AP Psychology Course Vocab (Summer Review)

These are somewhat accurate to the course

Heredity

The passing on of physical and mental traits from one generation to another

Nurture

Social/environmental factors

Natural Selection

How hereditary and environmental factors impact an individual.

Darwin created the theory of evolution which stated that evolution happens by natural selection

Eugenics

improving genetic quality of human population by selectively breeding for desirable traits and discouraging reproduction with undesirable traits

Epigenetics

how environment and a person’s behavior affect a person’s genes and how they work

epigenetics is a field of study

Plasticity

brain’s ability to change and adapt as a result of past experiences

Central Nervous System

consists of brain and spinal cord

sends orders through the body in the form of signals

Peripheral Nervous System

nerves that branch off from brain and spine

Afferent Neurons

Sensory neurons

send signals from sensory receptors to CNS

Efferent Neurons

Motor neurons

send signals from CNS to PNS

Somatic Nervous System

AKA skeletal system

includes 5 senses and skeletal muscle movements

movements happen consciously and involuntarily

Autonomic Nervous System

controls involuntary activities

such as heart beating or breathing

Sympathetic Nervous System

mobilizes body and gets it ready for action

such as heart beating faster and eyes dilating

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Relaxes body

such as slows heart rate, increases digestion, helps focus on saving and storing energy