AP Psychology - Nervous & Endocrine System

Myelin sheath

Insulates the axon and adds speed for communication.

Axon

Long thin fiber that carries electrical signals (action potentials).

Dendrite

Branched extension of the neuron that receives signals from other neurons.

Synapse

Junction between two neurons where signals are transmitted.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signal between neurons in the nervous system.

Glial cells

Cells that support and protect neurons. They don't transmit signals.

Action potential

A brief electrical pulse that travels down the length of a neuron.

Sympathetic system

Part of the ANS that regulates involuntary functions, fight or flight response (gas pedal).

Somatic system

Part of the PNS that controls voluntary functions, responsible for sending and receiving signals between brain and skeletal muscles.

Central nervous system

Brain and spinal cord, command center, responsible for processing information, controlling movement, and regulating bodily function.

Endocrine system

A network of glands that produce and secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

Hormones

Chemical messengers produced by glands and secreted into the bloodstream.

Pituitary gland

Referred to as the master gland because it controls the functions of the endocrine system.

Medulla

Part of the brainstem that controls breathing, heart rate, vomiting, and swallowing.

Cerebellum

Located at the back of the brain and controls motor coordination, balance, motor learning, eye movement, and cognitive function.

Amygdala

Located deep in the temporal lobe and is very important in processing emotions.

Key functions of the amygdala

Fear conditioning, recognition of emotional expressions, memory formation, stress response.

Pons

Part of the brainstem that controls sleep, arousal, and breathing.

Broca's area

Located at the left frontal lobe and controls language production.

Hippocampus

Responsible for memory formation and retrieval, especially retaining long-term memories and thoughts.

Brain lateralization

The specialization of the left and right hemispheres.

Corpus callosum

The large band of neural fiber connecting the two hemispheres of the brain.

Split brain effects

Visual field divisions, difficulty with tasks that require both hemispheres, preserved cognitive functions.

Consciousness

Our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment.

Circadian rhythm

Our body's natural 24-hour clock that regulates our bodily functions including sleep.

Latent content

The underlying hidden meaning in a dream, representing unconscious thoughts, feelings, and desires expressed through symbolism.

Manifestation

Overt and blatant expression of something previously hidden or latent.

Dependence

When the body has a strong compulsion and use of a drug; without the drug, the symptoms become unmanageable.

Tolerance

When the body adapts to a substance and starts to require larger doses to feel its effects.

Hypnosis

A mental state of increased suggestibility.

Dissociation

The psychological process where a person detaches from their conscious and emotions.