AP Psych “The Beast”

What is an illusory correlation?

A belief in a correlation that doesn't exist, such as predicting rain from arthritis.

What is the focus of structuralism in psychology?

To determine the underlying structures of the mind using introspection.

What is the main advantage of naturalistic observation?

It provides real-world validity by observing people in their own settings.

What is a key disadvantage of naturalistic observation?

It does not establish cause and effect.

What is a case study in psychology?

An in-depth analysis of a single individual, providing detailed information but lacking cause and effect.

What is the dependent variable in an experiment?

The variable that is measured and is dependent on the independent variable.

What does the term 'double-blind' refer to in experiments?

An experimental design where neither the participant nor the experimenter knows which condition participants are assigned to.

What is the purpose of operational definitions in research?

To provide clear, precise, and quantifiable definitions of variables, allowing for replication.

What does random assignment achieve in experimental research?

It minimizes bias and increases the chance of equal representation among groups.

What is the difference between basic research and applied research?

Basic research aims to increase knowledge, while applied research aims to help people.

What does statistical significance indicate in research?

It indicates that the results are not due to chance and that the experimental manipulation caused the difference in means.

What is the purpose of ethical guidelines in psychological research?

To ensure confidentiality, informed consent, debriefing, and to prevent harm to participants.

What is the placebo effect?

The phenomenon where participants show behaviors associated with the experimental group after receiving a placebo.

What is the main disadvantage of experiments in psychology?

They can be difficult to generalize to the broader population.

What is the role of the independent variable in an experiment?

It is purposefully altered by the researcher to look for an effect.

What is a positive correlation?

A relationship where two variables increase or decrease together.

What is a negative correlation?

A relationship where one variable increases while the other decreases.

What is the third variable problem in correlation studies?

The issue where a lurking variable may influence the relationship between two other variables.

Who was Mary Calkins?

The first female president of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Who was Wilhelm Wundt?

The father of modern psychology and a structuralist.

What is the significance of the mean in descriptive statistics?

It is the average value used in normal distributions.

What is the median in descriptive statistics?

The middle number in a data set, used in skewed distributions.

What is a representative sample?

A sample that mimics the general population in terms of key demographics.

What is the purpose of debriefing in psychological research?

To inform participants of the true purpose of the study after it has concluded.

What is the basic cell of the nervous system?

Neuron.

What neurotransmitters are mentioned in the notes?

Epinephrine and Norepinephrine.

What is the function of the corpus callosum?

It connects the two hemispheres of the brain.

What happens to patients with a severed corpus callosum?

They become 'split-brain patients'.

What is the role of dendrites in a neuron?

They receive incoming signals.

What is the soma of a neuron?

The cell body that includes the nucleus.

What is the function of the axon?

It is where the action potential travels down.

What does the myelin sheath do?

It speeds up the action potential and protects the axon.

What are terminals in a neuron?

They release neurotransmitters to send signals.

What is the function of endorphins?

Pain control.

What is the role of oxytocin?

It is involved in love and bonding.

What is an agonist?

A drug that mimics a neurotransmitter.

What is an antagonist?

A drug that blocks a neurotransmitter.

What is reuptake in the context of neurotransmitters?

The process where unused neurotransmitters are taken back up into the sending neuron.

What is the action potential?

The movement of sodium and potassium ions across the membrane that sends an electrical charge down the axon.

What is the all-or-none law in relation to action potentials?

A stimulus must trigger the action potential past its threshold; it does not increase the intensity of the response.

What is the refractory period?

The time during which a neuron must rest before it can send another action potential.

What is brain plasticity?

The brain's ability to heal and reset itself.

What is the role of the reticular formation?

It is involved in alertness.

What are the components of the limbic system mentioned?

Amygdala (emotions, fear), Hippocampus (memory), Hypothalamus (reward/pleasure).

What is the function of the thalamus?

It acts as a relay center for all senses except smell.

What is the role of the pituitary gland?

It is controlled by the hypothalamus and releases growth hormones.

What are the types of twins mentioned in the notes?

Identical twins (monozygotic) and fraternal twins (dizygotic).

What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?

Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

What does EEG measure?

Brain activity, but it is not specific.

Which imaging techniques show structures like tumors?

CT and MRI scans.

What does a PET scan measure?

Glucose metabolism to show brain activity.

What are the main functions of the Frontal Lobe?

Decision making, planning, judgment, movement, and personality.

What is the role of the Somatic Nervous System?

It controls voluntary movements.

What does the Autonomic Nervous System regulate?

Involuntary functions such as heart rate and breathing.

What is the function of the Sympathetic Nervous System?

It arouses the body for fight or flight responses.

What does the Parasympathetic Nervous System do?

It establishes homeostasis after a sympathetic response.

What are neurotransmitters?

Chemicals released in the synaptic gap that are received by neurons.

What is the role of GABA?

It is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter.

What does Dopamine regulate?

Reward and movement.

What is the function of Serotonin?

It influences moods and emotions.

What is the significance of Broca's Area?

It is involved in the production of speech; damage results in Broca's aphasia.

What does Wernicke's Area do?

It is involved in language comprehension; damage results in Wernicke's aphasia.

What are the stages of NREM sleep?

Stage 1: light sleep, Stage 2: sleep spindles, Stage 3: deep sleep (Delta waves).

What happens during REM sleep?

Dreaming and cognitive processing occur.

What is the Circadian Rhythm?

A 24-hour cycle that regulates biological processes.

What is the Absolute Threshold?

The minimum signal detection 50% of the time.

What is the Difference Threshold (Just Noticeable Difference)?

The smallest change in stimulus that can be detected, following Weber's Law.

What is Visual Capture?

The visual system can overwhelm other senses, such as in an IMAX theater.

What is the Phi Phenomenon?

The perception of motion when adjacent lights blink on and off in succession.

What is Stroboscopic Movement?

The perception of motion produced by rapid succession of slightly varying images.

What is sensory adaptation?

Diminished sensitivity as a result of constant stimulation.

What is sensory habituation?

Diminished sensitivity due to regular exposure.

What is the role of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)?

It controls the biological clock, including body temperature and sleep.

What is insomnia?

Inability to fall asleep, often due to stress or anxiety.

What are night terrors?

Extreme nightmares that occur during sleep, typical in children and not during REM sleep.

What is narcolepsy?

A condition where a person falls asleep unexpectedly, often due to a deficiency in orexin.

What is sleep apnea?

A disorder characterized by sudden stops in breathing while asleep, often due to obesity.

What is the cocktail party effect?

The ability to notice your name being spoken across the room when you weren't previously paying attention.

What is the difference between latent content and manifest content in dreams?

Latent content refers to the hidden meaning of dreams, while manifest content is the obvious storyline.

What is activation synthesis theory?

The theory that dreams are produced by random bursts of energy in the brain, which then develop meaning.

What are binocular cues for depth perception?

Retinal disparity and convergence, which help determine depth based on the images cast on each retina.

What is top-down processing?

A cognitive process where the whole is perceived before the individual parts.

What is bottom-up processing?

A cognitive process where smaller parts are combined to form a whole.

What are depressants?

Drugs like alcohol, barbiturates, and tranquilizers that decrease sympathetic nervous system activation.

What are stimulants?

Drugs like amphetamines and cocaine that increase sympathetic nervous system activation.

What are hallucinogens?

Drugs like LSD and marijuana that can cause hallucinations and are less addictive.

What is the auditory pathway?

Sound travels from the pinna to the auditory canal, then to the ear drum, ossicles, oval window, cochlea, auditory nerve, and finally to the temporal lobes.

What is the function of rods and cones in the retina?

Rods detect black and white in dim light, while cones detect color in bright light.

What is the function of feature detectors in the visual system?

Specialized cells that see motion, shapes, lines, etc.

What is linear perspective?

A monocular cue where parallel lines converge with distance, making objects appear further away.

What is texture gradient?

A monocular cue where coarser objects appear closer and hazy objects appear further away.

What is interposition?

A monocular cue where overlapping images indicate that one object is closer than another.

What is relative size?

A monocular cue where two objects of similar size are perceived as different distances based on their size.

What part of the brain is involved in processing visual information?

The occipital lobe.

What are the three theories of color vision?

Trichromatic theory, Opponent Process theory, and Place theory.

What does the Trichromatic theory explain?

It explains color vision through three types of cones sensitive to blue, red, and green.

What does the Opponent Process theory explain?

It explains color vision through complementary colors and accounts for afterimages.

What is Place theory in relation to sound perception?

It states that the location where hair cells bend in the cochlea determines the pitch of sound.

What is Frequency theory in relation to sound perception?

It states that the rate at which action potentials are sent determines the perception of sound pitch.

What is the McGurk effect?

It is a phenomenon where visual information overrides auditory information, leading to a different perception of sound.