PSY 101 Exam review

Neuron

A specialized cell that communicates information throughout the nervous system.

Dendrites

Parts of a neuron that receive messages.

Axon

The part of a neuron that carries the neural impulse away from the cell body.

Myelin sheath

An insulating covering around some axons that helps impulses travel faster.

Action potential

A brief electrical impulse that travels down the axon.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals released by neurons that affect other neurons.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Includes everything outside the brain and spinal cord.

Somatic nervous system

Part of the PNS that controls voluntary movement and skeletal muscles.

Autonomic nervous system

Part of the PNS that controls involuntary functions.

Sympathetic nervous system

Part of the autonomic system that prepares the body for action.

Parasympathetic nervous system

Part of the autonomic system that calms the body and returns it toward normal functioning.

Brainstem

Controls basic functions necessary for survival, such as breathing and heart rate.

Cerebellum

Important for balance, coordination, and fine motor control.

Thalamus

Acts as an important relay station for sensory information.

Hypothalamus

Helps regulate hunger, thirst, body temperature, and other motivated behaviors.

Amygdala

Important in emotional processing, especially fear and other emotional responses.

Hippocampus

Involved in forming and consolidating new memories.

Frontal lobe

Associated with planning, decision-making, and movement.

Parietal lobe

Involved in touch and body sensations.

Temporal lobe

Involves hearing, memory, and language.

Occipital lobe

Responsible for vision.

Hormones

Chemical messengers released into the bloodstream by endocrine glands.

Genes

Units of heredity.

Chromosomes

Structures containing DNA.

DNA

Molecule carrying genetic information.

Genotype

An individual's genetic makeup.

Phenotype

Observable characteristics of an individual.

Object permanence

Understanding that an object continues to exist even when it can't be seen.

Zone of proximal development

The range between what a child can do alone and what they can accomplish with assistance.

Attachment

The emotional bond between a child and caregiver.

Secure attachment

When a child feels comfortable exploring while using the caregiver for security.

Insecure attachment

Patterns of anxious/resistant or avoidant behavior.

Puberty

Biological changes associated with sexual maturation.

Adolescence

Broader developmental period following puberty involving major physical, cognitive, and social changes.

Piaget

Psychologist who proposed stages of cognitive development.

Sensorimotor stage

Piaget's first stage of cognitive development, from birth to age 2, where learning occurs through senses and actions.

Preoperational stage

Piaget's second stage of cognitive development, from ages 2 to 7, characterized by symbolic thinking and limited logical reasoning.

Concrete operational stage

Piaget's third stage of cognitive development, from ages 7 to 11, where logical thinking about concrete situations occurs.

Formal operational stage

Piaget's fourth stage of cognitive development, from age 12 and up, involving abstract and hypothetical thinking.