Download BioPerceptionAndConsciousness-2011

AP Psychology Review
Page 1 of 5
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Biological Bases, Perception, and Consciousness
Key Terms and Concepts
Before taking the test, you need to be able to explain the meaning of each of these terms or concepts.
Use the glossary to look up the definition of terms. You must write an application statement for each of
the bolded vocabulary terms. Do not write a definition!!! Application statements include, using the word
in a sentence, applying the term to psychology, using the word in a story.
Bolded words mean you must know them or suffer!
accommodation
adaptation
Afferent neurons
all-or-none law
amphetamines
antagonist
association areas
auditory nerve
basal ganglia
binocular cue
blood-brain barrier
CAT (Computerized Axial
Tomography
cerebellum
cerebrum
circadian rhythm
three types of receptors
corpus callosum
action potential
adrenal glands
Agonist neurons
alpha waves
amplitude (loudness)
apnea
auditory canal
autonomic nervous system
basilar membrane
bipolar cells
bone conduction hearing
timbre (complexity
activation-synthesis hypothesis
adrenaline
transduction
synapse
amygdala
suprachiasmic nucleus
auditory cortex
axon
beta (sawtooth) waves
blind spot
brainstem
central nervous system
cerebral hemispheres
sympathetic nervous system
colliculi
cornea
dark adaptation
delta waves
depth perception
dura mater
cerebral cortex
chemical senses
cochlea
cones
neurocognitive theories of
dreaming
dendrites
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
eardrum
endocrine system
excitatory
feature integration theory
fovea
ganglion cells
genotype
depolarize
dominant
efferent
endorphins
Feature Detection Theory
figure and ground
frequency theory
gate control theory
Gestalt principles
gustation
Hertz
heterozygous
hippocampus
homozygous
hormone
tastebud
temporal lobes
incus (anvil)
theta waves
insomnia
just noticeable difference/JND kinesthetic
lens
lateral inhibition
limbic system
malleus (hammer)
melatonin
meiosis
monocular cue
mitosis
motion sickness
motor
MRI/fMRI (Functional Magnetic Müller-Lyer Illusion
Resonance Imaging)
temporal cortex
Narcolepsy
epinephrine
feature detectors
forebrain
substance dependence
gene
glia (glial cells)
Hemisphere
hindbrain
horizontal cells
hypothalamus
inhibitory
iris
thalamus
light adaptation
medulla
midbrain
substance P
motor neurons
Myelin
© Copyright 2004 Apex Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. This material is intended for the exclusive use of
registered users only. No portion of these materials may be reproduced or redistributed in any form without the
express written permission of Apex Learning, Inc.
AP Psychology Review
Page 2 of 5
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Biological Bases, Perception, and Consciousness
nature-nuture
thyroid gland
trichromatic (Young-Helmholtz)
theory
olfaction
opponent process theory
ossicles
ovaries
Weber's law
perception
PET (Positron Emission
Tomography)
photopigments
pineal gland
pituitary gland
plasticity
prefrontal cortex
primary somatosensory cortex
psychoactive drug
refractory period
reticular activating system/RAS
rods
sensation
sensory neuron
somatic nervous system
substantia nigra
neurotransmitter
norepinephrine
thymus
occipital lobes
olfactory bulb
optic nerve
otolith organs
pancreas
parasympathetic nervous
system
periodic limb movement disorder
phenotype
olfactory epithelium
organ of Corti
oval window
parallel processing
parietal lobe
photoreceptors
threshold
place coding/place principle
polarization
vestibular sense
subliminal
pupil
REM
retina
sclera
visible spectrum
sleep paralysis
substance abuse
pia mater
pitch (frequency)
place theory
pons
primary motor cortex
proximity
recessive
visual cortex
reuptake
semicircular canals
sensory integration
soma
steroid
peripheral nervous system
phi phenomenon
Biological Bases, Perception, and Consciousness
The Nervous and Endocrine Systems
In this section you will review the major structures and organization of the two systems that drive human
behavior.
In the past generation, brain imaging and other technological and scientific tools have dramatically
improved. With these tools, we are no longer dependent on case studies of brain damage to learn about
the nervous system.
As you review your textbook and course materials, you'll learn how the nervous system provides instant
communication throughout the body using a variety of specialized cells, such as neurons and glia, along
with chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters.
The brain is the command center of your nervous system, running the activity of all the subdivisions. The
endocrine system is a network of glands that are under the control of the hypothalamus, a small organ in
the brain. The endocrine system produces a variety of hormones that travel through the blood and body
tissues, influencing growth, emotions, and behavior.
When you have finished your review, you should be able to describe the major divisions, components and
functions of these two vital systems.
© Copyright 2004 Apex Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. This material is intended for the exclusive use of
registered users only. No portion of these materials may be reproduced or redistributed in any form without the
express written permission of Apex Learning, Inc.
AP Psychology Review
Page 3 of 5
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Biological Bases, Perception, and Consciousness
Learning Objectives – please answer the following questions. You may use outline form.

Describe the major divisions of the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Describe and differentiate between the functions of the subdivisions of the peripheral nervous
system.

Identify categories of cells in the nervous system.

Label and explain the parts of a neuron, explaining how a neural transmission would occur.

Describe communication as it is carried out by neurons.

Describe the anatomy of the central nervous system.

Identify the processes that are controlled by the central nervous system.

Identify the major glands that comprise the endocrine system and the hormones that they
produce.

Differentiate between the activities of neurotransmitters and hormones in influencing behavior
and experience.
Sample Questions - please answer the following questions. You may use outline form

Differentiate between the functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.

Describe the influence of the hormone adrenaline on various bodily functions and behavior.

Describe the steps involved in the conduction of an action potential through a motor neuron and
across the synapse.

List the four lobes of the cerebral cortex and describe two major functions that are controlled in
each one.
Genetic Influences
Review the fundamentals of genetic inheritance with special attention to their relevance for psychological
science. Make sure you understand the interactions between dominant and recessive genes and the
traits that they carry.
Additionally, examine what has been learned about the possible genetic basis of various human traits and
behavior based on latest information derived from twin studies.
Consider whether psychological functions (and other human traits) are mostly genetic and inherited,
mostly influenced by environmental conditions, or whether the truth is more complicated. It may be better
to refer to "nature via nurture"— the way that nurture promotes or discourages genetic potentials rather
than using the over-simplified and inaccurate term "nature versus nurture."
Learning Objectives - please answer the following questions. You may use outline form

Identify the cellular components of genetic transmission.

Describe the functions of dominant and recessive genes.

Describe the transmission of recessive traits using the example of a genetic disorder.
© Copyright 2004 Apex Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. This material is intended for the exclusive use of
registered users only. No portion of these materials may be reproduced or redistributed in any form without the
express written permission of Apex Learning, Inc.
AP Psychology Review
Page 4 of 5
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Biological Bases, Perception, and Consciousness

Differentiate between genotype and phenotype.

Describe the process of research in behavior genetics and its strengths and limitations.

Discuss the ways in which genes and environment interact to influence behavior.
Sample Questions - please answer the following questions. You may use outline form

Differentiate between the functions of genes and chromosomes.

Describe the effects on the offspring of parents who each carry one dominant and one recessive
gene for particular trait.

Describe the influence of the environment on the emergence of a phenotype.
Sensation and Perception
The relationship between sensation and perception is complex. Although they are often presented
separately in textbooks, they are interrelated in many ways.
Sensation is the process the nervous system uses to detect physical stimuli, and translate them into
action potentials that the brain can interpret and understand. Perception is the interpretation of these
signals in the brain through the normal functioning of the thalamus and cortical tissues. The interactive
functioning of sensation and perception occurs in multiple systems — vision, hearing, smell, taste, touch,
balance, and kinesthetic.
You've learned how separate sensory systems interact with and depend on each other, and how other
psychological factors (such as attitudes and beliefs) can influence the way humans perceive objects and
events. Take this opportunity to continue to expand your understanding of each sensory system and
recall how inaccurate and changeable perception can be.
Learning Objectives - please answer the following questions. You may use outline form

Differentiate between sensation and perception.

Describe the processes of sensory adaptation and integration.

Define the terms "threshold" and "just noticeable difference."

Identify and describe the components of each sensory system.

Describe what can be learned about the functioning of the visual system through the study of
classic optical illusions.

Explain the various ways we organize perceptions.

Differentiate between and explain monocular and binocular depth cues.
Sample Questions - please answer the following questions. You may use outline form

Describe the relationship between sensation and perception.

Describe the anatomy and functioning of the retina.

Identify the two chemical senses and discuss the interaction between them.
© Copyright 2004 Apex Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. This material is intended for the exclusive use of
registered users only. No portion of these materials may be reproduced or redistributed in any form without the
express written permission of Apex Learning, Inc.
AP Psychology Review
Page 5 of 5
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Biological Bases, Perception, and Consciousness

Name the Gestalt laws of visual perception.

Discuss what is learned about visual perception through analysis of the effects of the Ponzo
illusion.
Consciousness
Consciousness is the last frontier of psychological science — we still don't quite fully understand how it
happens. Your textbook lays the groundwork for your understanding. You've had an overview of the most
current information about how the structures and processes of the nervous system operate to create the
various states of consciousness.
The competing theories about what (if any) purpose REM and dreaming may serve and the evidence for
each one were compared. In addition, disorders and problems of sleep are treated along with tips for
achieving the best possible sleep "hygiene" — healthy habits that will help you get a good night's rest.
Related to states of consciousness are two topics: hypnosis and psychoactive drugs. You've had a
chance to explore the formerly mysterious process of hypnosis, examined what happens during hypnosis,
and learned what its real benefits may be. Last, you can review the many types of psychoactive drugs —
their chemical make up, short-term effects, addictive qualities, and long-term damage potential.
Learning Objectives - please answer the following questions. You may use outline form

Identify the major brain structures and chemicals that operate in producing states of alertness and
sleep.

Describe the five states of consciousness that comprise the sleep cycle.

Name the major sleep disorders and the long-term health consequences of each.

Compare theories of hypnosis and the evidence for each one.

List the major categories of psychoactive drugs along with the nervous system processes that
each one disrupts.
Sample Questions - please answer the following questions. You may use outline form

What is the role of melatonin in influencing states of wakefulness and sleep?

Discuss what is known about the function of slow (delta) wave and REM sleep in preserving body
and nervous system health.

Name one valid clinical use and one misapplication of the process of hypnosis.

List the psychoactive drugs that act as central nervous system depressants and describe their
possible long-term effects.
© Copyright 2004 Apex Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. This material is intended for the exclusive use of
registered users only. No portion of these materials may be reproduced or redistributed in any form without the
express written permission of Apex Learning, Inc.