honors psych vocab: FULL REVIEW

psychology

the science of behavior and mental processes

nature-nurture issue

the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors

nature-genes

nurture-environment

natural selection

the principle that the inherited traits enabling an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

evolutionary psychology

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind- how are humans alike because of our shared biological history?

behavior genetics

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior- how do we differ individually because of our genes and environments?

mutation

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change

environment

every non-genetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to our experiences of the people and things around us

heredity

the genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

genes

the biochemical units of heredity

genome

the complete instructions for making an organism

identical (monozygotic) twins

individuals who developed from a single fertilized egg that split in two, creating two genetically identical organisms

fraternal (dizygotic) twins

individuals who developed from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than ordinary siblings, but shared a prenatal environment.

interaction

the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)

epigenetics

the study of the molecular mechanisms by which environments can influence genetic expression (without a DNA change)

nervous system

the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems

central nervous system (CNS)

brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.

nerves

bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sensory organs

sensory (afferent) neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the body's tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

motor (efferent) neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart)

sympathetic nervous system

arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations (autonomic NS)

parasympathetic nervous system

calms the body, conserving its energy (autonomic NS)

reflex

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

neuron

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

cell body

largest part of a typical neuron; contains the nucleus, which is the cell's life-support center

dendrites

a neuron's branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

axon

the segmented neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

myelin sheath

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed

glial cells (glia)

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

action potential

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

refractory period

in neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired (reload time)

all-or-none response

a neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing

synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

acetylcholine (ACh)

(learning) neurotransmitter that enables muscle action, learning, and memory

dopamine

(pleasure) neurotransmitter that influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion

serotonin

(mood) neurotransmitter that affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

norepinepherine/noradrenaline

(concentration) neurotransmitter that helps control alertness and arousal

gaba

calming neurotransmitter

glutamate

(memory) A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

endorphins

(euphoria) neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure

substance p

A neurotransmitter that is involved in pain perception and immune response

epinepherine/adrenaline

fight or flight

agonist

a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter's action

antagonist

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's action

endocrine system

the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

horomones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

psychoactive drug

a chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods

substance use disorder

a disorder characterized by continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption

depressants

drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

tolerance

the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect

addiction

compulsive drug craving and use, despite harmful consequences

withdrawl

the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug

Barbiturates

drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment

opiods

opium and similar substances, depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

stimulants

drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions

hallucinogens

psychedelic drugs, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

near-death experience

an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death (such as through cardiac arrest); often similar to drug-induced hallucinations

what type of drug is alcohol?

depressant

what type of drug is heroin?

depressant

what type of drug is caffeine?

stimulant

what type of drug is nicotine?

stimulant

what type of drug is cocaine?

stimulant

what type of drug is methamphetamine?

stimulant

what type of drug is ecstasy?

stimulant and mild hallucinogen

what type of drug is LSD?

Hallucinogen

what type of drug is marijuana?

mild hallucinogen

biological psychology

study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes

biophysical approach

an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis

levels of analysis

the differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon

Neuroplasticity

the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

lesion

tissue destruction

EEG (electroencephalogram)

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

MEG (magnetoencephalography)

a brain imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain's natural electrical activity

CT (computed tomography) scan

a series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain's structure

PET (positron emission tomography)

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. scans show brain anatomy.

fMRI (functional MRI)

A technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. shows brain function as well as structure

hindbrain

medulla, pons, cerebellum

midbrain

atop the brainstem, connects the hindbrain and forebrain

forebrain

cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus: manages complex cognitive activities, sensory and associative functions, and voluntary motor functions

medulla

heartbeat and breathing

thalamus

sensory communication station (excluding smell)

reticular formation

runs through brainstem into thalamus, filters information

cerebellum

processes sensory input and coordinates movement output and balance

limbic system

neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

amygdala

fear & agression

hypothalamus

bodily regulation

hippocampus

memory

cerebral cortex

the body's ultimate control and information processing center

frontal lobes

linguistic processing, higher-order thinking, and executive functioning

parietal lobes

sensory input for touch and body position

occipital lobes

receives information from visual fields