AP Psych Unit 1.1-1.4 Test

Heredity

Genetic or biologically predisposed characteristics that influence behavior and mental processes.

Environment

External factors like family life, culture, schooling, and experiences.

Nature vs. Nurture

Behavior results from the interaction of both heredity and environment.

Evolutionary perspective

Natural selection shapes behaviors that increase survival and reproduction.

Eugenics

A misuse of evolutionary ideas to justify discrimination through selective breeding.

Research methods for genetic influence

Twin, family, and adoption studies.

Central nervous system (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord; it processes information.

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Nerves outside the CNS; relays messages to/from the body.

Somatic nervous system

Controls voluntary skeletal muscle movements.

Autonomic nervous system

Controls involuntary functions like heart rate, digestion, and breathing.

Sympathetic nervous system

Activates ‘fight-or-flight’ response.

Parasympathetic nervous system

Activates ‘rest-and-digest’ response.

Glial cells

Cells that support, insulate, and protect neurons.

Reflex arc components

Sensory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons.

All-or-none principle

A neuron fires completely or not at all.

Resting potential

The polarized state of the neuron before firing.

Reuptake

Neurotransmitters are reabsorbed back into the presynaptic neuron.

Dopamine

Influences movement, reward, pleasure.

Serotonin

Regulates mood, sleep, hunger.

Norepinephrine

Regulates alertness and arousal.

GABA

Major inhibitory neurotransmitter.

Glutamate

Major excitatory neurotransmitter.

Endorphins

Provide pain relief and pleasure.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Involved in learning, memory, and muscle contraction.

Substance P

Sends pain messages.

Leptin and Ghrelin

Regulate appetite and hunger.

Agonist

A chemical that increases/facilitates neural firing.

Antagonist

A chemical that blocks or decreases neural firing.

Reuptake inhibitor

A drug that blocks neurotransmitter reabsorption.

Stimulants

Drugs that increase neural activity (e.g., cocaine, caffeine).

Depressants

Drugs that reduce neural activity (e.g., alcohol).

Hallucinogens

Drugs that distort perception (e.g., marijuana).

Opioids

Drugs that act as pain relievers (e.g., heroin).

Tolerance

Needing more of a drug for the same effect.

Withdrawal

Physical and psychological symptoms when drug use stops.

Medulla

Controls breathing, heart rate, and vital functions.

Reticular activating system (RAS)

Controls alertness and arousal.

Brain's reward center

Processes pleasure, motivation, reinforcement learning.

Cerebellum

Controls balance, coordination, and procedural memory.

Amygdala

Controls fear, aggression, and emotional processing.

Hippocampus

Forms new memories.

Hypothalamus

Regulates hunger, thirst, temperature, reward; controls pituitary gland.

Pituitary gland

Releases hormones and controls the endocrine system.

Frontal lobe

Involved in decision-making, planning, personality, and motor control.

Parietal lobe

Processes sensory information, includes somatosensory cortex and association areas.

Occipital lobe

Responsible for vision.

Temporal lobe

Handles hearing, language, and memory.

Corpus callosum

Connects the two hemispheres of the brain.

Left hemisphere

Specializes in language, logic, and math.

Right hemisphere

Specializes in spatial abilities, facial recognition, and creativity.

Broca’s area damage

Results in difficulty producing speech.

Wernicke’s area damage

Results in difficulty understanding language.

Brain plasticity

The ability of the brain to adapt and reorganize after damage.

EEG

Measures electrical activity of the brain.

fMRI

Shows brain activity through blood flow.

Lesioning

Intentional destruction of brain tissue to study function.