AP PSYCH Unit 1 Vocab

CURRENT: 1.1 - 1.5

CT/CAT

X-ray of the brain’s anatomy

MRI

Uses magnetic field to create an image of the brain

EEG

Monitors the brain’s electrical activity

Creates lesions which damages the brain to see what happens

Gene

Inherent biological and genetic factors that influence the individual’s psychological traits, development, behaviors, or cognitive abilities

Heritability

How much (%) of our traits comes from our genes as opposed to environment

Genetic Predisposition

The inherited likelihood of developing specific traits or conditions due to genetic factors from biological parents

Eugenics

The belief in improving the genetic quality of a human population by controlling reproduction to increase desirable traits and decrease undesirable traits

Epigenetics

Investigates how the environment may affect genetic expression

Frontal Lobes

Located at the front of the brain

Involved in the higher-level cognitive functions (problem-solving, personality)— Forehead, FRONTAL

Prefrontal Cortex

Located in the frontal lobe, responsible for higher-level cognitive function and executive functioning

Motor Cortex

Located in the frontal lobe, responsible for planning executing

Parietal Lobes

Located at the top of the brain, responsible for processing sensory information

Somatosensory Cortex

Located at the pariteal lobe, responsible for procecessing sensations from the skin, muscle

Occipital Lobes

Located at back of the brain

Responsible for visual processing— Two C’s, to SEE

Temporal Lobe

Located at sides of the brain

Responsible for processing auditory information— TEMPO

Brain Stem

Oldest part of brain

Responsible for sustaining breathing and heartbeat

Medulla

Located at base of the brain stem

Regulating automatic processes———Medusa = scary, stop breathing

Reticular Activating System

Regulating arousal, alertness — Tickle, alert/arousness

Cerebellum

Located at the back of the brain

Cordinates movement, correction of movement

Thalamus

Relays sensory information (sight, touch, smell, etc,.) to the cerebral cortex

Limbic System

Located at beneath the cerebral cortex

Set of brain structures involved in emotion, memory

Hypothalmus

Located at below the thalamus

Responsible for regulating essential body processes, homeostasis

Hypocampus

Located within temporal lobe

Responsible for forming and consolidating new memories— Hippo on CAMPUS

Amygdala

Located within temporal lobe

Responsible for processing emotions, specifically fear and aggression

PET

Shows which parts of the brain are consuming the most (radioactive) sugar

fMRI

Uses magnetic fields to show how the brain is operating in real life

Evolutionary Perspective

How psychological traits and behaviors have evolved and enhanced survival and reproductive success

Twin Studies

Examines similarities and differences between identical (monozygotic) and fraternal (dizygotic) twins

Adoption Studies

Investigates similarities between adopted children and their biological and adoptive families

Family Studies

Analyzes similarities and differences among family members, including parents and siblings, to understand the interplay of genetics and environment in shaping traits and behaviors within a family unit

Central Nervous System (CNS)

consists of the brain and spinal cord. It serves as the command center of the body, processing information from the peripheral nervous system

Peripheral Nervous System

consists of all the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. transmitting sensory information from the body to and from the central nervous system (CNS).

Autonomic Nervous System

involuntary bodily functions. Operates automatically, without conscious control.

Sympathetic Nervous System

responsible for activating the body's "fight or flight" response in times of stress or danger.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

relaxation and restoring the body to a calm state after experiencing stress or danger.

Somatic Nervous System

voluntary movements and relaying sensory information

Parts of a neuron

dendrites, axon, cell body, terminal branches of axon, myelin sheath

Dendrites

receive messages from other cells

Axon

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

Cell body

the cell’s life support center

Terminal branches of the axon

form junctions with other cells

Myelin Sheath

covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses

Gllial Cells

"support cells" of the nervous system, provide structural support, insulation, and nourishment to neurons.

Motor Neurons

nerve cells that transmit signals from the central nervous system to muscles, glands, and organs, initiating and controlling movements.

Sensory Neurons

specialized nerve cells that transmit sensory information from sensory receptors, such as those in the skin, muscles, and organs, to the CNS.

Sensory and Motor neurons

Sensory = afferent, Motor = efferent

Interneurons

nerve cells that serve as connectors within the central nervous system, relaying signals between sensory neurons and motor neurons.

Reflex Arc

controls reflex actions, allowing for rapid, automatic responses to sensory stimuli without conscious thought (primitive reflexes).

Endocrine System

a system of glands and organs that produce hormones and release them into the bloodstream to control many functions in the body.

Hormones

chemical messengers produced by glands in the endocrine system

Types of hormones:

melatonin, oxytocin, adrenaline, norepinephrine

Melatonin

regulates sleep

Oxytocin

hormone and neurotransmitter that control social bonding and intimacy

Adrenaline

hormone and neurotransmitter that controls fight or flight response

Norepinephrine

fight or flight also helps regulate arousalness, attention, and stress

Neurotransmitters vs Hormones

both chemical messengers, but NEUROtransmitters are received by NEURONS and HORMONES and received by tissues

Excitatory

effect of a neurotransmitter that encourages other neurons to fire

Inhibitory

effect of a neurotransmitter that discourage other neurons from firing

Action Potential

brief electrical impulse that travels along the axon of a neuron.

All or Nothing Principle

once a neuron reaches its threshold of excitation, It will fire an action potential at full strength

Resting Potential

the stable, negative electrical charge that exists across the cell membrane of a neuron when it is at rest.

Depolarization

phase of action potential where positive ions (including sodium) rush into the cell, causes neuron to fire an action potential

Refractory Period

brief period following an action potential during which a neuron is unable to generate another action potential.

Synapse

region where the presynaptic neuron’s axon terminals almost touch the postsynaptic neuron’s dendrites

Reuptake

neurotransmitters that have been released into the synapse are reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron

Multiple Sclerosis “MS”

chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord.

Myasthenia Gravis

chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction, where nerve impulses are transmitted to muscles.

Glutamine

primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS, controls learning, memory and neural plasticity

GABA

neurotransmitter, primary inhibitor, controls relaxation and reduces anxiety

Dopamine

neurotransmitter, controls mood, reward, motivation, and movement

Seratonin

neurotransmitter, regulated mood, sleep, appetite, and stress

Endorphins

neurotransmitter, natural pain relievers and mood enhancers

Substance P

neurotransmitter, transmits pain signals in the nervous system

Acetylcholine

neurotransmitter, controls muscle contraction, memory, and learning

Norepinephrine

neurotransmitter, functions as a hormone as well, fight or flight by regulating arousal, attention, and stress

Agonist

boosts effect of the neurotransmitter

Antagonist

diminishes effect of the neurotransmitter

Circadian Rhythm

The natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle, repeats every 24 hours

NREM Stage 1

drifting in and out of sleep, lasting only a few minutes, brain waves slow down, sudden muscle contractions and hallucinations

NREM Stage 2

ight sleep, lasting about 20 minutes, brain waves slow down further

Sleep Spindles

short bursts of brain activity

K-Complexes

sudden, sharp waveforms

NREM Stage 3

presence of predominantly delta waves, deepest stage of sleep

REM Sleep

rapid eye movements, vivid dreams, and muscle paralysis, increased brain activity

The theories of sleep:

protection, recuperation, memory, creativity, growth

REM Rebound

body increases the time spent in REM sleep after a period of REM deprivation.

Activation-Synthesis

“dreams”, theory proposing that dreams are the result of random neural activity in the brainstem during REM sleep

Consolidation Theory

“dreams”, theory suggesting that dreams play a role in the memory consolidation and processing of memories.

Insomnia

A sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restorative sleep,

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden episodes of muscle weakness (cataplexy), sleep paralysis, and hallucinations during sleep onset or awakening.

Sleep Apnea

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

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

A sleep disorder where individuals physically act out their dreams during REM sleep

Somnambulism

A sleep disorder commonly known as sleepwalking,