Unit 1 Vocabulary Flashcards – Myers' Psychology for the AP Course

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from Unit 1 notes.

nature–nurture

The longstanding debate over how much genes versus experience contribute to psychological traits and behaviors; today traits arise from their interaction.

natural selection

Inherited traits that help an organism survive and reproduce in a given environment are most likely passed on to future generations.

evolutionary psychology

The study of how behavior and the mind have evolved through natural selection.

behavior genetics

The study of the relative influence of genetic and environmental factors on behavior.

mutation

A random error in gene replication that leads to a change.

environment

All non-genetic influences, from prenatal nutrition to social experiences.

heredity

The genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring.

genes

The biochemical units of heredity.

genome

The complete set of instructions for building an organism.

identical (monozygotic) twins

Twins who come from a single fertilized egg that splits, creating two genetically identical individuals.

fraternal (dizygotic) twins

Twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs; genetically no closer than ordinary siblings, but share a prenatal environment.

interaction

The interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another factor.

epigenetics

The study of how environments can influence gene expression without changing the DNA sequence.

nervous system

The body’s fast electrochemical communication network, including all nerve cells of the CNS and PNS.

central nervous system (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord.

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body.

nerves

Bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sensory organs.

sensory (afferent) neurons

Neurons that carry incoming information from the body’s tissues and receptors to the brain and spinal cord.

motor (efferent) neurons

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

interneurons

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that process information between the senses and actions.

somatic nervous system

The division of the PNS that controls the body's skeletal muscles.

autonomic nervous system

The part of the PNS that controls glands and internal-organ muscles; its sympathetic division arouses, and its parasympathetic division calms.

sympathetic nervous system

The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body and mobilizes energy.

parasympathetic nervous system

The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body and conserves energy.

reflex

A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus.

neuron

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

cell body

The neuron’s life-support center that contains the nucleus.

dendrites

Branches that receive and integrate messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.

axon

The long extension that passes messages to other neurons, muscles, or glands.

myelin sheath

Fatty tissue layer encasing many axons; speeds neural impulses.

glial cells (glia)

Supportive cells that nourish, protect, and may help learning and memory.

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

A resting pause after firing, during which neurons cannot fire again until they return to resting state.

all-or-none response

A neuron either fires at full strength or not at all.

synapse

The junction between the sending and receiving neurons; the gap is the synaptic gap/cleft.

neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that cross the synapse and influence whether a neuron will generate an impulse.

reuptake

The reabsorption of neurotransmitters by the sending neuron.

endorphins

Natural, opioid-like neurotransmitters linked to pain relief and pleasure.

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; glands secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

hormones

Chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands that travel through the bloodstream to affect tissues.

psychoactive drug

A chemical substance that alters the brain, affecting perceptions and moods.

substance use disorder

A disorder characterized by ongoing substance use despite disruptive consequences.

depressants

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

tolerance

Diminished effect with regular use of the same dose, leading to larger doses for the same effect.

addiction

Compulsive substance use or behavior patterns despite harmful consequences.

withdrawal

Discomfort and distress following the cessation of an addictive drug or behavior.

barbiturates

Drugs that depress CNS activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment.

opioids

Opium and derivatives that depress neural activity and relieve pain and anxiety.

stimulants

Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

hallucinogens

Psychedelic drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images without external input.

near-death experience

An altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death; often similar to drug-induced experiences.

biological psychology

The scientific study of the links between biology (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychology; researchers may label as behavioral neuroscientists or biopsychologists.

biopsychosocial approach

An integrated approach that combines biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis.

levels of analysis

Different complementary viewpoints—from biological to psychological to social-cultural—for analyzing phenomena.

neuroplasticity

The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or forming new pathways.

lesion

Tissue destruction in the brain; can occur naturally, surgically, or experimentally.

EEG (electroencephalogram)

An amplified recording of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface, measured with scalp electrodes.

MEG (magnetoencephalography)

A brain-imaging technique that measures the brain’s magnetic fields from its electrical activity.

CT (computed tomography) scan

A series of X-ray photographs combined by computer to show a slice of brain structure.

PET (positron emission tomography)

A technique detecting brain activity by showing where radioactive glucose goes during tasks.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A technique using magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed brain images; shows anatomy.

fMRI (functional MRI)

Measures brain activity by detecting blood flow; shows function and structure.

hindbrain

Includes medulla, pons, and cerebellum; governs survival functions and coordination.

midbrain

Located atop the brainstem; connects hindbrain to forebrain and transmits information.

forebrain

Includes cerebral cortex, thalamus, and hypothalamus; handles complex cognitive and sensory functions.

brainstem

Central core of the brain; controls automatic survival functions.

medulla

Part of the hindbrain; regulates heartbeat and breathing.

thalamus

Forebrain’s sensory relay station; directs messages to cortex and transmits replies to cerebellum and medulla.

reticular formation

Nerve network through brainstem to thalamus; filters information and regulates arousal.

cerebellum

Hindbrain ‘little brain’; coordinates movement, balance, and some learning and memory.

limbic system

Neural system in the forebrain involved with emotions and drives; includes amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, thalamus, and pituitary.

amygdala

Two lima-bean-sized neural clusters linked to emotion.

hypothalamus

Limbic system structure below the thalamus; maintains bodily needs, directs endocrine system, and links to emotion and reward.

hippocampus

Limbic system center that processes explicit memories for storage.

cerebral cortex

Intricate fabric of neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; body’s control and information-processing center.

frontal lobes

Cerebral cortex region behind the forehead; involved in language, movement, higher-order thinking, and executive functions.

parietal lobes

Cerebral cortex region at the top-rear of the head; processes touch and body position.

occipital lobes

Cerebral cortex region at the back of the head; contains areas that receive visual input.

temporal lobes

Cerebral cortex region above the ears; contains auditory areas and supports language processing.

motor cortex

Cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.

somatosensory cortex

Cortex area at the front of the parietal lobes that processes body touch and movement sensations.

association areas

Cortical areas not primarily involved in motor or sensory functions; support higher mental functions like learning and thinking.

neurogenesis

Formation of new neurons.

corpus callosum

Large bundle of neural fibers connecting the two hemispheres and carrying messages between them.

split brain

Condition resulting from surgery that separates the brain’s hemispheres by cutting the corpus callosum.

consciousness

Our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment.

cognitive neuroscience

The interdisciplinary study of brain activity linked with cognition (thinking, knowing, remembering, communicating).

dual processing

The principle that information is often processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks.

blindsight

A condition where a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously perceiving it.

parallel processing

Processing multiple aspects of a problem simultaneously.

sequential processing

Processing one aspect of a problem at a time; often used for difficult tasks.

sleep

A periodic, natural loss of consciousness distinct from coma, anesthesia, or hibernation.

circadian rhythm

Our biological clock; regular bodily rhythms on a 24-hour cycle.

REM sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep; vivid dreams occur; muscles are relaxed while other systems are active.

alpha waves

Relatively slow brain waves characteristic of a relaxed, awake state.

NREM sleep

Non-rapid eye movement sleep; includes all sleep stages except REM.

hallucinations

False sensory experiences, such as seeing something that isn’t there.