unit 1 ap psych

Eugenics

the scientifically erroneous and immoral theory of "racial improvement" and "planned breeding"

Vestibular Sense

our balance sense; our sense of body movement and position that enables our sense of balance

Trichromatic Color Theory

The theory that the retina contains 3 different types of color receptors (red, green and blue), which, when stimulated, can produce the perception of any color

Transduction

conversion of one form of energy into another

in sensation; the transforming of physical energy like sights, sounds, and smells into neural impulses the brain can interpret

Place Theory

in hearing, the theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated

Opponent-Process Color Theory

opposing retinal processes (red/green, blue/yellow, white/black) enable color vision

Just-Noticeable Difference

minimum difference between 2 stimuli required for detection 50% of the time

Gate Control Theory

the theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological gate that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass onto the brain

the "gate" is opened by the activity of pain signls, traveling up small nerve fibers and is closed by activity in larger fibers or by info coming from the brain

Frequency Theory (Pitch Perception)

the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense it's pitch

Conduction Deafness

Less-common form of hearing loss, caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea

Accommodation

part of the adaptation process and involves altering one's existing schemas or ideas as a result of the new info and experiences

Somnambulism

sleepwalking

Sleep Apnea

a sleep disorder characterized cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings

REM Rebound

the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation

Narcolepsy

a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks; affected person may lapse directly into REM sleep, at inopportune times

Insomnia

recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

Hypagogic Sensations

life-like hallucinations that occur shortly after falling asleep (sensations of floating or falling)

Consolidation Dream Theory

the idea that sleep plays a crucial role in the process of converting short-term memories into long-term memories by strengthening neural connections

Circadian Rhythm

our biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24 hour cycle

Activation Synthesis Dream Theory

"dreams are the brains attempt to synthesize random neural activity" (Hobson and McCarley)

Split Brain Patient

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them (corpus callosum)

Pituitary Gland

"master gland" of the endocrine system; secretes hormones that regulate growth, development, and function

Limbic System

neural system located in the forebrain (below cerebral hemispheres)

includes:

amygdala, hippocampus, pituitary gland, hypothalamus, thalamus

• emotions and drives

Lesioning

tissue destruction (intentional) to treat certain disorders

FMRI (Functional MRI)

a technique for revealing blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans; show brain function and structure

EEG (Electroencephalogram)

amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brains surface (measured by electrodes placed on scalp)

Brain Plasticity

the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

Aphasia

impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impaired speaking) or to Wernicke's area (impaired understanding)

Stimulants

chemicals known to stimulate the nervous system

Reuptake

re-absorption of neurotransmitter into the neuron

Resting Potential

the electrical potential difference between the inside and outside of a neuron

Refractory Period

the recovery time that a neuron needs between action potentials

Inhibitory Neurotransmitter

Neurotransmitters that block or prevent the chemical message from being passed along any further

Excitatory Neurotransmitter

a neurotransmitter that causes a postsynaptic neuron to propagate more action potential

Depressants

drugs that slow down the activity of the central nervous system

Depolarization

movement of a cell's membrane potential to a more positive value

All-or-Nothing Principle

signal transmission between neurons is not dependent on the strength of the stimuli; only that the initial threshold is met

Antagonist Drugs

a chemical substance that binds to and blocks the activation of certain receptors on cells, preventing a biological response

Agonist Drugs

a substance that mimics the actions of a neurotransmitter or hormone to produce a response when it binds to a specific receptor in the brain

Sympathetic Nervous System

a network of nerves that helps your body activate it's "flight or fight" response

Somatic Nervous System

a component of the peripheral nervous system associated wit the voluntary control of body movements via skeletal muscles

Peripheral Nervous System

network of nerves that runs throughout head, neck, and body; carries messages to and from the CNS

Parasympathetic Nervous System

network of nerves that relaxes your body after periods of stress or danger; helps run life-sustaining processes

Central Nervous System

brain and spinal cord; collects info from sensory nerves to process and respond to them

Automatic Nervous System

the portion of the nervous system innervating smooth muscles and glands, including circulatory, digestive, respiratory, and reproductive organs

Twin Studies

studies conducted on identical/fraternal twins

Natural Selection

the way any genetically determined behavior that enhances the ability to survive and reproduce will continue in future generations