathing

Thalamus

Sensory control center located on top of brainstem, directs messages to sensory receiving areas in cortex and transmits replies to cerebellum and medulla