AP Psych Unit 1 Part 1: Biological Basis of Brain Behevior

AP Psych Unit 1

Nature Vs Nurture

Do genes (nature) or environmental factors (nurture) contribute more to a person's being?

Maturation

the internally programmed growth of a child

Twin Studies

A research design in which hereditary influence is assessed by comparing the resemblance of identical twins and fraternal twins with respect to a trait.

Adoption Studies

Research studies that assess hereditary influence by examining the resemblance between adopted children and both their biological and their adoptive parents.

Neuron

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

Dendrite

Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.

Soma

cell body

Axon

A threadlike extension of a neuron that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body.

Terminal Branches

Branched endings of an axon that transmit messages to other neurons

Refractory Period

the time following an action potential during which a new action potential cannot be initiated

Neural Communication

The body's information system is built from billions of interconnected cells called neurons.

Synapse

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

Reuptake

process by which neurotransmitters are taken back into the synaptic vesicles

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction. Too little means brain/memory problems, too much is violent compulsions.

Endorphins

natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure. Post workout and injury, electric stim treatment

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's pleasure and reward system. Too much may lead to signs of schizophrenia. Too little is a cause of Parkinson's disease.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that affects hunger,sleep, arousal, digestion, and mood. Right amount leads to healthy functioning, too little will lead to depression.

Norepinephrine

helps control alertness and arousal; undersupply can depress mood

Glutamate

Learning, memory, mood regulation. Most abundant excitatory NT in brain. Too much leads to mental or health issues.

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

Reduces neuronal excitability. Most abundant inhibitory NT In brain. Calms activity (Stress, anxiety, fear)

Substance P

Pain, heartbeat, breathing and vomiting. Located throughout the body. Triggers pain and stress responses.

excitatory neurotransmitters

excite the next cell into firing

inhibatory neurotransmitters

chemicals released from the terminal buttons of a neuron that inhibit the next neuron from firing

Action Potential

the change in electrical potential associated with the passage of an impulse along the membrane of a muscle cell or nerve cell.

Threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

Agonist

A chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter.

Antagonists

drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter

Depressants

drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

Stimulants

Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, and Ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

Hallucinogens

psychedelic ("mind-manifesting") drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

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

brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

Skeletal/Somatic Nervous System

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

Automatic Nervous System

the part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes.

Sympathetic Nervous System

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations. fight or flight

Parasympathetic Nervous System

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

Sensory neurons/afferent neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord. A neuron that picks up impulses from sensory receptors and transmits them toward the central nervous system

Interneurons/Association Neurons

neurons that carry messages from one neuron to another. connect brain regions through the spinal cord

Motor Neurons/Efferent Neurons

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

Nerves

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

Reflexes

specific patterns of motor response that are triggered by specific patterns of sensory stimulation

Neural Networks

interconnected neural cells. With experience, networks can learn, as feedback strengthens or inhibits connections that produce certain results. Computer simulations of neural networks show analogous learning.

Endocrine System

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

Hormones

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

Epinephrine

Neurotransmitter secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress. Also known as adrenaline.

Melatonin

A hormone manufactured by the pineal gland that produces sleepiness.

Oxytocin

a hormone released by the pituitary gland that causes increased contraction of the uterus during labor and stimulates the ejection of milk into the ducts of the breasts.

Leptin

A hormone produced by adipose (fat) cells that acts as a satiety factor in regulating appetite.

Ghrelin

A hunger-arousing hormone secreted by an empty stomach

Brain lesion

naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

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.

CAT scan (computerized axial tomography)

Computerized x-ray that produces high-resolution images of the brain, blood vessels, arteries, and veins

PET scan (positron emission tomography)

A brain-imaging technique that reveals activity in various parts of the brain, based on patterns of blood flow, oxygen use, and glucose consumption. Soft tissues

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

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

fMRI

A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans.

Brainstem

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

Medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

Reticular Formation

a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal and wakefulness

Pons

A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain. Movement, sleep and wakefulness

Cerebellum

A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills. Balance and coordination and voluntary movement

Limbic System

neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.

Thalamus

the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla. controls sensory and motor transmission

Amygdala

A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression.

Hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward. Motivation too

Pituitary Gland

The endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

Hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

Corpus Callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

Cerebral Cortex

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.

Gilal Cells

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

Frontal Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement. Decision making and personality.

Prefrontal Cortex

part of frontal lobe responsible for thinking, planning, and language

Motor Cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

Parietal Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch and other sensory information. Touch, temp, and pain

Somatosensory Cortex

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

Occipital Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information

Visual Cortex

The visual processing areas of cortex in the occipital lobes.

Temporal Lobes

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which receives auditory info primarily from the opposite end. Language comprehension too

Auditory Cortex

the area of the temporal lobe responsible for processing sound information

Association Areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

Aphasia

impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (impairing understanding).

Brocas Area

Controls language expression - an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.

Wernicke's Area

controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe

Angular Gyrus

transforms visual representations into an auditory code.translates writing into speech

Brain Plasticity

The capacity for the brain to alter its structure and function.

Neurogenisis

the formation of new neurons

Left Hemisphere

controls the right side of the body; analytical, language, math

Right Hemisphere

controls the left side of the body; creative, intuitive, spacial

Split Brain

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them