AP Psychology Complete Study Guide (Alex Lopez)

Broca's Area

A region in the left frontal lobe associated with speech production; damage leads to expressive aphasia.

Wernicke's Area

A region in the left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension; damage results in receptive aphasia.

Lesions

Precise destruction of brain tissue used to study loss of function in specific brain areas.

Split Brain

Condition resulting from the severing of the corpus callosum, revealing specialization of left and right brain hemispheres.

CAT (CT) Scan

Creates two-dimensional brain images using X-rays to reveal lesions.

MRI

Uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create images of the brain based on tissue density.

EEG

Records electrical brain activity through electrodes on the scalp.

fMRI

Functional MRI that shows brain activity by detecting changes in blood oxygenation.

Neurons

Basic units of the nervous system responsible for transmitting information.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter that influences movement, alertness, and hormone synthesis.

Glutamate

The main excitatory neurotransmitter vital for information processing and memory.

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter associated with mood, emotional stability, and various neural functions.

GABA

An inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces neuronal excitability.

Action Potential

A rapid rise and fall in membrane potential resulting from sodium ions influx.

Saltatory Conduction

Increased conduction speed in myelinated axons as depolarizations jump between nodes of Ranvier.

Reflex Arc

The neural pathway involved in a reflex action, typically comprising sensory, interneuron, and motor neurons.

Endocrine System

Hormonal system consisting of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream to regulate bodily functions.

Circadian Rhythm

Natural internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle, repeating roughly every 24 hours.

Hypothalamus

Brain area controlling hormones, bodily functions, and circadian rhythms.

Freud's Manifest Content

The remembered storyline of a dream as interpreted in dream analysis.

Cognitive Dissonance

Mental discomfort arising from inconsistent actions and beliefs, often motivating attitude change.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

A motivational theory comprising a pyramid of human needs from physiological to self-actualization.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a rewarding stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior recurring.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing an aversive stimulus to increase a behavior's occurrence.

Vicarious Learning

Learning that occurs by observing the behaviors of others and the consequences of those behaviors.

Operant Conditioning

A learning principle involving the alteration of behavior through rewards or punishments.

Anxiety Disorders

Psychological disorders characterized by excessive and persistent fear or anxiety.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A form of therapy that helps individuals change negative thought patterns to improve their emotional responses.

Psychosomatic Disorders

Physical symptoms that arise from psychological factors rather than direct physiological causes.

Somatic Symptom Disorder

A psychological disorder characterized by an intense preoccupation with physical symptoms.

Self-Actualization

The realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potential, considered a fundamental goal in humanistic psychology.