AP Psychology Midterm Study Guide 2024 PDF

# AP Psychology Midterm Study Guide ## Fall Semester 2024 The midterm exam consists of multiple-choice questions and one AAQ. Units 0- 3.1 will be covered on the midterm. This serves as a guide for you to go back and review the material. Please note that this is not just a vocabulary list. You mus...

# AP Psychology Midterm Study Guide ## Fall Semester 2024 The midterm exam consists of multiple-choice questions and one AAQ. Units 0- 3.1 will be covered on the midterm. This serves as a guide for you to go back and review the material. Please note that this is not just a vocabulary list. You must be able to apply the concepts. * Complete sentences are not necessary. * Remember the importance of using the Testing Effect. ## Unit 0 Research Principles ### Terms & Concepts * Psychology * Behavioral Psychology * Biological Psychology * Cognitive Psychology * Evolutionary Psychology * Psychodynamic Psychology * Social-cultural Psychology * Humanistic Psychology For each of the following, fill in the correct field of psychology (i.e. behavioral psychology, cognitive psychology, etc.). | Number | Area of Psychology | Description | |---|---|---| | 13 | Humanistic | Focuses on fulfilling personal goals, becoming self-actualized, personal growth | | 14 | Behavioral | Focuses on mental activities like thinking, memory, problem solving, forming language | | 15 | Biological | Focuses on physical processes and influences on behavior like genes, hormones, neurotransmitters, etc. | | 16 | Cognitive | Focuses on physical behavior, conditioning, observational learning | | 17 | Social-cultural | Focuses on how the people and culture around us influence our behavior | | 18 | Psychodynamic | Focuses on unconscious wishes, childhood experiences, repressed memories, etc. | | 19 | Evolutionary | Focuses on how natural selection has influenced our genes and, as a result, our behavioral differences with our ancestors | ### Terms & Concepts * Hindsight Bias * Hypothesis * Falsifiable Hypothesis * Operational Definition * Replication * Case Study * Naturalistic Observation * Survey * Sampling Bias * Effect Size * Self-Report Bias * Social Desirability Bias * Quantitative vs Qualitative * Population * Random Sample * Representative Sample * Convenience Sampling * Correlation * Correlation Coefficient * Scatterplot * Correlation v. Causation * Confounding Variable or Third Variable * Meta-Analysis * Experiment * Experimental Group * Control Group * Random Assignment * Double-blind Procedure * Single-blind * Placebo Effect * Independent Variable * Dependent Variable * Validity * Descriptive Statistics * Mode (Measure of Central Tendency) * Mean (Measure of Central Tendency) * Median (Measure of Central Tendency) * Range (Measure of Variation) * Standard Deviation (Measure of Variation) * Histogram * Skewed Distribution * Positive skew * Negative skew * Normal Curve * Bimodal Distribution * Descriptive Statistics vs Inferential Statistics * Statistical Significance * Confederates * Ethics * Informed Consent * Debriefing/ Deception * APA (American Psychological Association) and its role in research * Informed Consent * Protection from harm * Confidentiality * Major Questions 1. In an experiment, how should the researchers go about choosing a random sample from their population? Be specific about the difference between the terms “population” and “participants.” * a. There are 4 sleep stages; we cycle through them from NREM-1, NREM-2, NREM-3, to REM. We go through about 5 different cycles a night and the sleep stages vary in length. Every 90 minutes we cycle through the sleep stages and then restart. NREM- 3 decreases throughout the night. 2. What is the difference between random sampling and random assignment? * a. Random sampling is picking participants randomly to represent a population and random assignment is splitting participants into groups randomly for the experiment they are needed in. 3. Describe how a double-blind procedure is performed by a team of researchers. * a. \The participants or the researchers neither know who's involved in the experimental or control group. 4. What is meant by the phrase “correlation does not equal causation?“ * a. This phrase means that just because two things happen together does not mean that one causes the other to happen. 5. What is the “confounding/ third variable problem?” Give an example. * a. A third factor that affects both of the other variables; example: hot chocolate sales and hyperthermia could both be caused by the cold weather b. 6. When using descriptive statistics, which would be the most commonly used measure of central tendency? * a. The mean 7. If researchers find that they have a skewed distribution, which measure of central tendency should be used to describe the data? * a. The median 8. What is the significance of inferential statistics and “p value?” * a. A p-value of under 0.05 means the results are likely real. 9. Of all of the research methods, which is the best to use? Why? * a. Experiments because they show cause and effect by controlling variables. 10. What are the basic ethical guidelines that researchers must follow, and who approves their proposals for research? * a. Protect participants from harm, debrief them, informed consent, approved by an IRB. 11. When obtaining informed consent, how much information do the researchers have to provide for the participants? * a. Cannot reveal details that could ruin results but inform them enough. For each of the following, provide a basic description, advantage, and disadvantage. |Term | Description | Advantage(s) | Disadvantage(s) | |---|---|---|---| | Case Study | One individual or small group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles | Allows for examination of unusual behavior outside of a lab setting so this study does not disturb the subject | Cannot determine cause and effect Subjects behave “normally” Observations by researchers may be subjective | | Naturalistic Observation | Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation | | | | Survey | A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative random sample of the group. | Quick way to get information on people's beliefs and behaviors | Response bias, wording/expectation effect | | Experiment | Research method in which an investigator manipulates one of more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process | | | ## Unit 1.1: Biological Bases of Behavior ### Terms & Concepts * Biological Psychology * Neuron * Dendrites * Axon * Myelin Sheath * Multiple Sclerosis (MS) * Myasthenia Gravis * Action Potential * Resting Potential * Refractory Period * Threshold * Inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters * All-or-none Response * Synapse * Neurotransmitters * Acetylcholine (ACh) * Dopamine * Serotonin * Norepinephrine * GABA * Glutamate * Substance P * Endorphins * Reuptake * Agonist * Antagonist * Nervous System <start_of_image> * Nerves * Central Nervous System * Peripheral Nervous System * Sensory (Afferent) Neurons * Motor (Efferent) Neurons * Interneurons * Somatic Nervous System * Autonomic Nervous System * Sympathetic Nervous System * Parasympathetic Nervous System * Reflex/Reflex Arc * Endocrine System * Hormone * Function * Adrenaline * Prepare body for emergencies → fight or flight * Ghrelin * Feelings of hunger * Leptin * Feelings of satiety * Melatonin * Regulates the sleep cycle * Oxytocin * improves relationships → “love” hormone * Pituitary Gland * Lesion * EEG Electroencephalogram * fMRI (functional MRI) * Brainstem * Medulla * Thalamus * Reticular activation system * Cerebellum * Limbic System * Amygdala * Hypothalamus * Cerebral cortex * Glial cells * Frontal lobes * Parietal Lobes * Occipital Lobes * Temporal Lobes * Motor Cortex * Somatosensory Cortex * Association Areas * The case of Phineas Gage * Plasticity * Corpus Callosum * Split Brain * Consciousness * Dual Processing * Behavior Genetics * Gene Environment Interaction * Identical Twins (monozygotic twins) * Fraternal Twins (dizygotic twins) * Separated Twins * Biological v. Adoptive Relatives * Epigenetics * Evolutionary Psychology ### Major Questions 1. Describe how a neuron fires and the function of each part of the neuron. * a. A signal travels through the dendrites, then the axon, then the synapse. 2. Briefly describe a neuron in a) resting potential, b) action potential, and c) the refractory period. Be sure to include information about the charge on the inside and outside of the axon. * a. Resting neuron is at rest, inside is neg. * b. Action neuron fires; inside is pos. * c. Refractory – neuron resets itself. 3. How is information passed between two neurons? * a. Neurotransmitters. 4. What is the basic difference between the somatic and autonomic nervous system? * a. Somatic controls voluntary actions while autonomic controls involuntary actions. 5. Between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, which functions faster and why? * a. Sympathetic because it is your fight or flight response. 6. What are the functions of the endocrine system? * a. Produces hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and emotions. 7. How does the EEG work compared to the fMRI? * a. EEG measures brain waves while fMRI showed detailed images of the brain activity. 8. What is plasticity? * a. Brain's ability to adapt 9. What are some differences functions between the right and left hemispheres of the brain? * a. Left – logical, language, math * b. Right – creativity, emotions, and spatial awareness. 10. What is meant by the phrase “nature vs. nurture?“ * a. Whether genetics or environment shapes behavior * b. Nature - genetics * c. Nurture - environmental 11. Describe the concept of natural selection as related to psychology. * a. Behaviors that help survival get passed on. For each of the following, describe the major functions (complete sentences not necessary). | Term | Description | |---|---| | Medulla | Keeps you alive by controlling heart beat, breathing, and blood pressure | | Thalamus | Sends sensory information to the right parts of your brain | | Reticular Formation | Helps keep you awake, alert, and aware; helps sleep when it's time to | | Cerebellum | Keeps you balanced and smooth movements | | Amygdala | Handles emotions, fear the most | | Hypothalamus | Keeps your body balanced by controlling hunger, thirst, etc. | | Hippocampus | Making memories and learning new things | | Pituitary Gland | "master gland”; releases hormones and controls growth in the endocrine system | | Frontal Lobe | Control center for decision-making, problem-solving, and planning | | Motor Cortex | Controls voluntary movements (running, waving) | | Broca's Area | Helps produce speech and talking clearly | | Parietal Lobe | Processes sensory info; helps understand where things are around you | | Occipital Lobe | Visual processor – everything you use gets interpreted here | | Somatosensory Cortex | Receives signals from your body about things like touch, pressure, pain | | Temporal Lobe | | | Wernicke's Area | | | Corpus Callosum | | ## Unit 1.2: Consciousness, Sleep, Psychoactive Drugs ### Terms and Concepts * Consciousness * Circadian Rhythm * Sleep stages * REM sleep (paradoxical sleep) * Alpha waves * Hypnagogic Sensations * Myoclonic Jerk * Hallucinations * Sleep Spindles * Theta Waves * Delta waves * NREM sleep * Purpose of sleep * Restoration theory * Memory consolidation theory * Effects of sleep deprivation * Insomnia * Narcolepsy * Sleep apnea * Somnambulism * Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) * Night terrors * Nightmares * Dreams * REM Rebound * Substance Use Disorder * Psychoactive Drugs * Tolerance * Addiction * Withdrawal * Depressants * Alcohol * Opiates * Heroine * Stimulants * Caffeine * Cocaine * Hallucinogens * Marijuana ### Major Questions 1. How many sleep stages are there, and how do we cycle through them throughout the night? * a. There are 4 stages; we cycle through them 4-6 times a night. 2. What is the difference between a night terror and a nightmare? * a. Night terror – happen in deep sleep, no memory of them. * b. Nightmare – happens in REM sleep, remember them. 3. How does light level affect our ability to fall asleep? * a. Bright light suppresses melatonin, making it harder to fall asleep. 4. Why do scientists believe we sleep each night? * a. Scientists believe that we sleep to restore energy, process memories, and regulate emotions. 5. What are some possible effects of sleep deprivation? * a. Mood swings, poor focus, memory problems. 6. What is the difference between tolerance and addiction? * a. Tolerance – needing more of a substance to feel the same effect * b. Addiction – dependence on a substance despite negative consequences 7. How does neuroadaptation lead to addiction? * a. Your brain adjusts to a drug, making you crave it more. 8. What are the main characteristics of depressants? * a. Slows down brain activity. 9. What are the main characteristics of stimulants? * a. Speeds up brain activity. 10. What are the main characteristics of hallucinogens? * a. Alter perceptions and hallucinations. 11. Give an example of the expectancy effect. * a. If you drink a decaf coffee and you think it's a regular coffee, you'll feel more alert because of you thinking its normal. For each of the following, write the proper category and a brief description of the effects. |Number|Term|Category|Effects| |---|---|---|---| |12|Alcohol|Depressant|Slows brain activity, lowers inhibitions, affects coordination| |13|Nicotine|Stimulant|Makes you feel more awake, highly addictive| |14|Caffeine|Stimulant|Wakes you up, keeps you focused, boosts energy| |15|Cocaine|Stimulant| | |16|Heroine|Opioid|Relieve pain and cause intense relaxation| |17|Marijuana|cannabinoid|Feel relaxed and messes with your memory| ## Unit 2.1: Sensation and Perception * Sensation * Perception * Bottom-up processing * Top-down processing * Selective Attention * Cocktail party effect * Selective Inattention * Inattentional blindness * Change blindness * Transduction * Absolute Thresholds * Difference threshold * Signal Detection Theory * Weber's Law * Sensory Adaptation * Perceptual Set * Context Effects * Wavelength * Amplitude * Intensity * Pupil * Iris * Lens * Retina * Accommodation * Nearsightedness * Farsightedness * Ganglion cells * Rods * Cones * Optic Nerve * Blind Spot * Fovea * Trichromatic Theory * Color Deficiency * Opponent Process theory * Afterimages * Gestalt * Figure-ground * Proximity * Continuity * Closure * Depth perception * Visual Cliff * Binocular cues * Retinal Disparity * Convergence * Monocular Cues * Relative clarity * Relative Size * Interposition * Linear perspective * Texture gradient * Phi Phenomenon * Perceptual Constancy * Color Constancy * Shape and size constancies * Amplitude of sound waves * Audition * Pitch * Frequency * Cochlea * Sound localization * Sensorineural hearing loss * Conduction hearing loss * Cochlear implant * Place Theory * Frequency Theory * Volley Theory * Basic Four Touch Sensations * Pressure * Warmth * Cold * Pain * Gate-control Theory * Phantom limb sensations * Taste * Sweet * Salty * Sour * Bitter * Umami (savory) * Oleogustus * Vestibular sense * Kinesthetic sense * Semicircular canals * Sensory interaction ### Major Questions 1. What is the difference between sensation and perception? * a. Sensation – senses detect something * b. Perception – how your brain interprets that information. 2. Give an example of the cocktail party effect. * a. Ex. you hear someone say your name in a noisy room. You filter out other sounds to focus on that. 3. What is transduction? Give an example for vision and audition. * a. Transduction – your body turns sensory information into signals your brain understands. 4. How do we know our absolute threshold has been met? * a. It's the smallest amount of something you can detect. 5. Describe the Just Noticeable Difference threshold and provide an example. * a. The smallest change in something you can notice; ex. when someone slowly turns the volume up in the car, and the point when you start to notice. 6. What is the difference between the two-color vision theories? * a. Trichromatic – you see color because your eyes have 3 types of color receptors. * b. Opponent-process – colors work in pairs; when one is active, the other is suppressed. 7. In vision, what determines the color we see? The brightness? * a. Color - determined by the wavelength of light. * b. Brightness – determined by the intensity of the light wave. 8. What is the difference between monocular and binocular cues. * a. Monocular – depth cues you only need one eye for. * b. Binocular – depth cues you only need both eyes for. 9. In hearing, what determines the volume we hear? What about the pitch? * a. Volume - depends on the amplitude of sound waves. * b. Pitch - depends on the frequency of sound waves. 10. Describe the visual cliff experiment. What were researchers able to conclude? * a. Babies were placed on a platform with a “cliff” (clear, glass dropoff). * b. Researchers found that most babies wouldn't ross the clip showing depth perception develops early. 11. What is the difference between the two types of hearing loss? * a. Conductive a problem in the middle ear. * b. Sensorineural hearing loss – damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve. 12. How does the Gate Control theory work in understanding pain? * a. Your spinal cord acts like a gate; it can block or allow pain signals to reach your brain. 13. What is sensory interaction and give an example. * a. When senses work together; ex. food tastes bland if you cannot smell it, showing smell and taste interact (SKITTLES). ## Unit 2.2: Cognitive Psychology ### Terms and Concepts * Memory * Alzheimer's Disease * Superior Autobiographical Memory * Encoding * Storage * Retrieval * Parallel processing * Sensory Memory * Short-term memory * Long-term memory * Working memory * Explicit memory * Implicit memory * Effortful processing * Automatic processing * Iconic memory * Echoic memory * Mnemonics * Chunking * Hierarchies * Spacing effect * Testing effect * Shallow Processing * Deep Processing * Hippocampus (as it relates to memory) * Frontal lobes (as they relate to memory) * Cerebellum (as it relates to memory) * Basal ganglia (as it relates to memory) * Amygdala (as it relates to memory) * Flashbulb memory * Long term potentiation * Recall * Recognition * Retrieval Cues * Ebbinghaus' Forgetting Curve * Context Dependent memory * State Dependent memory * Mood-congruent memory * Serial Position Effect * Primacy effect * Recency effect * Anterograde amnesia * Retrograde amnesia * Proactive interference * Retroactive interference * Repression * Misinformation effect * Source amnesia * Misinformation Effect * Cognition * Concept * Prototype * Creativity * Convergent Thinking * Divergent Thinking * Algorithm * Heuristic * Confirmation Bias * Belief Perseverance * Gamblers Fallacy * Mental Set * Representativeness Heuristic * Availability Heuristic * Framing * Language * Phoneme * Morpheme * Grammar * Cooing stage * Babbling stage * One-word stage * Telegraphic speech * Universal Grammer * Critical Period ### Major Questions 1. What is the difference between explicit memory and implicit memory? * a. Implicit - skills or habits you do without thinking about it. * b. Explicit facts and experiences you can consciously recall. 2. How long do sensory memory and short term memory last? * a. Sensory - seconds. * b. Short term memory – 20 seconds. 3. How are shallow and deep processing different? * a. Shallow - focusing on surface details – not really processing for long. * b. Deep - focusing on meaning. 4. Where are short term and long term explicit memories stored? * a. Short term – prefrontal cortex. * b. Long term – hippocampus. 5. Where are implicit memories typically stored? * a. Cerebellum and basal ganglia. 6. How are context-dependent memory and state-dependent memory different? * a. Context - easier to remember something in the same placed you learned it. * b. State - easier to remember when you are in the same mental state or mood. 7. According to Freud why would repression happen? * a. Unconsciously pushing painful memories out of awareness. 8. How can the misinformation effect lead someone's memory of an event to change? * a. Misleading details can change how you remember an ev 9. Give an example of source amnesia. * a. Forgetting where you learned something; thinking about a fact in class when it was a song lyric. 10. What is the difference between retrograde amnesia and anterograde amnesia? * a. retrograde amnesia – cannot remember past events. * b. anterograde – cant form new memories. 11. Give an example of the representativeness heuristic. * a. Assuming someone who loves to bake must be a baker, not a teacher. 12. Give an example of the availability heuristic. * a. Thinking cruise ships sinking are common because you saw one on TV. 13. How does belief perseverance work? How is it different from Confirmation bias. * a. Sticking to a belief even after it's disproven. * b. Only seeking information that supports that belief. 14. What is the difference between semantics and syntax? * a. Semantics – meaning of words. * b. Syntax - grammar and word order. 15. Describe the stages of a child learning to speak. * a. In order – babbling, cooing, single words, two-word phrases, full sentences. ## Unit 2.3: Testing and Individual Differences ### Terms and Concepts * Intelligence * Eugenics * General Intelligence (g) * Factor analysis * Savant syndrome * Intelligence test * Achievement test * Emotional intelligence * Aptitude test * Binet Test * Mental age * Stanford-Binet test * Intelligence Quotient (IQ) * Wechsler Adult intelligence Scale (WAIS) * Psychometrics * Standardization * Reliability * Validity * Percentile Rank * Crystallized intelligence * Fluid intelligence * Cross-sectional study * Longitudinal study * Stereotype threat vs Stereo Lift * Flynn Effect * Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset ### Major Questions 1. Be able to explain intelligence. * a. The ability to learn, solve problems, and adapt. 2. Distinguish between aptitude and achievement tests * a. Aptitude – measures potential (SAT, ACT) * b. Achievement measures what you've learned (final exams). 3. Explain crystallized and fluid intelligence and how age affects each. * a. Crystallized – knowledge that grows with age * b. Fluid problem-solving ability that declines with age. 4. Define cross sectional studies and longitudinal studies and strength and weaknesses of each. * a. Cross sectional studies – compares different age groups at one time * b. longitudinal studies – follows the same group over time. 5. Discuss bias in intelligence testing and how the stereotype threat and the stereotype lift impact performance. * a. Cultural bias can impact results. * b. Stereotype threats lowers performance; stereotype life can boost it. 6 . Give an example of someone with a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. * a. Growth - you can improve (“ill practice and get better”) * b. Fixed you cannot improve or change (“im just bad at math") 7. Explain the difference between norm referencing the normal distribution curve. * a. Norm referencing compares scores to others, while a normal curve sows how most people fall in the middle. | Term | Definition | |---|---| | (g) | Overall ability to solve problems and learn new things | | Fluid intelligence | Ability to think immediately and solve new problems – declines with age | | Crystallized | Accumulated knowledge and skills – increase with age | | intelligence | | | Triarchic theory | Sternberg's idea – three parts: problem-solving, practical, analytical | | Multiple intelligences | Gardner's theory that people have different kinds of smarts | | Growth Mindset | You can get better through effort and learning | | Fixed Mindset | Your abilities are set in stone and Cannot Change | | Emotional Intelligence| Being good at recognizing and managing emotions | We have not covered this unit. I will tell you what is on the Midterm exam once we finish the material. ## Unit 3.1: Learning ### Terms and Concepts * Learning * Habituation (not to be confused with sensory adaptation!) * Associative learning * Stimulus * Cognitive Learning * Classical conditioning * Pavlov's dogs' experiment * Behaviorism * Neutral Stimulus * Unconditioned Response * Unconditioned Stimulus * Conditioned Response * Conditioned Stimulus * Acquisition * Higher-order conditioning * Extinction * Spontaneous Recovery * Generalization * Discrimination * Law of Effect * Operant Conditioning * Reinforcement * Shaping * Discriminative stimulus * Positive Reinforcement * Negative reinforcement * Primary reinforcer * Conditioned reinforcer * Reinforcement schedule * Continuous Reinforcement * Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement * Fixed-ratio schedule * Variable-ratio schedule * Fixed-interval schedule * Variable-interval schedule * Punishment (Positive and negative) * Real-life applications of operant conditioning * Influences/Limits on Operant Conditioning * Cognitive Map * Latent Learning * Insight * Intrinsic Motivation * Extrinsic Motivation * Problem-focused coping * Emotion-focused coping * Learned helplessness * External Locus of Control * Internal Locus of Control * Marshmallow Study/ self-control * Social Learning Theory * Vicarious Conditioning * Modeling * Mirror neurons * Prosocial behavior * Antisocial behavior ### Major Questions 1. Describe the differences of classical conditioning and operant conditioning. * a. classical conditioning - learning by association. * b. operant conditioning – learning through rewards or punishment. 2. In Pavlov's experiment, what was the UCS, UCR, NS, CS, and CR? * a. UCS - food * b. UCR - drooling to food * c. NS - bell * d. CS - bell * e. CR - drooling to bell. 3. How do we know acquisition has taken place? * a. Learning happens when the NS becomes the CS. 4. How does extinction occur? What about spontaneous recovery? * a. Extinction - learned behavior fades. * b. spontaneous recovery – suddenly returns. 5. What was the significance of the Little Albert experiment? * a. Proved fear can be conditioned in humans. 6. How can we use shaping to condition someone? * a. Shaping - rewarding small steps toward a bigger goal. 7. What is the difference between reinforcement and punishment? * a. Reinforcement – encourages behavior * b. Punishment – discourages behavior. 8. Which schedule of reinforcement leads to the fastest learning? What about the longest-lasting learning? * a. Fastest – continuous reinforcement * b. Longest – lasting, variable ratio. 9. How does latent learning take place? Give an example. * a. Learning that shows up later; ex. a rat runs a maze faster after knowing food is at the end. 10. How does learned helplessness develop? * a. Giving up after repeated failure. 11. What was the significance of the Bobo Doll experiment? * a. Showed kids imitate aggressive behavior they see in adults. For each of the following, provide an example. (complete sentences not necessary) | Number | Term| Example | |---|---|---| | 13 | Positive Reinforcement | Giving a child 20 extra mins of screen time for cleaning their room | | 14 | Negative Reinforcement | Turning off your alarm when you actually get out of your bed | | 15 | Positive Punishment | Giving a child more chores for talking back | | 16 | Negative Punishment | Taking away a child's phone for being late on curfew | | 17 | Fixed-ratio schedule | A factory worker gets paid after putting together 20 toys | | 18 | Variable-ratio schedule | a slot machine pays out after a random amount of pulls | | 19 | Fixed-interval schedule | A weekly paycheck | | 20 | Variable-interval schedule | Checking email for a new message – every 5-20 mins you get one - SOMETIMES | ==End of OCR==