AP Psych Unit 1

psychology

science of behavior and mental processes

behavior

observations that are recorable

mental processes

internal processes such as sensations, perceptions, dreams

everything psychological is also …

biological

nature

heredity, genetics, predisposed characteristics

nurture

environmental factors, experiences, etc

evolutionary psychology

how the natural selection of traits has promoted the survival of genes

natural selection

the best traits that survive and get passed down

mutation

random error in gene replication that leads to change

behavior genetics

study of relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

environment

every nongenetic influence

heredity

genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

genes

biochemical units of heredity

genomes

complete instructions for making an organism

interaction

interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another

epigenetics

above or in addition to genetics; molecular mechanisms by environment

genetic markers

direct genes to be turned on or off (influenced by diet, stress, etc)

Central Nervous System (CNS)

brain and spinal cord

nervous system

body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

sensory and motor neurons that connect CNS to rest of body

nerves

bundled axons that form the neural cables the CNS w/ muscles, glands, and sensory organs

two parts of PNS

somatic and autonomic

sympathetic

flight or fight: speeds things up

parasympathetic

rest and digest: pumps the brakes

dendrites

receive messages from other cells

axon

passes messages away from cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands

cell body

the cell’s life support center

neural impulse

action potential; electrical signal traveling down the axon

myelin sheath

covers the axon of the neuron and helps speed neural impulses

sensory neurons

carrying incoming info from body’s tissues and sensory receipts to the brain and spinal cord

motor neurons

outgoing info from brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands

glial cells

structure, insulation, communication, waste support

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and process info between sensory inputs and motor outputs

reflex

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus

excitatory

get moving

inhibitory

stay in bed

synapse

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

synaptic gap/cleft

the tiny gap at the junction between the axon tip and dendrite

neurotransmitter

chemical messengers that cross the synoptic gap between neurons

reputake

neurotransmitters reabsorption by sending neuron

mutltiple sclerosis

myelin sheaths deteriorates