Untitled Flashcard Set

šŸ§  NERVOUS SYSTEM & BIOLOGICAL THEORIES

All-or-None Law

  • A neuron fires completely or not at all

  • No half-strength action potentials

Gate Control Theory (Pain)

  • The spinal cord contains a ā€œgateā€ that blocks or allows pain signals

  • Explains why rubbing an injury reduces pain

Feature Detection Theory (Vision)

  • The brain has neurons that respond to specific visual features

  • Lines, edges, angles, movement

Feature Integration Theory

  • We perceive objects by combining individual features

  • Requires attention to bind features together

šŸ‘ SENSATION & PERCEPTION THEORIES

Youngā€“Helmholtz Trichromatic Theory

  • Three cones (red, green, blue)

  • Explains color vision at the retinal level

Opponent-Process Theory

  • Color vision uses opposing pairs

  • Redā€“green, blueā€“yellow, blackā€“white

  • Explains afterimages

Place Theory (Hearing)

  • Pitch is determined by where the sound wave hits the basilar membrane

  • Best for high-frequency sounds

Frequency Theory (Hearing)

  • Pitch is determined by how often the auditory nerve fires

  • Best for low-frequency sounds

Temporal Coding

  • Groups of neurons fire in rapid bursts to represent intermediate frequencies

šŸ§¬ GENETICS & DEVELOPMENT

Nature via Nurture

  • Genes and environment interact

  • Rejects the false nature vs nurture debate

Neuroplasticity

  • The brain can reorganize itself

  • Especially strong after injury or during development

šŸŒ™ CONSCIOUSNESS & DREAMING THEORIES

Activation-Synthesis Hypothesis

  • Dreams are the brainā€™s attempt to make sense of random neural firing

  • No hidden meaning required

Neurocognitive Theory of Dreaming

  • Dreams reflect thinking, memory, and emotion

  • Extension of waking cognitive processes

šŸŒ€ HYPNOSIS THEORIES

Dissociation Theory

  • Hypnosis is a split in consciousness

  • People experience divided awareness

Social Influence Theory

  • Hypnosis results from social expectations

  • People act how they believe hypnotized people should act

šŸ§  SENSORY RECEPTORS (THE ONES YOU MUST KNOW)

1. Photoreceptors (Vision)

  • Detect light

  • Located in the retina

  • Two types:

    • Rods ā†’ black & white, night vision, peripheral vision

    • Cones ā†’ color vision, detail, daylight

2. Mechanoreceptors (Touch, Hearing, Balance)

  • Detect pressure, vibration, movement

  • Examples:

    • Touch receptors in skin

    • Hair cells in the cochlea (hearing)

    • Vestibular system (balance)

3. Thermoreceptors (Temperature)

  • Detect heat and cold

  • Found in skin and body tissues

4. Chemoreceptors (Taste & Smell)

  • Detect chemical molecules

  • Used for:

    • Gustation (taste)

    • Olfaction (smell)

5. Nociceptors (Pain)

  • Detect tissue damage

  • Trigger pain signals

  • Interact with gate control theory

šŸ§  BODY POSITION RECEPTORS

6. Proprioceptors

  • Detect body position & movement

  • Found in:

    • Muscles

    • Tendons

    • Joints

7. Vestibular Receptors (Balance)

  • Located in:

    • Semicircular canals

    • Otolith organs

  • Detect:

    • Head movement

    • Balance

    • Acceleration

šŸ‘… TASTE RECEPTORS (EXTRA CREDIT LEVEL)

Taste Bud Receptors

  • Detect:

    • Sweet

    • Sour

    • Salty

    • Bitter

    • Umami

  • Found on the tongue (papillae)

šŸ‘‚ HEARING-SPECIFIC STRUCTURES (AP LOVES THESE)

  • Hair cells ā†’ mechanoreceptors

  • Basilar membrane ā†’ pitch detection

  • Organ of Corti ā†’ sound transduction