AP Psych Unit 2 Test

Review of all terms in Unit 2

acetylcholine

neurotransmitter that regulates motor muscle movement and is involved in memory formation

action potential

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

activation-synthesis theory

theory that dreams reflect inputs from brain activation originating in the pons, which the forebrain then attempts to weave into a story

addiction

compulsive drug craving and use, despite adverse consequences

agonists

drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter

all-or-none response

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

amygdala

two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.

antagonists

drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter

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).

axon

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

brainstem

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

Broca's aphasia

deficits to ability to speak language and/or read text as a result of damage to Broca's area.

Broca's area

expressive language structure located in the left frontal lobe.

cell body

the nucleus or command center of the cell

central nervous system (CNS)

the brain and spinal cord.

cerebellum

the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.

cerebral cortex

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

circadian rhythm

the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle

corpus callosum

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

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.

dendrites

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

dependence

A state in which there is a compulsive or chronic need, as for a drug

Depolarization

The process during the action potential when sodium is rushing into the cell causing the interior to become more positive. (sodium & potassium ions associated with this process)

Depressants

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

dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with the brain's pleasure and reward system: also involved with movement, attention and learning

electroencephalogram (EEG)

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

endocrine system

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

endorphins

"morphine within"—natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.

excitatory neurotransmitters

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

fight or flight response

an emotional and physiological reaction to an emergency that increases readiness for action

fMRI (functional MRI)

a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. show brain function as well as its structure.

frontal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and higher order thinking, including making plans and judgments.

GABA

most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain: neurotransmitter associated with calming effects and decreasing anxiety

glial cells (glia)*

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

glutamate

most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain: neurotransmitter associated with learning, memory, sensation and motor functions

Hallucinogens

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

hemispheric specialization

The control of distinct neurological functions by the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

hippocampus

limbic system structure responsible for memory consolidations (formation of new memories).

hormones

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

hypothalamus

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

information processing theory

dreams help us sort out the day's events and consolidate our memories

inhibitory neurotransmitters

inhibit the next cell from firing

insomnia

recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

interneurons

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

latent content

according to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream

lesion

tissue destruction

limbic system

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

manifest content

according to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream

medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heart-beat and breathing.

Melatonin

A hormone manufactured by the pineal gland that produces sleepiness.

motor (efferent) neurons

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

motor cortex

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

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

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

myelin sheath

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.

nervous system

the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells

neuron

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

Neuroplasticity

the ability within the brain to constantly change both the structure and function of many cells in response to experience or trauma

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons.

night terrors

a sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; occur during Stage 3 sleep

NREM sleep

non-rapid eye movement sleep; encompasses all sleep stages except for REM sleep

occipital lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields.

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy - REST & DIGEST

parietal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

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

PET (positron emission tomography)

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

pineal gland

gland that secretes melatonin

pituitary gland

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

pons

hind brain structure where nerves cross

receptor sites

holes in the surface of the dendrites or certain cells of the muscles and glands, which are shaped to fit only certain neurotransmitters

reflex

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

refractory period

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired.

REM sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep, a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active.

resting potential

point at which a neuron is sensitive to stimulation due to an overall internal charge of -70mv relative to the fluid outside of the cell because of the presence of chloride ions.

restorative theory of sleep

The view that sleep and dreaming are essential to normal physical and mental functioning.

reticular formation

a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal.

reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron.

Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzaniga

Researchers who worked with split brain patients to examine hemisphere specialization.

sensory (afferent) neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.

serotonin

neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating mood: also involved in eating, emotional arousal, sleep and dreaming

sleep apnea

a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. (Also called the skeletal nervous system.)

somatosensory cortex

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

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.

Stage 1 sleep

-Light sleep

-The brain emits alpha waves--> consistent with a relaxed state of wakefulness

Stage 2 of sleep cycle

small bursts of activities

spindles, nonrem sleep

stage 3 sleep

third stage of sleep; deep sleep characterized by low frequency, high amplitude delta waves

Stimulants

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

suprachiasmatic nucleus

a pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations - FIGHT OR FLIGHT

synapse

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

temporal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear.

terminal (bulb or button)

neuron cell structure that branches off the axon; neurotransmitters are stored here in vesicle sacs and released into the synapse during a neural impulse.

thalamus

the brain's sensory control center, 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.

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

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

vesicle

sac that carries neurotransmitters.

Wernicke's aphasia

inability to comprehend spoken and/or written language as result of damage to Wernicke's area.