Unit 1.4+1.5 AP Psych

neuroplasticity

the brain's remarkable lifelong ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections and weakening others in response to experience

Hindbrain

The posterior (back) part of the brainstem, located below the midbrain and above the spinal cord, does all the things you don’t think about. Consists of the cerebellum, the pons, and the medulla oblongata

pons

responsible for melatonin production and the sleep wake cycle

medulla

regulates heart rate and pulse

cerebellum

responsible for balence

reticular formation

part of the body responsible for attention

pituitary gland

responsible for hormones that regulate body functions

Midbrain

The limbic system and the opmost part of the brainstem, the connection central between the brain and the spinal cord.

amygdala

controls fear and anger

hypothalmus

responsible 4 the 4 F’s: Feeding, Fleeing, Fighting, and Sex (Fornication)

hippocampus

controls memory

thalamus

relays messages between lower brain centers and cerebral cortex

forebrain (cerebral cortex)

all the higher order functions like thinking, learning, problem solving, emotions

parietal lobe

sensation and movement

temporal lobe

responsible for hearing and language

Occipital Lobe

responsible for eyesight

Wernicke’s area

language comprehension

output

motor cortex

input

sensory cortex

corpus callosum

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

left brain hemisphere

receives information and controls language, word processing, sentence construction, and the choice of words in communication, logic, number, science, analytical thinking, and reasoning, as well as skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing

right brain hemisphere

responsible for

spatial abilities, creativity, imagination, and understanding emotions

. It also plays a role in processing non-verbal cues, facial recognition, and musical aesthetics.

frontal lobe

located in the front of the brain and play crucial roles in various cognitive, motor, and emotional functions as well as personality

Sleep cycle

A 90-minute cycle moving through NREM stages 1–3 and REM sleep.

NREM-1

Light sleep, theta waves, hypnagogic sensations (falling or floating feeling).

NREM-2

Sleep stage with sleep spindles and K-complexes; helps with memory consolidation.

NREM-3

Deep sleep with delta waves; physical restoration and growth occur.

REM sleep

"Paradoxical" sleep where the brain is active, vivid dreams occur, but muscles are paralyzed.

Activation-synthesis theory

Dreams make sense of random brain activity during REM sleep.

Consolidation theory

Dreams help organize and store information into memory.

Insomnia

Sleep disorder involving difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy

Sleep disorder with sudden, uncontrollable sleep attacks.

Sleep apnea

Disorder where breathing stops repeatedly during sleep, causing frequent waking.

REM sleep behavior disorder

Acting out dreams physically during REM sleep because of lack of muscle paralysis.

Sleepwalking (Somnambulism)

Walking or performing activities while in deep sleep.

Circadian rhythms

The body’s internal 24-hour biological clock controlling sleep-wake patterns.

Jet lag

Fatigue and cognitive issues caused by circadian rhythms being out of sync with the environment.

REM rebound

Increased REM sleep after REM deprivation to make up for lost time.

Neurogenesis

The process of forming new neurons in the brain, sometimes promoted by sleep.

Corpus callosum

Large bundle of nerve fibers connecting the brain’s two hemispheres, enabling communication.

Left Hemisphere

Brain hemisphere typically responsible for language, logic, and analytical thinking.

Right Hemisphere

Brain hemisphere typically responsible for spatial abilities, creativity, and recognizing faces.

EEG (Electroencephalogram)

Records electrical activity of neurons; used for sleep studies and seizures

CT (Computed Tomography)

Uses X-rays to create detailed images of brain structure; detects tumors or injuries

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Uses magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images of brain structure; more detailed than CT

fMRI (Functional MRI)

Measures blood flow to show brain activity; combines structure and function info

PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Scan

Uses radioactive glucose to track active brain areas; shows which regions are using more energy

MEG (Magnetoencephalography)

Measures magnetic fields from neuron activity; very precise timing of brain activity

Biological Psychology

The scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes.

Phrenology

Studying the shape and size of the cranium as an indicator of character and mental abilities.

Biopsychosocial analysis

Incorporates psychological, biological, and social levels of analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding.

Neuroplasticity

The brain’s ability to change, forming new neural connections in response to learning, new experiences, or injury.

Lesion

Any damage or change to the tissue of an organism; modern technique used to precisely damage a specific area.

EEG (Electroencephalogram)

Amplified recording of the brain’s natural waves of electrical activity, monitored by electrodes placed on the scalp.

Thalamus

Directs sensory messages to the cortex and back to the cerebellum; known as the air traffic control for the brain.

Cerebral Cortex

Outermost thin layer of neuron cell bodies covering the cerebrum; involved in complex functions like thought and memory.

Corpus Callosum

Connects the two halves of the brain and integrates sensory, motor, and cognitive signals.

Frontal Lobe

Area just behind the forehead; in charge of judgment calls, speaking, and muscle movements.

Limbic System

Neural system associated with emotions, drives/motivation, and memory.

Amygdala

Clusters in the limbic system considered the center of strong emotions, linked to fear and rage.

Hippocampus

Processes conscious, explicit memories for storage and helps in converting short-term to long-term memories.

Neurogenesis

Formation of new neurons, primarily occurring during growth in babies; not possible in adults.

Split Brain Procedure

Surgery that separates the brain's two hemispheres by severing the corpus callosum.

Right Brain

Controls the left side movement, sensory functions, facial recognition, spatial reasoning, and creativity.

Left Brain

Controls the right side movement, sensory functions, logical reasoning, mathematical processing, and language.

Pituitary Gland

Known as the master gland, controls endocrine glands, regulates growth, metabolism, and stress response; located below the hypothalamus.

Corpus Callosum

Connects the left and right hemispheres, facilitating communication; located between the two hemispheres.

Cerebral Cortex

Outer layer of the brain, involved in higher-order thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and sensory information processing; divided into four lobes.

Frontal Lobe

Controls decision-making, problem-solving, planning, language production (Broca's area), and voluntary movement (motor cortex); located behind the forehead.

Parietal Lobe

Processes touch, pain, and temperature, includes the somatosensory cortex; located at the top and rear of the brain.

Occipital Lobe

Responsible for visual processing; located at the back of the brain.

Temporal Lobe

Handles auditory processing and language comprehension (Wernicke's area); located on the sides of the brain.

Somatosensory Cortex

Processes sensory input including touch, pressure, and temperature; located at the front of the parietal lobes.

Broca's Area

Responsible for speech production; damage can result in Broca's aphasia; located in the left frontal lobe.

Wernicke's Area

Responsible for language comprehension; damage can result in Wernicke's aphasia; located in the left temporal lobe.

Brain Stem

Controls basic life functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure; located at the base of the brain, connecting to the spinal cord.

Midbrain

Plays a role in sensory and motor pathways, visual and auditory reflexes, and automatic movements; located above the pons, part of the brainstem.

Medulla Oblongata

Controls autonomic functions such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion; located in the lower part of the brainstem.

Pons

Regulates sleep and arousal, helps with breathing regulation, and connects the cerebellum to the cerebral cortex; located above the medulla, part of the brainstem.

Cerebellum

Coordinates muscle movement and balance, involved in procedural learning; located beneath the occipital lobes at the back of the brain.

Reticular Activating System (RAS)

Controls arousal, wakefulness, and attention; runs through the brainstem.

Limbic System

Responsible for emotion, motivation, and memory; located deep within the brain, under the cerebral cortex.

Amygdala

Plays a key role in processing emotions, particularly fear and aggression, helps form emotional memories; part of the limbic system, deep within the temporal lobes.

Hippocampus

Essential for the formation of new memories and converting short-term memory into long-term memory, involved in spatial navigation; located in the limbic system, adjacent to the amygdala.

Thalamus

Acts as the brain's sensory relay station, directing incoming sensory information (except smell) to appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex; located above the brainstem, in the center of the brain.

Hypothalamus

Maintains homeostasis by regulating hunger, thirst, temperature, and circadian rhythms, controls the pituitary gland; located below the thalamus, part of the limbic system.