Psycology exam

Dendrites

Receive messages from other cells.

Cell body

Processes information, contains the nucleus.

Axon

Sends messages away from the cell body.

Terminal branches of axon

Pass messages to other neurons, muscles, or glands.

Myelin sheath

Fatty covering that speeds up neural impulses.

Synapse

Gap between neurons where neurotransmitters are released.

Action potential

The electrical impulse that travels down the axon caused by movement of ions.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses.

Acetylcholine

Involved in muscle action, learning, and memory.

Dopamine

Associated with movement, attention, emotion, and reward/pleasure.

Serotonin

Regulates mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal.

Norepinephrine

Promotes alertness, arousal, and stress response.

GABA

Major inhibitory neurotransmitter.

Glutamate

Major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory and learning.

Central Nervous System

Comprises the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System

Connects the Central Nervous System to the rest of the body.

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls involuntary bodily functions like organs and glands.

Somatic Nervous System

Controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Prepares the body for 'fight or flight' response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Controls 'rest and digest' functions.

Endocrine System

The body's chemical communication system, slower than the nervous system.

Hormones

Chemical messengers released into the bloodstream.

Pituitary Gland

The master gland that regulates other glands and controls growth and development.

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for planning, decision making, movement, and personality.

Parietal Lobe

Handles sensory input, touch, and body position.

Occipital Lobe

Primarily responsible for vision.

Temporal Lobe

Involved in hearing, memory, and language comprehension.

Corpus Callosum

Connects the two hemispheres of the brain.

Medulla

Controls heartbeat and breathing.

Pons

Connects the spinal cord to the brain.

Cerebellum

Coordinates balance, movement, and motor learning.

Reticular Formation

Modulates arousal, alertness, and filters sensory input.

Thalamus

Relay station for sensory information.

Amygdala

Processes emotions, especially fear and aggression.

Hippocampus

Responsible for forming new memories.

Hypothalamus

Maintains homeostasis in the body.

Motor Cortex

Controls voluntary movement.

Somatosensory Cortex

Processes touch and bodily sensations.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the brain responsible for higher-level cognitive functions.

Limbic System

A collection of structures in the brain associated with emotions.

Brainstem

The part of the brain that controls basic life functions.

EEG (Electroencephalography)

Measures electrical activity in the brain.

MEG (Magnetoencephalography)

Measures the magnetic fields generated by neural activity.

PET Scan (Positron Emission Tomography)

Imaging test that shows how the brain and organs are functioning.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of organs and tissues.

fMRI (Functional MRI)

Measures brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow.

Neurogenesis

The process of forming new neurons in the brain.

Behavioral Genetics

The study of the influence of genetics on behavior.

Heritability

The proportion of observable differences in a trait among individuals that is due to genetic differences.

Nature vs Nurture

The debate regarding the relative contributions of genetic inheritance and environmental factors to human development.

Identical Twins (Monozygotic)

Twins that develop from a single fertilized egg that splits into two embryos.

Fraternal Twins (Dizygotic)

Twins that develop from two separate fertilized eggs.

Evolutionary Psychology

The study of the evolved structure of the human mind.

Consciousness

Awareness of oneself and the environment.

Selective Attention

The ability to focus on a particular object in one's environment for a certain period.

Dual Processing

The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks.

Circadian Rhythm

The biological clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles.

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

The brain's clock that regulates circadian rhythms.

NREM Sleep

Non-rapid eye movement sleep, includes stages 1 to 3.

REM Sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep, associated with vivid dreaming.

Sleep Waves

Patterns of electrical activity in the brain during sleep, including alpha, beta, and delta waves.

Insomnia

A sleep disorder that causes persistent difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks.

Sleep Apnea

A disorder characterized by pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep.

REM Rebound

The phenomenon of increased REM sleep following periods of sleep deprivation.

Latent Content

The hidden psychological meaning of dreams, according to Freud.

Manifest Content

The actual storyline or content of the dream.

Tolerance

The diminishing effect of a drug resulting from repeated use.

Addiction

Compulsive drug craving and use despite adverse consequences.

Withdrawal

Physical and mental symptoms that occur after reducing or stopping intake of a substance.

Depressants

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

Stimulants

Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

Hallucinogens

Psychoactive drugs that distort perceptions.

Biopsychosocial Approach

An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis.