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bio psych
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| circadian rhythms | the approximately 24 hour biological cycle that regulates sleep wake patterns and other bodily functions |
| types of consciousness | different states of awareness including alertness, drowsiness, sleep and dreams |
| disruptions to circadian rhythm(jet lag and shift work) | misalignment between internal circadian rhythm and external time cues, causing fatigue and sleep problems |
| sleep stages(specific EEG patterns) | distinct phases of sleep characterized by different brain wave patterns and physiological changes |
| NREM stages 1-3 | non- REM sleep stages progressing from light sleep (stage 1) to deep sleep (stage 3) |
| hypnagogic sensations | the vivid sensations or hallucinations that occur while falling asleep |
| REM sleep (paradoxical sleep) | a stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements, vivid dreams, and temporary muscle paralysis |
| dreaming | mental activity during sleep involving imagery, emotions, and narratives |
| REM rebound | the increase in REM sleep following a period of REM sleep deprivation |
| activation synthesis dream theory | the theory that dreams result from the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity during REM sleep |
| consolidation dream theory | the theory that dreams may facilitate memory consolidation and problem solving |
| memory consolidation(sleep function theory) | the process by which sleep helps transfer information from short term to long term memory |
| memory restoration (sleep function theory) | the theory that sleep restores brain chemicals and neural resources needed for memory and learning |
| sleep disruption effects | negative consequences of sleep loss including impaired cognition, mood disturbances, and weakened immune function |
| sleep disorders | persistent disturbances in sleep patterns that interfere with daily functioning |
| insomnia | a sleep disorders characterized by sudden, uncontrollable episodes of sleep during the day |
| narcolepsy | a sleep disorders characterized by sudden, uncontrollable episodes of sleep during the day |
| REM sleep behavior disorder | a sleep disorders in which a person acts out dreams due to lack of muscle paralysis during REM sleep |
| sleep apnea | a sleep disorders involving brief interruptions in breathing during sleep |
| somnambulism | sleepwalking; walking and performing complex behaviors while asleep |
| sensation | the process by which sensory receptors detect physical stimuli from the environment |
| absolute threshold | the minimum level of stimulation needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time |
| just noticeable difference | the smallest change in a stimulus that can be detected; also called the difference threshold |
| weber's law | The principle that the just noticeable difference is a constant proportion of the original stimulus |
| Sensory Adaptation | The tendency to become less sensitive to a constant stimulus over time |
| Transduction | The process by which sensory receptors convert physical stimuli into neural signals |
| Sensory Interaction | The principle that the senses influence each other and interact to produce perception |
| Synesthesia | A condition in which stimulation of one sensory system produces experiences in another sensory system |
| Retina | The light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that contains photoreceptors |
| Blind Spot | The area of the retina where the optic nerve exits; contains no photoreceptors |
| Optic Nerve | The nerve that transmits visual information from the eye to the brain |
| Photoreceptors | Light-sensitive cells in the retina that convert light into neural signals |
| Rods | Photoreceptors sensitive to light and dark; responsible for black-and-white vision and night vision |
| Cones | Photoreceptors sensitive to color; concentrated in the fovea; responsible for color vision and visual acuity |
| Trichromatic Theory | The theory that color vision results from three types of cones sensitive to different wavelengths |
| Opponent-Process Theory | The theory that color vision is based on opposing color pairs (red-green, yellow-blue, black-white) |
| Fovea | The small central area of the retina with the highest concentration of cones; responsible for sharp central vision |
| Accommodation | The process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus on objects at different distances |
| Nearsightedness | A visual condition in which nearby objects are clear but distant objects are blurry |
| Farsightedness | A visual condition in which distant objects are clear but nearby objects are blurry |
| Light Adaptation | The process of adjusting to bright light, causing pupils to constrict and sensitivity to decrease |
| Dark Adaptation | The process of adjusting to darkness, causing pupils to dilate and sensitivity to increase |
| Color Vision | The ability to distinguish different wavelengths of light and perceive different colors |
| Afterimages | Visual sensations that persist after the original stimulus is removed, often in complementary colors |
| Ganglion Cells | Neurons in the retina that receive input from photoreceptors and transmit signals via the optic nerve |
| Prosopagnosia | A condition in which a person cannot recognize faces despite having normal vision |
| Blindsight | A condition in which a person with damage to the visual cortex can respond to visual stimuli without conscious awareness |
| Sound Waves | Vibrations in air or other media that transmit sound and are characterized by wavelength and amplitude |
| Wavelength (Pitch) | The distance between successive sound waves; shorter wavelengths produce higher pitches |
| Amplitude (Loudness) | The height of sound waves; greater amplitude produces louder sounds |
| Place Theory | The theory that pitch perception depends on which part of the basilar membrane vibrates most |
| Frequency Theory | The theory that pitch perception depends on the firing rate of neurons in response to sound waves |
| Volley Theory | The theory that pitch perception combines both place and frequency information through coordinated neural firing |
| Sound Localization | The ability to determine the source location of a sound using timing and intensity cues |
| Conduction Deafness | Hearing loss caused by problems with the mechanical transmission of sound through the ear |
| Sensorineural Deafness | Hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve |
| Olfaction | The sense of smell; the detection of airborne chemical molecules by olfactory receptors |
| Pheromones | Chemical substances released by animals that communicate information to other members of the species |
| Gustation | The sense of taste; the detection of chemical molecules in food and drink |
| Taste Receptors | Sensory cells on the tongue and mouth that detect the five basic tastes |
| Supertasters / Nontasters | People with unusually high or low numbers of taste receptors, affecting taste sensitivity |
| Vestibular Sense | The sense of balance and head position in space |
| Semicircular Canals | Fluid-filled structures in the inner ear that detect rotation and head movement |
| Kinesthesis | The sense of body position and movement in space |
| Gate Control Theory | The theory that pain signals can be blocked at the spinal cord level by other sensory signals |
| Phantom Limb Syndrome | The experience of sensation or pain in a limb that has been amputated |
| Perception | The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information to create a meaningful understanding of the world |
| Top-Down Processing | Perception driven by expectations, prior knowledge, and context |
| Bottom-Up Processing | Perception driven by sensory data and features of the stimulus itself |