KS3 Cambridge Psychology: Quick Memory Guide to Key Terms | KS3 剑桥心理学：关键术语速记指南

📚 KS3 Cambridge Psychology: Quick Memory Guide to Key Terms | KS3 剑桥心理学：关键术语速记指南

Mastering psychology starts with understanding its language. This guide breaks down essential KS3 Cambridge Psychology terms into bite-sized explanations and memory tricks, helping you learn faster and remember longer. Each term is presented with a clear English definition, followed by its Chinese equivalent and a creative memorisation technique. Use these tools to build a solid foundation for your studies.

掌握心理学始于理解它的语言。本指南将 KS3 剑桥心理学的核心术语拆解成小块解释与记忆技巧，帮助你学得更快、记得更牢。每个术语先给出清晰的英文定义，再配上中文释义和创造性的速记方法。利用这些工具为你的学习打下坚实基础。

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1. Introduction to the Nervous System | 神经系统入门

Central Nervous System (CNS): The CNS is the body’s master control unit, consisting of the brain and spinal cord. It processes incoming sensory data and sends out instructions to muscles and glands.

中枢神经系统 (CNS)： CNS 是身体的总控制单元，由大脑和脊髓组成。它处理传入的感觉数据，并向肌肉和腺体发出指令。速记：把 CNS 想象成电脑的 CPU，“Central”表明它是核心处理器，大脑和脊髓是硬件主体。

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): The PNS covers all nerves branching from the CNS to the rest of the body. It relays sensory signals up to the CNS and motor commands back down to limbs and organs.

周围神经系统 (PNS)： PNS 覆盖了从 CNS 延伸到身体各处的所有神经，向上传递感觉信号给 CNS，向下发送运动指令给四肢和器官。速记：Peripheral 意为外围的，如同电脑的键盘和鼠标，是连接中央处理器与外部世界的桥梁。

Spinal Cord: A thick bundle of nerves running inside the spine. It acts as a two-way information highway between the brain and the PNS, and can also coordinate simple reflexes.

脊髓： 脊柱内粗壮的神经束，是大脑与 PNS 之间的双向信息高速公路，同时也能协调简单的反射动作。速记：联想“spine”是脊柱，脊髓就像藏在脊柱隧道里的光纤电缆，高速传输信号。

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2. The Neuron: Building Block of the Brain | 神经元：大脑的构建模块

Neuron: A specialised cell that transmits electrical and chemical signals in the nervous system. Billions of neurons form the network underlying every thought and action.

神经元： 神经系统中专门传递电信号和化学信号的特殊细胞。数十亿神经元构成的网络支撑着每一个想法和动作。速记：词根“neur-”表示神经，加上“on”如同粒子名称，把神经元看作神经系统的“最小功能粒子”。

Dendrite: Branching extensions from the neuron’s cell body that receive messages from other neurons. Their tree-like shape increases the surface for incoming signals.

树突： 从神经元细胞体伸展出的分支，负责接收其他神经元传来的信息。树状造型增大了接收信号的面积。速记：Dendrite 源自希腊语“dendron”（树），联想到树枝接收阳光，树突接收信号。

Axon: A long, slender fibre that carries electrical impulses away from the cell body towards other neurons, muscles or glands. Many axons are insulated by a myelin sheath for faster transmission.

轴突： 细长的纤维，将电脉冲从细胞体传向其他神经元、肌肉或腺体。许多轴突包裹着髓鞘，以加速传输。速记：Axon 听起来像“axis”（轴），想象它是信号的高速公路车道，髓鞘就是柏油路面。

Myelin Sheath: A fatty layer that insulates axons, speeding up neural impulses. Gaps in the sheath, called nodes of Ranvier, allow the signal to jump along the axon.

髓鞘： 包裹在轴突外的脂肪质绝缘层，能加速神经冲动。髓鞘上的间隙叫郎飞结，让信号沿轴突跳跃前进。速记：Myelin 听起来像“myeline”（髓磷脂），把它想象成电线的塑料绝缘皮，防止漏电并提高传导速度。

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3. Neurotransmission: Chemical Messengers | 神经传递：化学信使

Synapse: The tiny gap between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite of another. Neurotransmitters are released across this junction to carry the message forward.

突触： 一个神经元轴突末端与另一个神经元树突之间的微小间隙。神经递质在此释放，跨越连接处传递信息。速记：Synapse 的词根“syn-”表示一起，“haptein”表示抓住，想象两个神经元在此“牵手”交换情报。

Neurotransmitter: A chemical substance, such as dopamine or serotonin, that is released into the synaptic cleft and binds to receptors on the next neuron, exciting or inhibiting it.

神经递质： 一种化学物质，如多巴胺或血清素，释放到突触间隙，与下一个神经元的受体结合，使其兴奋或抑制。速记：把 Neurotransmitter 看成“神经+传送者”，就像快递员把包裹（信息）投递到下一家门口。

Excitatory neurotransmitter: A neurotransmitter that makes the receiving neuron more likely to fire an impulse. Example: glutamate.

兴奋性神经递质： 使接收神经元更可能发放冲动的递质，如谷氨酸。速记：“Excite”意为加油门，想象它踩下神经元活动的加速踏板。

Inhibitory neurotransmitter: A neurotransmitter that decreases the chance of the receiving neuron firing. Example: GABA.

抑制性神经递质： 降低接收神经元发放冲动几率的递质，如 GABA。速记：“Inhibit”意为踩刹车，它像神经元活动的减速器。

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4. Sensation and Perception | 感觉与知觉

Sensation: The process by which our sense organs detect physical energy from the environment and convert it into neural signals. This is the raw data gathering stage.

感觉： 感官探测环境中的物理能量并将其转换成神经信号的过程，属于原始数据收集阶段。速记：Sensation 联想传感器 (sensor)，如同温度计仅仅记录温度数值，不进行解读。

Perception: The brain’s interpretation and organisation of sensory information, allowing us to recognise meaningful objects and events. It turns sensation into a complete picture.

知觉： 大脑对感觉信息进行解读和组织，使我们认出有意义的物体和事件。它将感觉组装成完整画面。速记：Perception 的首字母 P 可对应“拼图”，知觉就是把感觉碎片拼成有意义的图像。

Absolute Threshold: The minimum intensity of a stimulus that can be detected 50% of the time. For example, the faintest sound a person can hear half of the trials.

绝对阈限： 能被 50% 次数探测到的刺激最小强度，例如一个人在一半测试中能听到的最微弱声音。速记：阈值像一扇门，低于它则刺激无法推门而入，记住“绝对”即底线。

Illusion: A perceptual distortion where the brain misinterprets sensory input, creating an experience that does not match physical reality. Examples include the Muller-Lyer illusion.

错觉： 大脑误解感官输入造成的知觉扭曲，产生不符合物理现实的体验，例如缪勒-莱尔错觉。速记：Illusion 开头的“ill”提示它可能“生病”了，是扭曲的感知。

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5. Memory: Encoding, Storage and Retrieval | 记忆：编码、存储与提取

Encoding: The process of transforming sensory input into a form that can be stored in memory. It can be acoustic (sound), visual (image) or semantic (meaning).

编码： 将感觉输入转换成可存储形式的过程，可以是听觉编码、视觉编码或语义编码。速记：就像录入电脑，把纸质文件扫描成 PDF，信息必须编码后才能保存。

Storage: The retention of encoded information over time. Depending on the memory system, storage can last from fractions of a second to a lifetime.

存储： 编码信息随时间的保持，依据记忆系统不同，存储时长可从几分之一秒到终生。速记：Storage 即仓库，编码后的信息被放进不同货架，有的很快清空，有的永久保留。

Retrieval: The process of accessing and bringing stored information into conscious awareness when needed. Retrieval cues, such as context or associations, can trigger recall.

提取： 在需要时将存储信息调取到意识中的过程。提取线索（如情境或联想）可以触发回忆。速记：Retrieve 像是从档案库中找出文件夹，好的线索就是精准的索引号。

Sensory Memory: The briefest form of memory (under 1 second for visual, about 3 seconds for auditory), holding raw sensory impressions just long enough to be processed further.

感觉记忆： 最短的瞬时记忆（视觉图像记忆不足1秒，声像记忆约3秒），短暂保留原始感觉印象以备进一步加工。速记：把它看作相机的缓存区，一闪而过，只有被注意的信息才会进入下一个阶段。

Short-term Memory (STM): A limited-capacity store that holds around 7±2 items for about 15-30 seconds unless rehearsed. Often called working memory when actively manipulated.

短时记忆 (STM)： 容量有限的暂存系统，约可容纳 7±2 个组块，未复述时只能维持 15-30 秒。当主动加工时亦称工作记忆。速记：记住“7±2 法则”，像电话号码的长度，复述是它的充电器。

Long-term Memory (LTM): A virtually unlimited store of information that can last from minutes to a lifetime. It includes explicit (declarative) and implicit (procedural) memories.

长时记忆 (LTM)： 容量近乎无限的存储库，信息可保留数分钟至一辈子，包括外显记忆和内隐记忆。速记：LTM 是大脑的永久硬盘，而 STM 只是临时的内存。

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6. Forgetting and Remembering | 遗忘与记忆

Decay theory: The idea that memory traces fade away over time if they are not accessed or rehearsed. This applies especially to sensory and short-term memories.

痕迹消退说： 认为记忆痕迹因未被使用或复述而随时间自然消退，尤其适用于感觉记忆和短时记忆。速记：如同沙滩上的脚印，不反复踩踏就会被海浪抚平。

Interference: A cause of forgetting where other memories disrupt the retrieval of the target memory. Proactive interference occurs when old learning disrupts new recall; retroactive interference when new learning disrupts old recall.

干扰： 其他记忆干扰目标记忆提取导致的遗忘。前摄干扰是旧知识妨碍新回忆；倒摄干扰是新知识妨碍旧回忆。速记：想像书架上的书互相挤压，一本挡住另一本。

Amnesia: A significant loss of memory, often caused by brain injury or trauma. Retrograde amnesia affects memories before the event; anterograde amnesia prevents forming new memories after it.

遗忘症： 由脑损伤或创伤引起的严重记忆丧失。逆行性遗忘影响事件之前的记忆；顺行性遗忘阻碍之后形成新记忆。速记：Amnesia 中的“a-”表示缺失，“mnesia”与 memory 相关，就像记忆之书被撕掉章节。

Mnemonic: A deliberate memory aid, such as an acronym, rhyme or vivid image, used to organise and encode information in a more memorable way.

记忆术： 有意的记忆辅助工具，如首字母缩写、押韵或生动图像，用于更难忘地组织和编码信息。速记：Mnemonic 开头的“m”不发音，就像记忆技巧悄悄潜入脑中，想到“M”就是“Memory helper”。

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7. Learning: Classical and Operant Conditioning | 学习：经典条件作用与操作条件作用

Classical Conditioning: A learning process where a previously neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to trigger a conditioned response. Discovered by Ivan Pavlov with his salivating dogs.

经典条件作用： 一个先前的中性刺激通过与无条件刺激建立联结，从而引发条件反应的学习过程，由巴甫洛夫的流口水狗实验发现。速记：想到“经典铃声—食物—唾液”链条，中性铃声变成了信号。

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without any prior learning. For Pavlov’s dogs, the food was the UCS.

无条件刺激 (UCS)： 不需学习就能自然、自动触发反应的刺激，如巴甫洛夫实验中的食物。速记：“Unconditioned”意为天生的，不需要条件就起作用，像膝盖被敲击自然弹起。

Conditioned Stimulus (CS): An originally neutral stimulus that, after pairing with a UCS, comes to elicit a conditioned response. The bell became the CS in Pavlov’s experiment.

条件刺激 (CS)： 原本中性，与 UCS 配对后能引发条件反应的刺激，如实验中的铃声。速记：Conditioned 意味着经过“条件训练”，中性铃声获得了新身份。

Operant Conditioning: Learning through consequences; behaviours followed by reinforcement are more likely to be repeated, while those followed by punishment are less likely. Pioneered by B.F. Skinner.

操作条件作用： 通过后果进行的学习；被强化的行为更可能重复，被惩罚的行为更可能减少。由斯金纳开创。速记：把“operant”看作操作机器，按下正确按钮得到奖励，按错受到电击。

Reinforcement: Any event that strengthens the behaviour it follows. Positive reinforcement adds a pleasant stimulus; negative reinforcement removes an unpleasant one.

强化： 任何能增强后续行为的事件。正强化增加愉快刺激，负强化移除不愉快刺激。速记：Reinforce 就是“钢筋加固”，让行为更坚固。注意负强化不是惩罚，而是减去负担。

Punishment: Any event that weakens or decreases the behaviour it follows. It can involve presenting an unpleasant stimulus or removing a pleasant one.

惩罚： 任何能削弱或减少后续行为的事件，可以是呈现不愉快刺激或移除愉快刺激。速记：Punishment 就是要让行为“吃苦头”，与强化相反，目的是打压行为。

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8. Emotions and Motivation | 情绪与动机

Emotion: A complex psychological state involving subjective feelings, physiological arousal, cognitive appraisal, and expressive behaviours. Basic emotions include happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust.

情绪： 包含主观感受、生理唤醒、认知评价和表达行为等成分的复杂心理状态，基本情绪有快乐、悲伤、恐惧、愤怒、惊讶和厌恶。速记：用首字母联想“HAFSSD”或者记住电影《头脑特工队》中的五个角色。

Motivation: The internal process that activates, directs and sustains behaviour towards a goal. It can be driven by biological needs (hunger, thirst) or psychological desires (achievement, affiliation).

动机： 激活、引导并维持目标导向行为的内部过程，可由生理需求或心理渴望驱动。速记：Motivation 的词根“mot”表示移动（如 motor），它是让你动起来的引擎。

Homeostasis: The body’s tendency to maintain a balanced internal state. When a need arises (e.g., low water), a drive is created to restore equilibrium (thirst → drinking).

体内平衡： 身体维持内部稳定状态的趋向。当需求出现时（如缺水），产生内驱力（渴→喝水）以恢复平衡。速记：Homeo- 相同，stasis 状态，就像恒温器自动调节室温，身体渴望保持恒定。

Drive: An aroused state caused by a biological deficit that pushes an organism to take action. A drive for water leads to seeking and drinking.

内驱力： 由生理缺失引起的唤醒状态，推动生物体采取行动。渴的驱力导致找水喝水。速记：Drive 就像油门，身体缺什么就“驱动”你去获取什么。

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9. Fight or Flight Response | 战或逃反应

Fight or Flight Response: An automatic physiological reaction to a perceived threat, preparing the body to either confront or flee. It is orchestrated by the sympathetic nervous system releasing adrenaline.

战或逃反应： 面对感知到的威胁时的一种自动生理反应，让身体准备好对抗或逃跑，由交感神经系统释放肾上腺素协调。速记：想象突然遇到老虎，心跳加速、肌肉紧绷，要么战斗要么飞奔。

Adrenaline: A hormone and neurotransmitter that surges during the fight or flight response, increasing heart rate, boosting energy supplies and sharpening focus.

肾上腺素： 一种在战或逃反应中激增的激素和神经递质，能提高心率、增加能量供应并使注意力变敏锐。速记：Adrenaline 听起来像“啊！追！”——尖叫一声，全身瞬间激活。

Sympathetic Nervous System: The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilising its energy in stressful situations. It is the accelerator of the body.

交感神经系统： 自主神经系统中负责唤醒身体、在压力下动员能量的分支，堪称身体的加速器。速记：Sympathetic 意为“共情”，但在这里它是应激伙伴，迅速帮你进入战斗状态。

Parasympathetic Nervous System: The division that calms the body after stress, conserving energy and promoting ‘rest and digest’ functions. It acts as the brake.

副交感神经系统： 压力过后让身体平静、保存能量、促进“休息与消化”功能的分支，起到刹车作用。速记：Para- 意为“旁边”，它在交感神经旁边，负责踩刹车让身体恢复宁静。

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10. Brain Structures and Functions | 大脑结构与功能

Cerebrum: The largest part of the brain, divided into two hemispheres. It handles higher functions such as thinking, memory, language and voluntary movement. Its outer layer, the cerebral cortex, is highly folded.

大脑： 脑的最大部分，分为两个半球，负责思维、记忆、语言和随意运动等高级功能。其外皮层高度折叠。速记：Cerebrum 听着像“series of rums”，想象大脑皮层像揉皱的纸张，满是沟回。

Cerebellum: Located at the back of the brain, this structure coordinates balance, posture and fine motor movements. It ensures movements are smooth and precise.

小脑： 位于大脑后部，协调平衡、姿势和精细运动，确保动作流畅精准。速记：Cerebellum 中的“bell”像钟摆，小脑像身体的平衡仪，让人走路不摇晃。

Brainstem: The oldest evolutionary part of the brain, connecting the cerebrum to the spinal cord. It controls essential life functions such as heartbeat, breathing and sleep-wake cycles.

脑干： 进化上最古老的脑部，连接大脑与脊髓，控制心跳、呼吸和睡眠周期等基本生命功能。速记：把它看作大脑的“树干”，生命之树就靠这根主干维持最基本的功能。

Hippocampus: A seahorse-shaped structure deep in the temporal lobe, crucial for forming new explicit memories and spatial navigation. Damage can lead to amnesia.

海马体： 位于颞叶深处的海马状结构，对形成新的外显记忆和空间导航至关重要，损伤可导致遗忘症。速记：Hippocampus 源自希腊语“海马”，想象它像档案馆的管理员，负责把短期记忆归档成长时记忆。

Amygdala: An almond-shaped cluster of neurons in the temporal lobe, heavily involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and aggression. It triggers the fight or flight response.

杏仁核： 颞叶中杏仁状的神经元群，深度参与情绪处理，尤其是恐惧和攻击，会触发战或逃反应。速记：Amygdala 来自希腊语“杏仁”，形如其名，它是大脑的情绪警报器。

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11. States of Consciousness | 意识状态

Consciousness: Our moment-to-moment awareness of ourselves and the environment. It includes thoughts, sensations, feelings and perceptions that we can report and reflect upon.

意识： 每时每刻对自我和环境的觉察，包括我们能报告和反思的思想、感觉、情绪和知觉。速记：Conscious 中有“sci”表示知（如 science），就是自己知道自己在想什么的状态。

REM Sleep: Rapid Eye Movement sleep, a sleep stage characterised by vivid dreaming, fast brain waves similar to wakefulness, and temporary muscle paralysis. It is crucial for memory consolidation.

快速眼动睡眠 (REM)： 以生动梦境、类似清醒的快速脑波和暂时肌肉麻痹为特征的睡眠阶段，对记忆巩固至关重要。速记：REM 三个字母正好是“Rapid Eye Movement”缩写，闭眼时眼球却在快速扫动，像在观看梦境电影。

Circadian Rhythm: The roughly 24-hour biological clock regulating sleep-wake patterns, body temperature and hormone release. It is mainly reset by light cues.

昼夜节律： 大约 24 小时的生物钟，调节睡眠-清醒模式、体温和激素释放，主要受光线提示重置。速记：Circadian 中的“circa”意为大约，“dian”源自“dies”（日），即约一日周期的节律，像体内的太阳钟。

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12. Key Research Methods in Psychology | 心理学主要研究方法

Experiment: A research method in which the investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe their effect on another factor (dependent variable), while controlling other variables.

实验： 研究者操纵一个或多个因素（自变量）以观察其对另一个因素（因变量）影响的研究方法，同时控制其他变量。速记：Experiment 就是主动“试”出因果，操纵条件然后测结果。

Independent Variable (IV): The factor that is deliberately changed or manipulated by the researcher in an experiment to test its effects on the dependent variable.

自变量 (IV)： 实验中由研究者有意改变或操纵的因素，用以测试其对因变量的影响。速记：Independent 意为独立的，它自己可以改变，不依赖别的变量。

Dependent Variable (DV): The factor that is measured in an experiment; it may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

因变量 (DV)： 实验中测量的因素，它会随自变量的操纵而可能改变。速记：Dependent 意为依赖的，它的变化依赖于自变量的操控。

Control Group: The group in an experiment that does not receive the specific treatment or manipulation, serving as a baseline to compare with the experimental group.

控制组： 实验中不接受特定处理或操纵的组别，作为基线用于与实验组进行比较。速记：Control 就是“对照”，想象它是一张没有处理的空白照片，让实验效果凸显出来。

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Published by TutorHao | Psychology Revision Series | aleveler.com

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