AP Psychology - Unit 1 Vocabulary - Chapter 1 Vocabulary #2

VOCAB QUIZ #2 ON 9/23/24

Agonist

Agonist

a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action

Antagonist

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action

Endocrine system

the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands and fat tissue that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

Hormones

chemical messages that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

Psychoactive drug

a chemical substance that alters the brain, causing changes in perceptions and moods

Substance use disorder

a disorder characterized by continued substance use despite significant life disruption

Depressants

drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body function

Tolerance

the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of the drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug’s effects

Addiction

an everyday term for compulsive substance use (and sometimes for dysfunctional behavior patterns, such as out-of-control gambling) that continue despite harmful consequences

Withdrawal

the discomfort or distress that follow after discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior

Barbiturates

drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment

Opioids

opium and its derivatives; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

Stimulants

drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions

Nic-a-teen

seeing celebrities, such as singer Lily Allen, vaping or smoking to tempt young people in the vulnerable teen and early-adult years to imitate. in 2017, over 1/3 of youth-rated movies showed smoking

The “Hug Drug”

MDMA, also known as Ecstasy and often taken at clubs, produces a euphoric high and feelings of intimacy. repeated use can destroy serotonin-producing neurons, impact memory, and permanently deflate mood

Hallucinogens

psychedelic (“mind-manifesting”) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

Near-death experience

an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death (eg. cardiac arrest); often similar to drug-induced hallucinations

Biological psychology

the scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes. (some biological psychologists call themselves behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psychologists, or biopsychologists)

Biopsychosocial approach

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

Level of analysis

the differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon

Neuroplasticity

the brains ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

Lesion

tissue destruction.

brain lesions may occur naturally (from disease or trauma), during surgery, or experimentally (using electrodes to destroy brain cells)

EEG (electroencephalogram)

an amplified recording of the waves or electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface. these waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp

MEG (magnetoencephalography)

a brain-imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain’s natural electrical activity

CT (computed tomography) scan

a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain’s structure

PET (positron emission tomography) scan

technique for detecting brain activity that displays where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy

fMRI

technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as structure

Understanding the non-WEIRD brain

most neuroscience research studies people from WESTERN, EDUCATED, INDUSTRIALIZED, RICH, and DEMOCRATIC populations (WEIRD)

Hindbrain

consists of the medulla, pons, and cerebellum; directs essential survival functions, such as breathing, sleeping, and wakefulness, as well as coordination and balance

Midbrain

found atop the brainstem; connects the hindbrain with forebrain, controls some motor movement, and transmits auditory and visual information

Forebrain

consists of the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and hypothalamus; manages complex cognitive activities, sensory and associative functions, and voluntary motor activities

Brainstem

the central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

Medulla

the hindbrain structure that is the brainstem’s base; controls heartbeat and breathing

Thalamus

the forebrain’s sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

Reticular formation

a nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus; it filters information and plays an important role in controlling arousal

Cerebellum

the hindbrain’s “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; its functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory

Limbic system

neural system located mostly in the forebrain — below central hemispheres — that includes the amygdala, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland; associated with emotions and drives

Amygdala

two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion

Hypothalamus

a limbic system neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system, and is linked to emotion and reward

Hippocampus

a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process explicit (conscious) memories — of facts and events — for storage