AP Psychology Unit 2 Neurotransmission Terms

Biological psychology

a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior

neuron

basic building block of the nervous system

dendrite

bushy, branching extension of a neuron that recieve messages

Axon

the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

myelin sheath

a layer of fatty tissue that insulates axons and speeds their impulses

action potential

a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

threshold

Level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

synapse

Junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite of cell body

neurotransmitter

chemical messengers

refractory period

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired.

endorphins

"morphine within", neurotransmitter linked to pain control and to pleasure.

nervous system

Body's speedy electrochemical communication network consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system

central nervous system

The brain and spinal cord.

peripheral nervous system

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

nerves

"cables" which are part of PNS and connect the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs.

sensory (afferent) neurons

Neurons that carry incoming information from sense receptors to the CNS.

motor (efferent) neurons

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the CNS to the muscles and glands.

Interneurons

CNS neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

somatic nervous system

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

automatic nervous system

The part of the PNS that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs.

sympathetic nervous system

The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body.

parasympathetic nervous system

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

reflex

Automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus.

all or nothing response

a neuron's reaction of either firing at full strength, or not firing.

endocrine system

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

hormones

Chemical messengers manufactured by endocrine glands that are produced in one tissue and affect another.

adrenal glands

Secrete the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine which help to arouse the body in times of stress.

pituitary glands

Regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron.

agonist

molecule that stimulates a response.

antagonists

a molecule that inhibits a response.

Acetylchlorine

A neurotransmitter that affects muscle activity as well as learning and memory.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter that influences movement, learning, attention and emotion.

GABA

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter on the central nervous system.

Glutamate

Brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter.

Seratonin

A neurotransmitter that affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter that helps control alertness and arousal especially with fight or flight.

resting potential

The positive-outside/negative-inside state of a neuron.

Depolarization

The process when positive ions enter a neuron.

inhibitory

Type of neurotransmitter that decreases the likelihood of a neuron firing.

excitatory

Type of neurotransmitter that increases the likelihood of a neuron firing.