AP Psych Terms 1.7-1.10

Consciousness

The state of being aware and able to perceive one’s thoughts, feelings, sensations, and surroundings

Circadian Rhythm

The natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours

NREM Stage 1

The initial stage of non-REM sleep, lasting a few minutes, characterized by drifting in and out of sleep, lasting a few minutes.

NREM Stage 2

The second stage of non-REM sleep, characterized by light sleep, lasting about 20 minutes. Brain waves slow, K-complexes appear.

NREM Stage 3

Deepest stage of non-REM characterized by the presence of delta waves. Replenishes energy, repairs tissues, etc.

REM (Rapid Eye Movement)

Stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements, vivid dreams, and muscle paralysis. Increased brain activity, and role in memory consolidation.

REM Rebound

Body increases the time spent in REM sleep after a period of REM deprivation.

Activation Synthesis (Dreams)

Theory proposing that dreams are the result of random neural activity in the brainstem during REM, which is interpreted and synthesized into a narrative.

Consolidation Theory

Theory suggesting that dreams play a role in memory consolidation by organizing and integrating information acquired throughout the day.

Insomnia

Sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restorative sleep.

Narcolepsy

Sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden episodes of muscle weakness, sleep paralysis, and hallucinations.

Psychoactive Drugs

Substances that alter brain function, leading to changes in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior.

Reuptake Inhibitors

Medications that block the reabsorption of neurotransmitters by the sending neuron, increasing concentration of neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft.

Stimulants

Drugs that increase neural activity and arousal. Ex: cocaine and caffeine

Depressants

Drugs that slow down neural activity and bodily functions. Ex: alcohol, marijuana,

Sensation

Process by which sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment.

Transduction

Conversion of sensory stimuli into neural impulses that can be understood by the brain.

Absolute Threshold

Minimum amount of stimulation required for a stimulus to be detected by a sensory system.

Difference Threshold (Just-Noticeable Difference)

The smallest change in a stimulus that can be detected by an individual.

Weber’s Law

The perceived difference in a stimulus must be proportional to the original intensity of the stimulus.

Sensory Adaptation

Process by which sensory receptors become less responsive to constant stimuli over time.

Synthesisa

Condition in which stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in another sensory pathway.

Retina

The light sensitive inner surface of the eye containing photoreceptor cells.

Blind Spot

Area on the retina where the optic nerve exits the eye, lacking photoreceptor cells.

Accommodation

The process by which the lens of the eye changes its shape to focus on objects at different distances.

Afterimage

Visual sensations that persist after a stimulus is removed.

Dichromatism

Color vision deficiency where an individual only has two types of functioning cone cells.

Monochromatism

Form of color blindness where an individual only has one functioning cone or none.