changeblindnessfailing to noticechanges in theenvironment; aform ofinattentionalblindness.higher-orderconditioninga procedure in which theconditioned stimulus in oneconditioning experience ispaired with a new neutralstimulus, creating a second(often weaker) conditionedstimulus. For example, ananimal that has learnedthat a tone predicts foodmight theadrenalglandsa pair of endocrineglands that sit justabove the kidneys andsecrete hormones(epinephrine andnorepinephrine) thathelp arouse the bodyin times of stress.MichaelGazzanigasplit-brain research;understanding offunctionallateralization in thebrain; how thecerebral hemispherescommunicatephiphenomenonan illusion ofmovement createdwhen two or moreadjacent lights blinkon and off in quicksuccessionAlbertBanduraresearcher famousfor work inobservational orsocial learningincluding thefamous Bobo dollexperimentconsciousnessourawarenessof ourselvesand ourenvironment.amygdalatwo lima-bean-sized neuralclusters in thelimbic system;linked toemotion.generalizationthe tendency, once aresponse has beenconditioned, for stimulisimilar to the conditionedstimulus to elicit similarresponses. (In operantconditioning, generalizationoccurs when responseslearned in one situationoccur in other, similarsitutemporallobesportion of thecerebral cortex lyingroughly above theears; includes theauditory areas, eachreceiving informationprimarily from theopposite ear.CT(computedtomography)scan a series of X-rayphotographs takenfrom different anglesand combined bycomputer into acompositerepresentation of aslice of the brain'sstructure.opponent-processtheorythe theory that opposingretinal processes (red-green, blue-yellow, white-black) enable color vision.For example, some cellsare stimulated by greenand inhibited by red; othersare stimulated by red andinhibited by green.classicalconditioninga type of learning in whichwe link two or more stimuli;as a result, to illustrate withPavlov's classicexperiment, the firststimulus (a tone) comes toelicit behavior (drooling) inanticipation of the secondstimulus (food). (MyersPsychologysympatheticnervoussystemthe division of theautonomic nervoussystem that arousesthe body, mobilizingits energy in stressfulsituations.sensoryadaptationdiminishedsensitivity as aconsequence ofconstantstimulation.neurogenesistheformationof newneurons.EdwardTolmancognitivepsychologist;latent learningand cognitivemapmiddleearthe chamber between theeardrum and cochleacontaining three tiny bones(hammer, anvil, and stirrup)that concentrate thevibrations of the eardrumon the cochlea's ovalwindow.pitcha tone'sexperiencedhighness orlowness;depends onfrequency.habituationdecreasingresponsiveness withrepeated exposure toa stimulus. (MyersPsychology for AP 3epp. 271, 491)B.F.SkinnerBehaviorist thatdeveloped thetheory of operantconditioning bytraining pigeonsand ratscognitivelearningthe acquisition ofmental information,whether by observingevents, by watchingothers, or throughlanguage. (MyersPsychology for AP 3ep. 272)endocrinesystemthe body's "slow"chemicalcommunicationsystem; a set ofglands that secretehormones into thebloodstream.JohnB.Watsonbehaviorism; emphasison external behaviorsof people and theirreactions on a givensituation; famous forLittle Albert study inwhich baby was taughtto fear a white ratpupilthe adjustableopening in thecenter of theeye throughwhich lightenters.PaulBrocadiscovered area inthe brain (namedfor him) in the leftfrontal loberesponsible forlanguageproductioncorpuscallosumthe large band ofneural fibersconnecting the twobrain hemispheresand carryingmessages betweenthem.differencethresholdthe minimum differencebetween two stimulirequired for detection50 percent of the time.We experience thedifference threshold asa just noticeabledifference (or jnd).negativereinforcementincreasing behaviors bystopping or reducingaversive stimuli. A negativereinforcer is any stimulusthat, when removed after aresponse, strengthens theresponse. (Note: Negativereinforcement is notpunishment.) (MyersPsychology for AP 3e p. motionparallaxmonocular depthcues in whichobjects closer to usseem to move at afaster pace thanthose that arefarther away,motor(efferent)neuronsneurons that carryoutgoinginformation fromthe brain andspinal cord to themuscles andglands.refractoryperioda period ofinactivityafter aneuron hasfired.signaldetectiontheorya theory predicting howand when we detect thepresence of a faint stimulus(signal) amid backgroundstimulation (noise).Assumes there is no singleabsolute threshold and thatdetection depends partlyon a person's experience,expectations, motiunconditionedresponse(UR)in classical conditioning, anunlearned, naturallyoccurring response (suchas salivation) to anunconditioned stimulus(US) (such as food in themouth). (Myers Psychologyfor AP 3e p. 274)somatosensorycortexarea at the front ofthe parietal lobes thatregisters andprocesses bodytouch and movementsensations.perceptualseta mentalpredispositionto perceiveone thing andnot another.cerebellumthe "little brain" at therear of the brainstem;functions includeprocessing sensoryinput, coordinatingmovement output andbalance, and enablingnonverbal learning andmemory.continuousreinforcementschedulereinforcing thedesired responseevery time itoccurs. (MyersPsychology for AP3e p. 287)transductionconversion of one formof energy into another.In sensation, thetransforming ofstimulus energies,such as sights,sounds, and smells,into neural impulsesour brain can interpret.parrallelprocessingthe processingof manyaspects of aproblemsimultaneouslyall-or-noneresponsea neuron'sreaction of eitherfiring (with a full-strength response)or not firing.operantconditioninga type of learning inwhich a behaviorbecomes more likely torecur if followed by areinforcer or less likelyto recur if followed by apunisher. (MyersPsychology for AP 3ep. 283)wavelengththe distance from the peakof one light or sound waveto the peak of the next.Electromagneticwavelengths vary from theshort blips of gamma raysto the long pulses of radiotransmission. (MyersPsychology for AP 3e p.177)law ofeffectThorndike's principle thatbehaviors followed byfavorable consequencesbecome more likely, andthat behaviors followed byunfavorable consequencesbecome less likely. (MyersPsychology for AP 3e p.283)frequencythe number ofcompletewavelengths thatpass a point in agiven time (forexample, persecond).kinesthesiaour movement sense—our system forsensing the positionand movement ofindividual body arts.frontallobesportion of thecerebral cortex lyingjust behind theforehead; involved inspeaking and musclemovements and inmaking plans andjudgments.rodsretinal receptors thatdetect black, white,and gray, and aresensitive to movement;necessary forperipheral and twilightvision, when conesdon't respond.conditionedstimulus(CS)in classical conditioning, anoriginally neutral stimulusthat, after association withan unconditioned stimulus(US), comes to trigger aconditioned response (CR).(Myers Psychology for AP3e p. 274)fixed-intervalschedulein operant conditioning,a reinforcementschedule thatreinforces a responseonly after a specifiedtime has elapsed.(Myers Psychology forAP 3e p. 288)corneathe eye's clear,protective outerlayer, coveringthe pupil andiris.gate-controltheorythe theory that the spinalcord contains aneurological "gate" thatblocks pain signals orallows them to pass on tothe brain. The "gate" isopened by the activity ofpain signals traveling upsmall nerve fibers and isclosed by activity in largthalamusthe brain's sensory controlcenter, located on top ofthe brainstem; it directsmessages to the sensoryreceiving areas in thecortex and transmits repliesto the cerebellum andmedullaagonista molecule that,by binding to areceptor site,stimulates aresponseendorphins"morphinewithin"—natural,opiate-likeneurotransmitterslinked to paincontrol and topleasure.variable-intervalschedulein operant conditioning,a reinforcementschedule thatreinforces a responseat unpredictable timeintervals. (MyersPsychology for AP 3ep. 288)occipitallobesportion of thecerebral cortex lyingat the back of thehead; includes areasthat receiveinformation from thevisual fields.discrimination(1) in classical conditioning,the learned ability todistinguish between aconditioned stimulus andsimilar stimuli that do notsignal an unconditionedstimulus. (In operantconditioning, the ability todistinguish responses thatare reinforceddendritesa neuron's bushy,branching extensionsthat receivemessages andconduct impulsestoward the cell body.variable-ratioschedulein operant conditioning,a reinforcementschedule thatreinforces a responseafter an unpredictablenumber of responses.(Myers Psychology forAP 3e p. 288)gestaltan organized whole.Gestalt psychologistsemphasized ourtendency to integratepieces of informationinto meaningfulwholes.auditionthe senseor act ofhearing.inattentionalblindnessfailing to seevisible objectswhen ourattention isdirectedelsewherelatentlearninglearning that occursbut is not apparentuntil there is anincentive todemonstrate it.(Myers Psychologyfor AP 3e p. 304)somaticnervoussystemthe division of theperipheral nervoussystem that controlsthe body's skeletalmuscles. (Also calledthe skeletal nervoussystem.)learnedhelplessnessthe hopelessness andpassive resignation ananimal or personlearns when unable toavoid repeatedaversive events.(Myers Psychology forAP 3e p. 307)unconditionedstimulus (US)in classical conditioning, astimulus thatunconditionally—naturallyand automatically—triggersan unconditioned responseUR). (Myers Psychology forAP 3e p. 274)conditionedresponse(CR)in classicalconditioning, alearned response toa previously neutral(but now conditioned)stimulus (CS). (MyersPsychology for AP 3ep. 274)reinforcementin operantconditioning, anyevent thatstrengthens thebehavior it follows.(Myers Psychologyfor AP 3e p. 284)secondary(conditioned)reinforcera stimulus thatgains itsreinforcing powerthrough itsassociation with aprimary reinforcerpositivereinforcementincreasing behaviors bypresenting positivereinforcers. A positivereinforcer is any stimulusthat, when presented aftera response, strengthensthe response. (MyersPsychology for AP 3e p.285)punishmentan event thattends to decreasethe behavior that itfollows. (MyersPsychology for AP3e p. 289)RogerSperrylike Gazzaniga,studied split brainpatients; showedthat left/righthemispheres havedifferent functionsneurona nerve cell;the basicbuilding blockof the nervoussystem.peripheralnervoussystem(PNS)the sensory andmotor neurons thatconnect thecentral nervoussystem (CNS) tothe rest of thebody.electroencephalogram(EEG)an amplified recordingof the waves ofelectrical activitysweeping across thebrain's surface. Thesewaves are measuredby electrodes placedon the scalp.sensory(afferent)neuronsneurons that carryincominginformation fromthe sensoryreceptors to thebrain and spinalcordnervoussystemthe body's speedy,electrochemicalcommunicationnetwork, consisting ofall the nerve cells ofthe peripheral andcentral nervoussystems.acquisitionin classical conditioning theinitial stage, when one linksa neutral stimulus and anunconditioned stimulus sothat the neutral stimulusbegins triggering theconditioned response. Inoperant conditioning, thestrengthening of areinforced respoIvanPavlovRussian physiologist;discovered classicalconditioning; traineddogs to salivate atthe ringing of a bellpituitaryglandthe endocrine system'smost influential gland.Under the influence ofthe hypothalamus, thepituitary regulatesgrowth and controlsother endocrineglands.hypothalamusa neural structure lyingbelow (hypo) the thalamus;it directs severalmaintenance activities(eating, drinking, bodytemperature), helps governthe endocrine system viathe pituitary gland, and islinked to emotion andreward.irisa ring of muscletissue that forms thecolored portion of theeye around the pupiland controls the sizeof the pupil opening.bottom-upprocessinganalysis that beginswith the sensoryreceptors and worksup to the brain'sintegration of sensoryinformation.centralnervoussystem(CNS)the brainand spinalcord.figure-groundthe organization ofthe visual field intoobjects (the figures)that stand out fromtheir surroundings(the ground).selectiveattentionthe focusingof consciousawareness ona particularstimulusconesretinal receptors thatare concentrated nearthe center of the retinaand that function indaylight or in well-litconditions. Conesdetect fine detail andgive rise to colorsensations.cochleaa coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the innerear; sound wavestraveling through thecochlear fluid triggernerve impulses.myelinsheatha fatty tissue layersegmentally encasingthe axons of someneurons; enablesvastly greatertransmission speed asneural impulses hopfrom one node to thenext.EdwardThorndikePioneer in operantconditioning whodiscovered conceptsin instrumentallearning such as thelaw of effect. Knownfor his work with catsin puzzle boxes.reticularformationa nerve network thattravels through thebrainstem andthalamus and playsan important role incontrolling arousal.modelingthe process ofobserving andimitating a specificbehavior. (MyersPsychology for AP3e p. 312)subliminalbelow one'sabsolutethreshold forconsciousawarenesssensorineuralhearing losshearing loss caused bydamage to thecochlea's receptor cellsor to the auditorynerves; the mostcommon form ofhearing loss, alsocalled nerve deafness.binocularcuea depth cue,such as retinaldisparity, thatdepends on theuse of two eyes.huethe dimension ofcolor that isdetermined by thewavelength of light;what we know as thecolor names blue,green, and so forth.glialcells(glia)cells in the nervoussystem that support,nourish, and protectneurons; they mayalso play a role inlearning and thinking.placetheoryin hearing, the theorythat links the pitch wehear with the placewhere the cochlea'smembrane isstimulated.thresholdthe level ofstimulationrequired totrigger a neuralimpulse.MRI(magneticresonanceimaging)a technique that usesmagnetic fields andradio waves toproduce computer -generated images ofsoft tissue. MRIscans show brainanatomy.CarlWernickean area of the brain (inthe left temporal lobe)involved in languagecomprehension andexpression was namedfor him because hediscovered itmonocularcuea depth cue, suchas interposition orlinear perspective,available to eithereye alone.retinathe light-sensitiveinner surface of theeye, containing thereceptor rods andcones plus layers ofneurons that beginthe processing ofvisual information.synapsethe junction betweenthe axon tip of thesending neuron andthe dendrite or cellbody of the receivingneuron. The tiny gap atthis junction is calledthe synaptic gap orsynaptic cleft.cognitivemapa mental representation ofthe layout of one'senvironment. For example,after exploring a maze, ratsact as if they have learneda cognitive map of it.(Myers Psychology for AP3e p. 304)reflexa simple,automaticresponse to asensory stimulus,such as the knee-jerk response.Young-Helmholtztrichromatic(three-color)theorythe theory that the retinacontains three differenttypes of color receptors—one most sensitive to red,one to green, one to blue—which, when stimulated incombination, can producethe perception of any colorantagonista molecule that,by binding to areceptor site,inhibits or blocksa response.perceptionthe process oforganizing andinterpreting sensoryinformation, enablingus to recognizemeaningful objectsand events.sensationthe process by whichour sensoryreceptors andnervous systemreceive andrepresent stimulusenergies from ourenvironment.intensitythe amount of energyin a light wave orsound wave, whichinfluences what weperceive as brightnessor loudness. Intensityis determined by thewave's amplitude(height).shapingan operantconditioning procedurein which reinforcersguide behavior towardcloser and closerapproximations of thedesired behavior.(Myers Psychology forAP 3e p. 284)reuptakeaneurotransmitter'sreabsorption bythe sendingneuron.perceptualconstancyperceiving objects asunchanging (havingconsistent color,brightness, shape,and size) even asillumination andretinal imageschange.cerebralcortexthe intricate fabric ofinterconnected neuralcells covering thecerebral hemispheres;the body's ultimatecontrol andinformation-processingcenter.actionpotentiala neuralimpulse; a briefelectricalcharge thattravels down anaxon.PET(positronemissiontomography)scan a visual displayof brain activity thatdetects where aradioactive form ofglucose goes whilethe brain performs agiven task.medullathe base of thebrainstem;controls heart-beat andbreathing.heritabilitythe proportion ofvariation amongindividuals that we canattribute to genes. Theheritability of a traitmay vary, dependingon the range ofpopulations andenvironments studied.motorcortexan area at therear of thefrontal lobesthat controlsvoluntarymovements.neurotransmitterschemical messengers thatcross the synaptic gapsbetween neurons. Whenreleased by the sendingneuron, neurotransmitterstravel across the synapseand bind to receptor siteson the receiving neuron,thereby influencing whetherthat neuron will geolfactionthesense ofsmell.parietallobesportion of thecerebral cortex lyingat the top of the headand toward the rear;receives sensoryinput for touch andbody position.primingthe activation, oftenunconsciously, ofcertain associations,thus predisposingone's perception,memory, orresponse.retinaldisparitya binocular cue forperceiving depth. Bycomparing retinal imagesfrom the two eyes, thebrain computes distance—the greater the disparity(difference) between thetwo images, the closer theobjectbehaviorgeneticsthe study of therelative power andlimits of geneticand environmentalinfluences onbehavior.colorconstancyperceiving familiarobjects as havingconsistent color, evenif changingillumination alters thewavelengthsreflected by theobject.vestibularsenseour sense of bodymovement andposition thatenables our senseof balance.fMRI(functionalMRI)a technique forrevealing bloodflowand, therefore, brainactivity by comparingsuccessive MRI scans.fMRI scans show brainfunction as well as itsstructure.insighta sudden realizationof a problem'ssolution; contrastswith strategy-basedsolutions. (MyersPsychology for AP 3epp. 304, 370)extinctionthe diminishing of aconditioned response; occursin classical conditioning whenan unconditioned stimulus(US) does not follow aconditioned stimulus (CS);occurs in operant conditioningwhen a response is no longerreinforced. (Myers Psychologyfeaturedetectorsnerve cells in thebrain's visual cortexthat respond tospecific features ofthe stimulus, such asshape, angle, ormovement.opticnervethe nerve thatcarries neuralimpulsesfrom the eyeto the brain.lensthe transparentstructure behindthe pupil thatchanges shape tohelp focus imageson the retina.lesiontissue destruction. Abrain lesion is anaturally orexperimentallycaused destruction ofbrain tissue.interneuronsneurons within thebrain and spinal cordthat communicateinternally andintervene betweenthe sensory inputsand motor outputs.top-downprocessinginformationprocessing guided byhigher-level mentalprocesses, as whenwe constructperceptions drawingon our experienceand expectations.depthperceptionthe ability to seeobjects in threedimensions althoughthe images that strikethe retina are two-dimensional; allowsus to judge distance.neutralstimulus(NS)in classicalconditioning, astimulus that elicitsno response beforeconditioning. (MyersPsychology for AP 3ep. 273)primaryreinforceran innatelyreinforcing stimulus,such as one thatsatisfies a biologicalneed. (MyersPsychology for AP 3ep. 286)dualprocessingthe principle thatinformation is oftensimultaneouslyprocessed onseparate consciousand unconscioustracksfixed-ratioschedulein operant conditioning,a reinforcementschedule thatreinforces a responseonly after a specifiednumber of responses.(Myers Psychology forAP 3e p. 288)autonomicnervoussystem(ANS)the part of the peripheralnervous system thatcontrols the glands and themuscles of the internalorgans (such as the heart).Its sympathetic divisionarouses; itsparasympathetic divisioncalms.nervesbundled axons thatform neural "cables"connecting thecentral nervoussystem with muscles,glands, and senseorgans.conductionhearinglossa less common formof hearing loss,caused by damage tothe mechanicalsystem that conductssound waves to thecochlea.innerearthe innermost partof the ear,containing thecochlea,semicircularcanals, andvestibular sacs.hormoneschemicalmessengers that aremanufactured by theendocrine glands,travel through thebloodstream, andaffect other tissues.observationallearninglearning byobserving others.(Also called sociallearning.) (MyersPsychology for AP3e p. 312)spontaneousrecoverythe reappearance,after a pause, of anextinguishedconditionedresponse. (MyersPsychology for AP 3ep. 276)Weber'slawthe principle that, tobe perceived asdifferent, two stimulimust differ by aconstant minimumpercentage (ratherthan a constantamount).axonthe neuron extensionthat passesmessages through itsbranches to otherneurons or tomuscles or glands.parasympatheticnervous systemthe division of theautonomicnervous systemthat calms thebody, conservingits energyfoveathe central focalpoint in theretina, aroundwhich the eye'scones cluster.partial(intermittent)reinforcementschedulereinforcing a response onlypart of the time; results inslower acquisition of aresponse but much greaterresistance to extinctionthan does continuousreinforcement. (MyersPsychology for AP 3e p.287)blindspotthe point at whichthe optic nerveleaves the eye,creating a "blind"spot because noreceptor cells arelocated there.plasticitythe brain's ability tochange, especiallyduring childhood, byreorganizing afterdamage or bybuilding newpathways based onexperience.brainstemthe oldest part andcentral core of thebrain, beginning wherethe spinal cord swellsas it enters the skull;the brainstem isresponsible forautomatic survivalfunctionsmirrorneuronsfrontal lobe neurons thatsome scientists believe firewhen we perform certainactions or observe anotherdoing so. The brain'smirroring of another'saction may enable imitationand empathy. (MyersPsychology for AP 3e p.313)limbicsystemneural system(including thehippocampus,amygdala, andhypothalamus) locatedbelow the cerebralhemispheres;associated withemotions and drives.associationareasareas of the cerebral cortexthat are not involved inprimary motor or sensoryfunctions; rather, they areinvolved in higher mentalfunctions such as learning,remembering, thinking, andspeaking.splitbraina condition resultingfrom surgery thatisolates the brain'stwo hemispheres bycutting the fibers(mainly those of thecorpus callosum)connecting them.sensoryreceptorssensorynerveendings thatrespond tostimuli.frequencytheoryin hearing, the theorythat the rate of nerveimpulses traveling upthe auditory nervematches the frequencyof a tone, thusenabling us to senseits pitch. (Also calledtemporal theory.)changeblindnessfailing to noticechanges in theenvironment; aform ofinattentionalblindness.higher-orderconditioninga procedure in which theconditioned stimulus in oneconditioning experience ispaired with a new neutralstimulus, creating a second(often weaker) conditionedstimulus. For example, ananimal that has learnedthat a tone predicts foodmight theadrenalglandsa pair of endocrineglands that sit justabove the kidneys andsecrete hormones(epinephrine andnorepinephrine) thathelp arouse the bodyin times of stress.MichaelGazzanigasplit-brain research;understanding offunctionallateralization in thebrain; how thecerebral hemispherescommunicatephiphenomenonan illusion ofmovement createdwhen two or moreadjacent lights blinkon and off in quicksuccessionAlbertBanduraresearcher famousfor work inobservational orsocial learningincluding thefamous Bobo dollexperimentconsciousnessourawarenessof ourselvesand ourenvironment.amygdalatwo lima-bean-sized neuralclusters in thelimbic system;linked toemotion.generalizationthe tendency, once aresponse has beenconditioned, for stimulisimilar to the conditionedstimulus to elicit similarresponses. (In operantconditioning, generalizationoccurs when responseslearned in one situationoccur in other, similarsitutemporallobesportion of thecerebral cortex lyingroughly above theears; includes theauditory areas, eachreceiving informationprimarily from theopposite ear.CT(computedtomography)scan a series of X-rayphotographs takenfrom different anglesand combined bycomputer into acompositerepresentation of aslice of the brain'sstructure.opponent-processtheorythe theory that opposingretinal processes (red-green, blue-yellow, white-black) enable color vision.For example, some cellsare stimulated by greenand inhibited by red; othersare stimulated by red andinhibited by green.classicalconditioninga type of learning in whichwe link two or more stimuli;as a result, to illustrate withPavlov's classicexperiment, the firststimulus (a tone) comes toelicit behavior (drooling) inanticipation of the secondstimulus (food). (MyersPsychologysympatheticnervoussystemthe division of theautonomic nervoussystem that arousesthe body, mobilizingits energy in stressfulsituations.sensoryadaptationdiminishedsensitivity as aconsequence ofconstantstimulation.neurogenesistheformationof newneurons.EdwardTolmancognitivepsychologist;latent learningand cognitivemapmiddleearthe chamber between theeardrum and cochleacontaining three tiny bones(hammer, anvil, and stirrup)that concentrate thevibrations of the eardrumon the cochlea's ovalwindow.pitcha tone'sexperiencedhighness orlowness;depends onfrequency.habituationdecreasingresponsiveness withrepeated exposure toa stimulus. (MyersPsychology for AP 3epp. 271, 491)B.F.SkinnerBehaviorist thatdeveloped thetheory of operantconditioning bytraining pigeonsand ratscognitivelearningthe acquisition ofmental information,whether by observingevents, by watchingothers, or throughlanguage. (MyersPsychology for AP 3ep. 272)endocrinesystemthe body's "slow"chemicalcommunicationsystem; a set ofglands that secretehormones into thebloodstream.JohnB.Watsonbehaviorism; emphasison external behaviorsof people and theirreactions on a givensituation; famous forLittle Albert study inwhich baby was taughtto fear a white ratpupilthe adjustableopening in thecenter of theeye throughwhich lightenters.PaulBrocadiscovered area inthe brain (namedfor him) in the leftfrontal loberesponsible forlanguageproductioncorpuscallosumthe large band ofneural fibersconnecting the twobrain hemispheresand carryingmessages betweenthem.differencethresholdthe minimum differencebetween two stimulirequired for detection50 percent of the time.We experience thedifference threshold asa just noticeabledifference (or jnd).negativereinforcementincreasing behaviors bystopping or reducingaversive stimuli. A negativereinforcer is any stimulusthat, when removed after aresponse, strengthens theresponse. (Note: Negativereinforcement is notpunishment.) (MyersPsychology for AP 3e p. motionparallaxmonocular depthcues in whichobjects closer to usseem to move at afaster pace thanthose that arefarther away,motor(efferent)neuronsneurons that carryoutgoinginformation fromthe brain andspinal cord to themuscles andglands.refractoryperioda period ofinactivityafter aneuron hasfired.signaldetectiontheorya theory predicting howand when we detect thepresence of a faint stimulus(signal) amid backgroundstimulation (noise).Assumes there is no singleabsolute threshold and thatdetection depends partlyon a person's experience,expectations, motiunconditionedresponse(UR)in classical conditioning, anunlearned, naturallyoccurring response (suchas salivation) to anunconditioned stimulus(US) (such as food in themouth). (Myers Psychologyfor AP 3e p. 274)somatosensorycortexarea at the front ofthe parietal lobes thatregisters andprocesses bodytouch and movementsensations.perceptualseta mentalpredispositionto perceiveone thing andnot another.cerebellumthe "little brain" at therear of the brainstem;functions includeprocessing sensoryinput, coordinatingmovement output andbalance, and enablingnonverbal learning andmemory.continuousreinforcementschedulereinforcing thedesired responseevery time itoccurs. (MyersPsychology for AP3e p. 287)transductionconversion of one formof energy into another.In sensation, thetransforming ofstimulus energies,such as sights,sounds, and smells,into neural impulsesour brain can interpret.parrallelprocessingthe processingof manyaspects of aproblemsimultaneouslyall-or-noneresponsea neuron'sreaction of eitherfiring (with a full-strength response)or not firing.operantconditioninga type of learning inwhich a behaviorbecomes more likely torecur if followed by areinforcer or less likelyto recur if followed by apunisher. (MyersPsychology for AP 3ep. 283)wavelengththe distance from the peakof one light or sound waveto the peak of the next.Electromagneticwavelengths vary from theshort blips of gamma raysto the long pulses of radiotransmission. (MyersPsychology for AP 3e p.177)law ofeffectThorndike's principle thatbehaviors followed byfavorable consequencesbecome more likely, andthat behaviors followed byunfavorable consequencesbecome less likely. (MyersPsychology for AP 3e p.283)frequencythe number ofcompletewavelengths thatpass a point in agiven time (forexample, persecond).kinesthesiaour movement sense—our system forsensing the positionand movement ofindividual body arts.frontallobesportion of thecerebral cortex lyingjust behind theforehead; involved inspeaking and musclemovements and inmaking plans andjudgments.rodsretinal receptors thatdetect black, white,and gray, and aresensitive to movement;necessary forperipheral and twilightvision, when conesdon't respond.conditionedstimulus(CS)in classical conditioning, anoriginally neutral stimulusthat, after association withan unconditioned stimulus(US), comes to trigger aconditioned response (CR).(Myers Psychology for AP3e p. 274)fixed-intervalschedulein operant conditioning,a reinforcementschedule thatreinforces a responseonly after a specifiedtime has elapsed.(Myers Psychology forAP 3e p. 288)corneathe eye's clear,protective outerlayer, coveringthe pupil andiris.gate-controltheorythe theory that the spinalcord contains aneurological "gate" thatblocks pain signals orallows them to pass on tothe brain. The "gate" isopened by the activity ofpain signals traveling upsmall nerve fibers and isclosed by activity in largthalamusthe brain's sensory controlcenter, located on top ofthe brainstem; it directsmessages to the sensoryreceiving areas in thecortex and transmits repliesto the cerebellum andmedullaagonista molecule that,by binding to areceptor site,stimulates aresponseendorphins"morphinewithin"—natural,opiate-likeneurotransmitterslinked to paincontrol and topleasure.variable-intervalschedulein operant conditioning,a reinforcementschedule thatreinforces a responseat unpredictable timeintervals. (MyersPsychology for AP 3ep. 288)occipitallobesportion of thecerebral cortex lyingat the back of thehead; includes areasthat receiveinformation from thevisual fields.discrimination(1) in classical conditioning,the learned ability todistinguish between aconditioned stimulus andsimilar stimuli that do notsignal an unconditionedstimulus. (In operantconditioning, the ability todistinguish responses thatare reinforceddendritesa neuron's bushy,branching extensionsthat receivemessages andconduct impulsestoward the cell body.variable-ratioschedulein operant conditioning,a reinforcementschedule thatreinforces a responseafter an unpredictablenumber of responses.(Myers Psychology forAP 3e p. 288)gestaltan organized whole.Gestalt psychologistsemphasized ourtendency to integratepieces of informationinto meaningfulwholes.auditionthe senseor act ofhearing.inattentionalblindnessfailing to seevisible objectswhen ourattention isdirectedelsewherelatentlearninglearning that occursbut is not apparentuntil there is anincentive todemonstrate it.(Myers Psychologyfor AP 3e p. 304)somaticnervoussystemthe division of theperipheral nervoussystem that controlsthe body's skeletalmuscles. (Also calledthe skeletal nervoussystem.)learnedhelplessnessthe hopelessness andpassive resignation ananimal or personlearns when unable toavoid repeatedaversive events.(Myers Psychology forAP 3e p. 307)unconditionedstimulus (US)in classical conditioning, astimulus thatunconditionally—naturallyand automatically—triggersan unconditioned responseUR). (Myers Psychology forAP 3e p. 274)conditionedresponse(CR)in classicalconditioning, alearned response toa previously neutral(but now conditioned)stimulus (CS). (MyersPsychology for AP 3ep. 274)reinforcementin operantconditioning, anyevent thatstrengthens thebehavior it follows.(Myers Psychologyfor AP 3e p. 284)secondary(conditioned)reinforcera stimulus thatgains itsreinforcing powerthrough itsassociation with aprimary reinforcerpositivereinforcementincreasing behaviors bypresenting positivereinforcers. A positivereinforcer is any stimulusthat, when presented aftera response, strengthensthe response. (MyersPsychology for AP 3e p.285)punishmentan event thattends to decreasethe behavior that itfollows. (MyersPsychology for AP3e p. 289)RogerSperrylike Gazzaniga,studied split brainpatients; showedthat left/righthemispheres havedifferent functionsneurona nerve cell;the basicbuilding blockof the nervoussystem.peripheralnervoussystem(PNS)the sensory andmotor neurons thatconnect thecentral nervoussystem (CNS) tothe rest of thebody.electroencephalogram(EEG)an amplified recordingof the waves ofelectrical activitysweeping across thebrain's surface. Thesewaves are measuredby electrodes placedon the scalp.sensory(afferent)neuronsneurons that carryincominginformation fromthe sensoryreceptors to thebrain and spinalcordnervoussystemthe body's speedy,electrochemicalcommunicationnetwork, consisting ofall the nerve cells ofthe peripheral andcentral nervoussystems.acquisitionin classical conditioning theinitial stage, when one linksa neutral stimulus and anunconditioned stimulus sothat the neutral stimulusbegins triggering theconditioned response. Inoperant conditioning, thestrengthening of areinforced respoIvanPavlovRussian physiologist;discovered classicalconditioning; traineddogs to salivate atthe ringing of a bellpituitaryglandthe endocrine system'smost influential gland.Under the influence ofthe hypothalamus, thepituitary regulatesgrowth and controlsother endocrineglands.hypothalamusa neural structure lyingbelow (hypo) the thalamus;it directs severalmaintenance activities(eating, drinking, bodytemperature), helps governthe endocrine system viathe pituitary gland, and islinked to emotion andreward.irisa ring of muscletissue that forms thecolored portion of theeye around the pupiland controls the sizeof the pupil opening.bottom-upprocessinganalysis that beginswith the sensoryreceptors and worksup to the brain'sintegration of sensoryinformation.centralnervoussystem(CNS)the brainand spinalcord.figure-groundthe organization ofthe visual field intoobjects (the figures)that stand out fromtheir surroundings(the ground).selectiveattentionthe focusingof consciousawareness ona particularstimulusconesretinal receptors thatare concentrated nearthe center of the retinaand that function indaylight or in well-litconditions. Conesdetect fine detail andgive rise to colorsensations.cochleaa coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the innerear; sound wavestraveling through thecochlear fluid triggernerve impulses.myelinsheatha fatty tissue layersegmentally encasingthe axons of someneurons; enablesvastly greatertransmission speed asneural impulses hopfrom one node to thenext.EdwardThorndikePioneer in operantconditioning whodiscovered conceptsin instrumentallearning such as thelaw of effect. Knownfor his work with catsin puzzle boxes.reticularformationa nerve network thattravels through thebrainstem andthalamus and playsan important role incontrolling arousal.modelingthe process ofobserving andimitating a specificbehavior. (MyersPsychology for AP3e p. 312)subliminalbelow one'sabsolutethreshold forconsciousawarenesssensorineuralhearing losshearing loss caused bydamage to thecochlea's receptor cellsor to the auditorynerves; the mostcommon form ofhearing loss, alsocalled nerve deafness.binocularcuea depth cue,such as retinaldisparity, thatdepends on theuse of two eyes.huethe dimension ofcolor that isdetermined by thewavelength of light;what we know as thecolor names blue,green, and so forth.glialcells(glia)cells in the nervoussystem that support,nourish, and protectneurons; they mayalso play a role inlearning and thinking.placetheoryin hearing, the theorythat links the pitch wehear with the placewhere the cochlea'smembrane isstimulated.thresholdthe level ofstimulationrequired totrigger a neuralimpulse.MRI(magneticresonanceimaging)a technique that usesmagnetic fields andradio waves toproduce computer -generated images ofsoft tissue. MRIscans show brainanatomy.CarlWernickean area of the brain (inthe left temporal lobe)involved in languagecomprehension andexpression was namedfor him because hediscovered itmonocularcuea depth cue, suchas interposition orlinear perspective,available to eithereye alone.retinathe light-sensitiveinner surface of theeye, containing thereceptor rods andcones plus layers ofneurons that beginthe processing ofvisual information.synapsethe junction betweenthe axon tip of thesending neuron andthe dendrite or cellbody of the receivingneuron. The tiny gap atthis junction is calledthe synaptic gap orsynaptic cleft.cognitivemapa mental representation ofthe layout of one'senvironment. For example,after exploring a maze, ratsact as if they have learneda cognitive map of it.(Myers Psychology for AP3e p. 304)reflexa simple,automaticresponse to asensory stimulus,such as the knee-jerk response.Young-Helmholtztrichromatic(three-color)theorythe theory that the retinacontains three differenttypes of color receptors—one most sensitive to red,one to green, one to blue—which, when stimulated incombination, can producethe perception of any colorantagonista molecule that,by binding to areceptor site,inhibits or blocksa response.perceptionthe process oforganizing andinterpreting sensoryinformation, enablingus to recognizemeaningful objectsand events.sensationthe process by whichour sensoryreceptors andnervous systemreceive andrepresent stimulusenergies from ourenvironment.intensitythe amount of energyin a light wave orsound wave, whichinfluences what weperceive as brightnessor loudness. Intensityis determined by thewave's amplitude(height).shapingan operantconditioning procedurein which reinforcersguide behavior towardcloser and closerapproximations of thedesired behavior.(Myers Psychology forAP 3e p. 284)reuptakeaneurotransmitter'sreabsorption bythe sendingneuron.perceptualconstancyperceiving objects asunchanging (havingconsistent color,brightness, shape,and size) even asillumination andretinal imageschange.cerebralcortexthe intricate fabric ofinterconnected neuralcells covering thecerebral hemispheres;the body's ultimatecontrol andinformation-processingcenter.actionpotentiala neuralimpulse; a briefelectricalcharge thattravels down anaxon.PET(positronemissiontomography)scan a visual displayof brain activity thatdetects where aradioactive form ofglucose goes whilethe brain performs agiven task.medullathe base of thebrainstem;controls heart-beat andbreathing.heritabilitythe proportion ofvariation amongindividuals that we canattribute to genes. Theheritability of a traitmay vary, dependingon the range ofpopulations andenvironments studied.motorcortexan area at therear of thefrontal lobesthat controlsvoluntarymovements.neurotransmitterschemical messengers thatcross the synaptic gapsbetween neurons. Whenreleased by the sendingneuron, neurotransmitterstravel across the synapseand bind to receptor siteson the receiving neuron,thereby influencing whetherthat neuron will geolfactionthesense ofsmell.parietallobesportion of thecerebral cortex lyingat the top of the headand toward the rear;receives sensoryinput for touch andbody position.primingthe activation, oftenunconsciously, ofcertain associations,thus predisposingone's perception,memory, orresponse.retinaldisparitya binocular cue forperceiving depth. Bycomparing retinal imagesfrom the two eyes, thebrain computes distance—the greater the disparity(difference) between thetwo images, the closer theobjectbehaviorgeneticsthe study of therelative power andlimits of geneticand environmentalinfluences onbehavior.colorconstancyperceiving familiarobjects as havingconsistent color, evenif changingillumination alters thewavelengthsreflected by theobject.vestibularsenseour sense of bodymovement andposition thatenables our senseof balance.fMRI(functionalMRI)a technique forrevealing bloodflowand, therefore, brainactivity by comparingsuccessive MRI scans.fMRI scans show brainfunction as well as itsstructure.insighta sudden realizationof a problem'ssolution; contrastswith strategy-basedsolutions. (MyersPsychology for AP 3epp. 304, 370)extinctionthe diminishing of aconditioned response; occursin classical conditioning whenan unconditioned stimulus(US) does not follow aconditioned stimulus (CS);occurs in operant conditioningwhen a response is no longerreinforced. (Myers Psychologyfeaturedetectorsnerve cells in thebrain's visual cortexthat respond tospecific features ofthe stimulus, such asshape, angle, ormovement.opticnervethe nerve thatcarries neuralimpulsesfrom the eyeto the brain.lensthe transparentstructure behindthe pupil thatchanges shape tohelp focus imageson the retina.lesiontissue destruction. Abrain lesion is anaturally orexperimentallycaused destruction ofbrain tissue.interneuronsneurons within thebrain and spinal cordthat communicateinternally andintervene betweenthe sensory inputsand motor outputs.top-downprocessinginformationprocessing guided byhigher-level mentalprocesses, as whenwe constructperceptions drawingon our experienceand expectations.depthperceptionthe ability to seeobjects in threedimensions althoughthe images that strikethe retina are two-dimensional; allowsus to judge distance.neutralstimulus(NS)in classicalconditioning, astimulus that elicitsno response beforeconditioning. (MyersPsychology for AP 3ep. 273)primaryreinforceran innatelyreinforcing stimulus,such as one thatsatisfies a biologicalneed. (MyersPsychology for AP 3ep. 286)dualprocessingthe principle thatinformation is oftensimultaneouslyprocessed onseparate consciousand unconscioustracksfixed-ratioschedulein operant conditioning,a reinforcementschedule thatreinforces a responseonly after a specifiednumber of responses.(Myers Psychology forAP 3e p. 288)autonomicnervoussystem(ANS)the part of the peripheralnervous system thatcontrols the glands and themuscles of the internalorgans (such as the heart).Its sympathetic divisionarouses; itsparasympathetic divisioncalms.nervesbundled axons thatform neural "cables"connecting thecentral nervoussystem with muscles,glands, and senseorgans.conductionhearinglossa less common formof hearing loss,caused by damage tothe mechanicalsystem that conductssound waves to thecochlea.innerearthe innermost partof the ear,containing thecochlea,semicircularcanals, andvestibular sacs.hormoneschemicalmessengers that aremanufactured by theendocrine glands,travel through thebloodstream, andaffect other tissues.observationallearninglearning byobserving others.(Also called sociallearning.) (MyersPsychology for AP3e p. 312)spontaneousrecoverythe reappearance,after a pause, of anextinguishedconditionedresponse. (MyersPsychology for AP 3ep. 276)Weber'slawthe principle that, tobe perceived asdifferent, two stimulimust differ by aconstant minimumpercentage (ratherthan a constantamount).axonthe neuron extensionthat passesmessages through itsbranches to otherneurons or tomuscles or glands.parasympatheticnervous systemthe division of theautonomicnervous systemthat calms thebody, conservingits energyfoveathe central focalpoint in theretina, aroundwhich the eye'scones cluster.partial(intermittent)reinforcementschedulereinforcing a response onlypart of the time; results inslower acquisition of aresponse but much greaterresistance to extinctionthan does continuousreinforcement. (MyersPsychology for AP 3e p.287)blindspotthe point at whichthe optic nerveleaves the eye,creating a "blind"spot because noreceptor cells arelocated there.plasticitythe brain's ability tochange, especiallyduring childhood, byreorganizing afterdamage or bybuilding newpathways based onexperience.brainstemthe oldest part andcentral core of thebrain, beginning wherethe spinal cord swellsas it enters the skull;the brainstem isresponsible forautomatic survivalfunctionsmirrorneuronsfrontal lobe neurons thatsome scientists believe firewhen we perform certainactions or observe anotherdoing so. The brain'smirroring of another'saction may enable imitationand empathy. (MyersPsychology for AP 3e p.313)limbicsystemneural system(including thehippocampus,amygdala, andhypothalamus) locatedbelow the cerebralhemispheres;associated withemotions and drives.associationareasareas of the cerebral cortexthat are not involved inprimary motor or sensoryfunctions; rather, they areinvolved in higher mentalfunctions such as learning,remembering, thinking, andspeaking.splitbraina condition resultingfrom surgery thatisolates the brain'stwo hemispheres bycutting the fibers(mainly those of thecorpus callosum)connecting them.sensoryreceptorssensorynerveendings thatrespond tostimuli.frequencytheoryin hearing, the theorythat the rate of nerveimpulses traveling upthe auditory nervematches the frequencyof a tone, thusenabling us to senseits pitch. (Also calledtemporal theory.)

AP PSYCH- Units 3, 4 & 5 - Call List

(Print) Use this randomly generated list as your call list when playing the game. There is no need to say the BINGO column name. Place some kind of mark (like an X, a checkmark, a dot, tally mark, etc) on each cell as you announce it, to keep track. You can also cut out each item, place them in a bag and pull words from the bag.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
  1. failing to notice changes in the environment; a form of inattentional blindness.
    change blindness
  2. a procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus. For example, an animal that has learned that a tone predicts food might the
    higher-order conditioning
  3. a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.
    adrenal glands
  4. split-brain research; understanding of functional lateralization in the brain; how the cerebral hemispheres communicate
    Michael Gazzaniga
  5. an illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in quick succession
    phi phenomenon
  6. researcher famous for work in observational or social learning including the famous Bobo doll experiment
    Albert Bandura
  7. our awareness of ourselves and our environment.
    consciousness
  8. two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.
    amygdala
  9. the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses. (In operant conditioning, generalization occurs when responses learned in one situation occur in other, similar situ
    generalization
  10. portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear.
    temporal lobes
  11. scan a series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain's structure.
    CT (computed tomography)
  12. the theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, blue-yellow, white-black) enable color vision. For example, some cells are stimulated by green and inhibited by red; others are stimulated by red and inhibited by green.
    opponent-process theory
  13. a type of learning in which we link two or more stimuli; as a result, to illustrate with Pavlov's classic experiment, the first stimulus (a tone) comes to elicit behavior (drooling) in anticipation of the second stimulus (food). (Myers Psychology
    classical conditioning
  14. the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.
    sympathetic nervous system
  15. diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation.
    sensory adaptation
  16. the formation of new neurons.
    neurogenesis
  17. cognitive psychologist; latent learning and cognitive map
    Edward Tolman
  18. the chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) that concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochlea's oval window.
    middle ear
  19. a tone's experienced highness or lowness; depends on frequency.
    pitch
  20. decreasing responsiveness with repeated exposure to a stimulus. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e pp. 271, 491)
    habituation
  21. Behaviorist that developed the theory of operant conditioning by training pigeons and rats
    B.F. Skinner
  22. the acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others, or through language. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 272)
    cognitive learning
  23. the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
    endocrine system
  24. behaviorism; emphasis on external behaviors of people and their reactions on a given situation; famous for Little Albert study in which baby was taught to fear a white rat
    John B. Watson
  25. the adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters.
    pupil
  26. discovered area in the brain (named for him) in the left frontal lobe responsible for language production
    Paul Broca
  27. the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.
    corpus callosum
  28. the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 percent of the time. We experience the difference threshold as a just noticeable difference (or jnd).
    difference threshold
  29. increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing aversive stimuli. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (Note: Negative reinforcement is not punishment.) (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p.
    negative reinforcement
  30. monocular depth cues in which objects closer to us seem to move at a faster pace than those that are farther away,
    motion parallax
  31. neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.
    motor (efferent) neurons
  32. a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired.
    refractory period
  33. a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus (signal) amid background stimulation (noise). Assumes there is no single absolute threshold and that detection depends partly on a person's experience, expectations, moti
    signal detection theory
  34. in classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response (such as salivation) to an unconditioned stimulus (US) (such as food in the mouth). (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 274)
    unconditioned response (UR)
  35. area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.
    somatosensory cortex
  36. a mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another.
    perceptual set
  37. the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.
    cerebellum
  38. reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 287)
    continuous reinforcement schedule
  39. conversion of one form of energy into another. In sensation, the transforming of stimulus energies, such as sights, sounds, and smells, into neural impulses our brain can interpret.
    transduction
  40. the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously
    parrallel processing
  41. a neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing.
    all-or-none response
  42. a type of learning in which a behavior becomes more likely to recur if followed by a reinforcer or less likely to recur if followed by a punisher. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 283)
    operant conditioning
  43. the distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next. Electromagnetic wavelengths vary from the short blips of gamma rays to the long pulses of radio transmission. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 177)
    wavelength
  44. Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 283)
    law of effect
  45. the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time (for example, per second).
    frequency
  46. our movement sense—our system for sensing the position and movement of individual body arts.
    kinesthesia
  47. portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments.
    frontal lobes
  48. retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray, and are sensitive to movement; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision, when cones don't respond.
    rods
  49. in classical conditioning, an originally neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response (CR). (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 274)
    conditioned stimulus (CS)
  50. in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 288)
    fixed-interval schedule
  51. the eye's clear, protective outer layer, covering the pupil and iris.
    cornea
  52. the theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological "gate" that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain. The "gate" is opened by the activity of pain signals traveling up small nerve fibers and is closed by activity in larg
    gate-control theory
  53. the brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
    thalamus
  54. a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response
    agonist
  55. "morphine within"—natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.
    endorphins
  56. in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 288)
    variable-interval schedule
  57. portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields.
    occipital lobes
  58. (1) in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and similar stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus. (In operant conditioning, the ability to distinguish responses that are reinforced
    discrimination
  59. a neuron's bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.
    dendrites
  60. in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 288)
    variable-ratio schedule
  61. an organized whole. Gestalt psychologists emphasized our tendency to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes.
    gestalt
  62. the sense or act of hearing.
    audition
  63. failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere
    inattentional blindness
  64. learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 304)
    latent learning
  65. the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. (Also called the skeletal nervous system.)
    somatic nervous system
  66. the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or person learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 307)
    learned helplessness
  67. in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally—naturally and automatically—triggers an unconditioned response UR). (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 274)
    unconditioned stimulus (US)
  68. in classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS). (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 274)
    conditioned response (CR)
  69. in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 284)
    reinforcement
  70. a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer
    secondary (conditioned) reinforcer
  71. increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 285)
    positive reinforcement
  72. an event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 289)
    punishment
  73. like Gazzaniga, studied split brain patients; showed that left/right hemispheres have different functions
    Roger Sperry
  74. a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.
    neuron
  75. the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.
    peripheral nervous system (PNS)
  76. an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
    electroencephalogram (EEG)
  77. neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
    sensory (afferent) neurons
  78. the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.
    nervous system
  79. in classical conditioning the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced respo
    acquisition
  80. Russian physiologist; discovered classical conditioning; trained dogs to salivate at the ringing of a bell
    Ivan Pavlov
  81. the endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
    pituitary gland
  82. a neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.
    hypothalamus
  83. a ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening.
    iris
  84. analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain's integration of sensory information.
    bottom-up processing
  85. the brain and spinal cord.
    central nervous system (CNS)
  86. the organization of the visual field into objects (the figures) that stand out from their surroundings (the ground).
    figure-ground
  87. the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus
    selective attention
  88. retinal receptors that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions. Cones detect fine detail and give rise to color sensations.
    cones
  89. a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear; sound waves traveling through the cochlear fluid trigger nerve impulses.
    cochlea
  90. a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next.
    myelin sheath
  91. Pioneer in operant conditioning who discovered concepts in instrumental learning such as the law of effect. Known for his work with cats in puzzle boxes.
    Edward Thorndike
  92. a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal.
    reticular formation
  93. the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 312)
    modeling
  94. below one's absolute threshold for conscious awareness
    subliminal
  95. hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea's receptor cells or to the auditory nerves; the most common form of hearing loss, also called nerve deafness.
    sensorineural hearing loss
  96. a depth cue, such as retinal disparity, that depends on the use of two eyes.
    binocular cue
  97. the dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light; what we know as the color names blue, green, and so forth.
    hue
  98. cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking.
    glial cells (glia)
  99. in hearing, the theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated.
    place theory
  100. the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.
    threshold
  101. a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer -generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.
    MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
  102. an area of the brain (in the left temporal lobe) involved in language comprehension and expression was named for him because he discovered it
    Carl Wernicke
  103. a depth cue, such as interposition or linear perspective, available to either eye alone.
    monocular cue
  104. the light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual information.
    retina
  105. the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.
    synapse
  106. a mental representation of the layout of one's environment. For example, after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a cognitive map of it. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 304)
    cognitive map
  107. a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.
    reflex
  108. the theory that the retina contains three different types of color receptors—one most sensitive to red, one to green, one to blue—which, when stimulated in combination, can produce the perception of any color
    Young-Helmholtz trichromatic (three-color) theory
  109. a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response.
    antagonist
  110. the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events.
    perception
  111. the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment.
    sensation
  112. the amount of energy in a light wave or sound wave, which influences what we perceive as brightness or loudness. Intensity is determined by the wave's amplitude (height).
    intensity
  113. an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 284)
    shaping
  114. a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron.
    reuptake
  115. perceiving objects as unchanging (having consistent color, brightness, shape, and size) even as illumination and retinal images change.
    perceptual constancy
  116. the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.
    cerebral cortex
  117. a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.
    action potential
  118. scan a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.
    PET (positron emission tomography)
  119. the base of the brainstem; controls heart-beat and breathing.
    medulla
  120. the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied.
    heritability
  121. an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.
    motor cortex
  122. chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will ge
    neurotransmitters
  123. the sense of smell.
    olfaction
  124. portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.
    parietal lobes
  125. the activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing one's perception, memory, or response.
    priming
  126. a binocular cue for perceiving depth. By comparing retinal images from the two eyes, the brain computes distance—the greater the disparity (difference) between the two images, the closer the object
    retinal disparity
  127. the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.
    behavior genetics
  128. perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object.
    color constancy
  129. our sense of body movement and position that enables our sense of balance.
    vestibular sense
  130. a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as its structure.
    fMRI (functional MRI)
  131. a sudden realization of a problem's solution; contrasts with strategy-based solutions. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e pp. 304, 370)
    insight
  132. the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced. (Myers Psychology
    extinction
  133. nerve cells in the brain's visual cortex that respond to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement.
    feature detectors
  134. the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain.
    optic nerve
  135. the transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina.
    lens
  136. tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.
    lesion
  137. neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.
    interneurons
  138. information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations.
    top-down processing
  139. the ability to see objects in three dimensions although the images that strike the retina are two-dimensional; allows us to judge distance.
    depth perception
  140. in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 273)
    neutral stimulus (NS)
  141. an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 286)
    primary reinforcer
  142. the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks
    dual processing
  143. in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 288)
    fixed-ratio schedule
  144. the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.
    autonomic nervous system (ANS)
  145. bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.
    nerves
  146. a less common form of hearing loss, caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea.
    conduction hearing loss
  147. the innermost part of the ear, containing the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs.
    inner ear
  148. chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues.
    hormones
  149. learning by observing others. (Also called social learning.) (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 312)
    observational learning
  150. the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 276)
    spontaneous recovery
  151. the principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than a constant amount).
    Weber's law
  152. the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands.
    axon
  153. the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
    parasympathetic nervous system
  154. the central focal point in the retina, around which the eye's cones cluster.
    fovea
  155. reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 287)
    partial (intermittent) reinforcement schedule
  156. the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a "blind" spot because no receptor cells are located there.
    blind spot
  157. the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.
    plasticity
  158. the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions
    brainstem
  159. frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when we perform certain actions or observe another doing so. The brain's mirroring of another's action may enable imitation and empathy. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 313)
    mirror neurons
  160. neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.
    limbic system
  161. areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.
    association areas
  162. a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them.
    split brain
  163. sensory nerve endings that respond to stimuli.
    sensory receptors
  164. in hearing, the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense its pitch. (Also called temporal theory.)
    frequency theory