AP PSYCH STUDY GUIDE

specificity

when certain brain parts that have specific functions

neuroplasticity

the ability within the brain to constantly change both the structure and function of many cells in response to experience or trauma

split-brain patients

corpus collosum is severed, two hemispheres of the brain don't communicate as effectively

correlation

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

correlational research

Non-experimental research method which studies the relationship between two variables with the help of statistical analysis.

correlation coefficient

A numerical index of the degree of relationship between two variables.

scatter plot

A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope of the points suggests the direction of the relationship between the two variables. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation

positive correlation

a relationship between two variables in which both variables either increase or decrease together

negative correlation

as one variable increases, the other decreases

no correlation

there does not appear to be a relationship between two sets of data

experiment

a research method for investigating cause and effect under highly controlled conditions

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

a group that reviews the methods used in research to ensure it is ethical

the nervous system

the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems

central nervous system

consists of the brain and spinal cord; interacts with the body processes

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

somatic nervous system

controls body's voluntary processes

autonomic nervous system

controls body's involuntary movement

sympathetic nervous system

a set of nerves that prepares the body for action in challenging or threatening situations

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

resting potential

the state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse

action potential

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

refractory period

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

all or none principle

the law that the neuron either fires at 100% or not at all

acetylcholine

enables muscle action, learning, and memory

dopamine

influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion

gaba

inhibits excitation and anxiety

endorphins

relieves pain, stress and increases sense of well-being

serotonin

mood, hunger, sleep,

epinephrine and norepinephrine

fight-or-flight responses, wakefulness, alertness

substance p

involved in pain perception and immune response and inflammation

Glutamate

involved in learning, memory, mood regulation and neural communication

activation-synthesis theory

dreams are caused by widespread, random activation of neural circuitry

Consolidation therapy

dreams consolidate memories to be organized in a more permanent and long term way

memory consolidation theory

to process memories from the day prior and restore the fading memories

repair and restoration theory

to repair brain tissue, restore homeostasis of body chemical, pituitary gland releases growth hormones and brain cleans itself of toxins and waste produced

sleep deprivation

lack of sleep leading to higher levels of stress, weight gain and premature aging

somnambulism

sleepwalking; treatment - melatonin, medication, remove safety risks and lifestyle changes

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. Treatment: medication and lifestyle change

sleep apnea

failure to breathe when sleeping; treatments: weight loss, surgery and lifestyle changes

insomnia

inability to sleep; treatment - melatonin, medicine, lifestyle change

rem sleep behavior disorder

to move while sleeping (kicking or hitting while asleep); treatment - melatonin, medication, safety measures

sleeping stages

Brain activity, eye movements, and muscle tension
- Stage 1 and 2 - light sleep, sleep spindles (burst of brain activity)
- Stage 3 - Transitional Stage
- Stage 4 - Deepest Sleep (least responsive)
- Stage 5 - Rapid Eye Movement (REM), increase heart rate, breathing, and eye movements; genitals are aroused, major muscles appear to be paralyzed, and most dreams occur here; This cycle repeats itself about every 90 minutes

rods

Retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray

cones

photoreceptors that detect color and detail
blue = short wavelength
green = medium wavelength
red = long wavelength

fovea

the central focal point in the retina, around which the eye's cones cluster

three types of cones (Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic theory)

red - long cones
green - medium cones
blue - short cones -

opponent-process theory

the theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable color vision.

dichromatism

Only 2 cone types are functional

monochromatism

the inability to distinguish colors; also known as color blindness

Prosopagnosia

inability to recognize faces

adrenaline (hormone)

increases heart rate and blood pressure, fight or flight response, and assists in glucose metabolism

ghrelin (hormone)

increases hunger, and stimulates growth hormone release

leptin (hormone)

suppresses appetite, regulates energy so body is not hunger

Oxytocin (hormone)

controls maternal behavior, parent-infant bonding, romantic trust, recognition and attachment

melatonin (hormone)

body clock, induces sleep, anti-aging

pituitary gland

master gland; in charge of regulating hormones