AP Psych Unit 1 Test Study Guide

Temporal Lobe

Temporal Lobe

responsible for processing auditory info. involved in language comprehension and memory

Hippocampus

formation of new explicit memories and spatial navigation.

Dopamine and reward response

Neurotransmitter associated with pleasure

Broca's Area

Responsible for speech production

damage results in difficulty speaking but comprehension remains.

Wernicke's Area

Responsible for understanding language

damage leads to fluent but nonsensical speech.

Hypothalamus (Hunger Regulation)

Plays a role in homeostasis

Cerebellum

Involved in coordination of voluntary movements and balance.

Acetylcholine Blockage

Muscle paralysis due to inhibition of neurotransmitter release at neuromuscular junctions.

Amygdala

Critical for emotion regulation

Hypothalamus (Sleep Regulation)

Regulates circadian rhythms and sleep-wake cycles.

Frontal Lobes

Involved in executive functions including attention

Parkinson's Disease

Associated with loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra

Occipital Lobe

Responsible for processing visual information

damage can lead to visual deficits.

Right Hemisphere Damage

Involved in recognizing faces and interpreting non-verbal cues.

fMRI

Used to observe blood flow and neural activity

indicates engagement in memory tasks.

Serotonin

neurotransmitter associated with mood

commonly targeted by antidepressants.

Parietal Lobe

Processes sensory information including temperature and pain.

GABA and Anxiety Reduction

An inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces neuronal excitability

often targeted for anxiety relief.

Cortisol Release

Released by the adrenal gland during stress

high levels can impair memory function.

Alcohol's Effect on Memory

Alcohol disrupts the encoding of new memories

Dichotic Listening

Suggests the left hemisphere's dominance in language processing since verbal information presented to the right ear is recalled faster.

Eye Movements

Constant quivering of the eyes helps to minimize sensory adaptation

REM Sleep

Critical for memory consolidation

REM rebound indicates the body's need for REM sleep.

Independent Variable

The factor that researchers manipulate

in the alcohol study

it's whether participants believed they consumed alcohol.

Dependent Variable

The outcome measured in the experiment

in this context

it's the level of sexual fantasies reported.

Placebo Effect

A phenomenon where participants experience changes due to their expectations rather than the treatment itself.

Phantom Limb Sensations

After losing a limb

Nociceptors and Pain Transmission

Specialized sensory receptors that detect harmful stimuli and send pain signals to the central nervous system.

Opponent-Process Theory of Color Vision

Explains color perception based on opposing pairs

exposure to one color inhibits the perception of its opponent.

Endorphins

Natural painkillers released during stress or pain

individuals with higher levels may experience reduced pain sensitivity.

Melatonin

A hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles

production increases in darkness

promoting sleepiness.

Motor Cortex

Controls voluntary movements of the body.

Anterograde Amnesia

Inability to form new memories post-injury.

Thalamus

Relay station for sensory information

not memory-related.

Dopamine Pathways

Neural pathways that affect mood and behavior.

Hypothalamus

Regulates hunger

Lateral Hypothalamus

Stimulates hunger

part of the hypothalamus.

Ventromedial Hypothalamus

Signals satiety

part of the hypothalamus.

Cerebellum Damage

Leads to poor coordination and clumsiness in movements.

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter crucial for learning and memory formation.

Acetylcholine Blockade

Blocks receptors

Muscle Activation

Triggered by acetylcholine in the peripheral nervous system.

Attention

Maintained by acetylcholine for alertness in the brain.

Flashcards

Study tool for key terms and concepts.

Group Study

Discuss concepts with peers for better retention.

Visualization

Use diagrams to understand brain structures and functions.

Broca's Aphasia

Effortful speech with intact comprehension.

Wernicke's Aphasia

Fluent but nonsensical speech with poor comprehension.

Motor Control

Ability to execute voluntary movements.

Phineas Gage

Famous case study on brain injury effects.

Practice Questions

Test knowledge on learned material.

Summarization

Write summaries to reinforce understanding.