Ap Psychology Terms

Includes: Biological Abnormal Cognitive Clinical Research Methods

neuron

basic blocks of nervous system

Semantic encoding

new information can be remembered with the help of old information

cell body

the cell’s life, the support center

dendrites

extensions that both get and give messages.

axon

passes messages through its branches

Myelin sheath

messages are sent faster node to node

Glial cell

cells that support, protect, and remember

Action potential

impulse that travels down the axon

threshold

stimulation needed to make trigger impulses

Refractory period

a resting pause for neurons

All -or- nothing response

neurons either they fire a response or don’t

synapse

space between the axon tips

neurotransmitters

crosses gap to receptor sites

reuptake

when the sending neuron reabsorbs a message

endorphins

transmitters that are linked to pain an pleasure

agonist

a molecule that increases transmitter action

antagonist

mole that decreases transmitter action

nervous system

communication network that takes in information

Central nervous system

is connected to the brain and spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons

nerves

cables that connect the nervous system

sensory (afferent) neurons

they carry messages from sensory receptors

interneurons

information that is processed by sensory input and motor out put

somatic nervous system

allows for control of our muscles

Autonomic nervous system

controls glands and our internal organ muscles

sympathetic nervous system

enables fight or flight response

reflex

an automatic response to everything

endocrine system

the body’s “slow” chemical communication system

hormones

another form of chemical communication system

Adrenal glands

found above the kidneys, releases epinephrine and norepinephrine

Pituitary gland

regulates growth and controls endocrine glands

lesion

naturally or experimentally destruction of brain tissue

EEG (electroencephalogram organ)

amplified readout of electrical activity

MEG (magnet Encep holograph)

technique that measures magnetic fields

CT (computed tomography) scan

examens the brain by taking pictures with x-rays

PET (positron emission tomography) scan

Shows brain activity in each area of the brain, uses radioactive to see inside your brain

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan

the ____ scan aligns with the spinning atoms and brain molecules

fMRI (functional MRI)

can reveals the brain’s functioning structure

brainstem

the brain’s oldest and innermost region

medulla

connection between the brain stem and spinal cord

thalamus

the brain’s sensory control center

Reticular formation

neuron network, begins at spinal cord

cerebellum

the “little brain” at the rear of the brain stem

Limbic system

contains the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus

amygdala

linked to aggression and fear

hypothalamus

command chain of body maintenance

hippocampus

process memories, shrinks as we age

Cerebral cortex

a thin layer of interconnected neutral cells

Frontal lobes

controls speaking, movement, judgment, and organization

Parietal lobes

receives sensory input from what we touch

Occipital lobes

receives information from visual fields

Temporal lobes

receives information from hearing

motor cortex

an area that controls voluntary movement

Somatosensory Cortex

process touch and movement sensations

Association areas

involved in high mental functions

Plasticity

the brain’s ability to change

Neurogenesis

existing tissue tries to fix its self

Corpus Callosum

fibers that connect the two brain hemispheres together

split brain

fibers that used to connect the two hemisphere

conscious

awareness of oneself and environment

cognitive neuroscience

the study of the brain and one’s mental process

Dual processing

information processed consciously or unconsciously

blindsight

response to something visual, without exprience

Parallel processing

mind takes care of an everyday routine

Sequential processing

best for solving new problems

behavior genetics

studies a person’s power, genetic limitations, and environment

heredity

the genetic transfer of characteristics

environment

the people and things around us

chromosomes

DNA molecules that contain genes

DNA

Complex molecules that contains chromosomes

Angular gyrus

the voice inside your head, what you hear when you are reading

genes

small segments of DNA molecules

Identical twins

a single fertilized egg, split into 2

Fraternal twins

developed from two different eggs

interaction

how genes and experiences form people.

epigenetics

the study of molecular mechanisms (triggers).That are influences by environmental influences on gene expression.

Molecular genetics

genes together orchestrate complex traits.

Evolutionary psychology

focus on what makes us people similar.

Natural selection

traits that are best for survival.

mutation

random errors in gene replication.

Social script

guides people in certain situations.

Paul Broca

damage to area effects speaking.

Roger Sperry

found that there are two sides in the human brain.

Michael Gazzaniga

believed that the brain experiences the word differently.

Charles Darwin

came up with natural selection, the idea of evolution (survival of the fittest)

genome

complete instructions for making complete organisms.

parasympathetic nervous system

conserves energy, calms you down after fight or flight.

Motor (efferent) neurons

instructions from central nervous system.

dissociative identity disorder

person that exhibits distinct alternating personalities.

dissociative disorders

person’s conscious separations of painful memories.

Antianxiety drugs

depress central nervous system activity.

Aaron Beck

changing how people think and their functioning.

Albert Ellis

creator of rational-emotive behavior therapy.

Joseph Wolpe

refined Jones’ technique to exposure therapy.

Mary Cover Jones

associate something fear-evoking with something pleasurable.

Carl Rogers

developed/named client-centered therapy, also is one of the founders of humanistic psychology

Post traumatic growth

positive changes after a life crisis

resilience

ability to cope and recover from adversity

lobotomy

used to calm uncontrollable patients

psychosurgery

surgery that removes and destroys brain tissue