AP Psychology MIDTERM

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Central Nervous System

Nerves found in your Brain and Spiral Cord Only

Peripheral Nervous System

Nerves that travel to and from your spinal cord

Autonomic nervous system

(communicates with internal organs and glands, part of peripheral nervous system)

Somatic nervous system

(communicates with sense organs and voluntary muscles, part of peripheral nervous system)

Sympathetic

(arousing)

Parasympathetic

(calming)

Sensory (afferent)

(sensory input) “arriving at the brain”

Motor “efferent”

(motor output) “exiting the brain”

Sensory (Afferent) Neurons

Take information from the senses to the brain

Motor (Efferent) Neurons

Take information from brain to the rest of the body

Interneurons

Take messages from Sensory Neurons to other parts of the brain or to Motor Neurons

Axon

portion of a nerve cell (neuron) that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body

Soma

Cell Body

Terminal Branch

a part of a motor nerve fiber, a branch of an artery, or a branch of the brachial plexus

Nucleus

the positively charged central core of an atom, consisting of protons and neutrons and containing nearly all its mass.

Axon Hillock

a cone-shaped region of a neuron that connects the axon to the cell body

Dendrite

the receiving or input portions of a neuron.

Myelin Sheath/Schwann Cell

a fatty, insulating layer that surrounds nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain and spinal cord

N/N and S/S are magnet forces, that?

repel

N/S and S/N are magnet forces, that?

attract

Action Potential (AP)

electrical message (carries a negative charge)

Polarized

Carries a Negative charge

the charge of the outside of the axon (extracellular) is ?

positive

the charge of the inside (intracellular) is ?

Negative

Resting Potential

Nothing is happening in the neuron. It is Negative.

Threshold

The level that a depolarization must reach for an action potential to occur.

Depolarization

Neuron becomes positive

Repolarization

Neuron becomes negative again

Hyperpolarization

The neuron is flooded with too much negativity.

What happens when the action potential doesnt fire ?

disorders and diseases (MS, Fragile X, etc)

Nerve Synapse

the space between neurons

Neurotransmitter

chemical messengers inside the body that carry messages between neurons

Excitatory: “Excited”, Agonistic, Agonist

increase the likelihood of the neuron firing the action potential

Inhibitory: “Hinder, Restrain” , Antagonistic, Antagonist

Decrease the likelihood of the neuron firing the action potential

Modultory

Affect a large number of neurons and neurotransmitters at the same time. They are slower-acting. Re-uptake is also slower.

epinephrine and norepinephrine are examples of ?

excitatory neurotransmitters

serotonin and GABA are examples of ?

inhibitory neurotransmitters

acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, histamine, and cannabinoids are examples of

modultory neurotransmitters

adrenaline (fight or flight) / epinephrine

surplus: insomnia, anxiety, allergic reactions

deficit: depression

noradrenaline (concentration) / norepinephrine

surplus: anxiety

deficit: depression

dopamine (pleasure)

surplus: schizophrenia

deficit: parkinsons

serotonin (mood)

surplus: autism

deficit: depression

GABA (calming)

surplus: sleep and eating disorders

deficit: anxiety

acetylcholine (learning)

surplus: severe muscle spasms

deficit: alzheimer’s

glutamate (memory)

surplus: seizures, anxiety

deficit: fatigue, poor memory

endorphins (euphoria)

surplus: artificial highs, inadequate warnings of pain

deficit: pain

addiction

involves other changes to brain circuitry and is distinguished by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite negative consequences

dependence

the body physically relies on a drug

tolerance

the need to take higher doses of a substance to get the same effect and often accompanies dependence

psychoactive drugs

substances that, when taken in or administered into one’s system, affect mental processes (depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, hypnotics)

Depressants (Antagonists)

drugs that reduce neural activity (alcohol, barbiturates, opiates)

alcohol

depressant. slows motor skills, judgement, and memory, and increases aggressiveness while reducing self awareness

barbiturates

slow the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement

opiates

slows neural and neurotransmitter activity, blocks transporter sites, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

Stimulants (Agonist)

agonistic drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions (caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines, methamphetamines)

caffeine and nicotine

increase heart rate and other autonomic functions

cocaine

induces immediate euphoria followed by a crash.

ecstasy

stimulant and mild hallucinogen. provides a euphoric high and can damage serotonin producing neurons.

Hallucinogens (Agonist)

Psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs that distort perceptions

Evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.

LSD

powerful hallucinogenic drug that is also known as acid.

THC

the major active ingredient in marijuana that triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations

Psilocybin Mushrooms

alter reality

Hypnotic (Antagonist)

slow down the activity of the brain

EEG

detects brain waves. for general information about the brain

CAT or CT

sophisticated x-ray. provides detailed 3-D images.

MRI

3-D pictures of structures not function. uses magnet tech, no radiation. measures density and location

PET

measures chemical usage by the body to determine brain function using different dyes that make structures “light up”

signs of stroke

Face - is it drooping ? Arms - Can you raise both ? Speech - is it slurred or jumbled? Time - to call 911 right away!

Neocortex

Rational or Thinking Brain

Limbic Brain

Emotional or Feeling Brain

Reptilian Brain

Instinctual or Dinosaur Brain

Basil Ganglia

controls our innate and automatic self-preserving behavior patterns, which ensures survival

Split Brain

callosal syndrome is a type of disconnection syndrome when the corpus callosum connecting the two hemispheres of the brain is severed to some degree. 

Globulus Pallides

Conscious movement. Connects to cerebellum for balance. 

Brain Stem

Heart beat, breathing, alertness and sleep patterns

Thalamus

Brain’s relay station (relays info from sensory organs to cerebral cortex)

Pons

Sleep/wake cycle, arousal and breathing.

Medulla Oblongata

Heartbeat, respiration, swallowing, digestion.

Optic Nerve

Conduit for vision

Amygdala

influences our motivation, emotional control, fear response, and interpretations of nonverbal expressions.

cingulate cortex/gyrus

Primary cortical component of the limbic system, involved in emotional and cognitive processing

Hypothalamus

Part of the forebrain that regulates the amount of fear, thirst, sexual drive, and aggression we feel.

Hippocampus

Plays a role in our learning, memory, and ability to compare sensory information to expectations

Broca’s area

 located in the left hemisphere. Associated with speech production and articulation.

Wernicke's area

Located in the posterior, superior (back, top) temporal lobe. Critical language area responsible for understanding and comprehension that connects to Broca's area via a neural pathway.

speech aphasia

the inability to speak coherently, understand spoken or signed language, follow directions, recognize objects by name

left hemisphere

linear thinking mode (writing, language, scientific skills, math, lists, logic and analytical reasoning). and right hand control

right hemisphere

holistic thinking mode (art, music, spatial skills, intuition, emotional expression and left hand control).

cerebellum

a brain structure located at the back of the skull that is responsible for coordination, balance, and fine motor skills.

encoding

getting info in

storage

retaining info

retrieval

getting info out

Gustatory Memory

refers to the recall of taste-related information, allowing individuals to remember flavors and food experiences. (taste)

Iconic Memory

the brief visual memory that lasts for a very short duration, typically under a second, allowing individuals to retain a snapshot of visual information. (sight)

Haptic Memory

refers to the recall of tactile information, enabling individuals to remember sensations related to touch and texture. (touch)

Olfactory Memory

refers to the recall of scent-related information, allowing individuals to remember smells and olfactory experiences. (smell)

Echoic Memory

the brief auditory memory that lasts for a few seconds, enabling individuals to retain sounds and auditory information. (hearing)

long-term potentiation

the more a memory is utilized, the more potential strength that neuron has

Visual encoding

requires the use of an image or a spatial relationship to remember something