AP PSYCH UNIT 1 VOCAB (PART 1)

1/4 for Unit 1 Vocab. These are the 1st 18 terms

aphasia

language disorder that affects a person’s ability to understand and communicate due to brain damage.

hippocampus

part of the brain associated with memory storage.

fMRI (functional MRI)

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

electroencephalogram

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

pituitary gland

the endocrine system’s most influential gland. under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

interneurons

transmit information from sensory neurons to other neurons like motor neurons.

refractory period

the time interval after a neurons fires an action potential when it’s harder to produce another action potential.

firing threshold

the membrane potential value at which a neuron will fire an action potential.

depolarization

state in which the popularity (change) of the neuron is reversed as sodium ions rush into the neuron.

motor neuron

carry messages from the spinal cord and brain to the body.

sensory neurons

neurons that carry information about our senses to the brain and spinal cord.

efferent neurons

neurons that send signals away from the brain.

afferent neurons

neurons that send signals to the brain.

serotonin

mood and temperature regulation, happiness.

dopamine

motor function and pleasure reward.

norepinephrine (NE)

brain arousal and other functions like mood, hunger and sleep.

gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system.

acetylcholine (ACh)

muscle contraction (PNS) Cortical arousal (CNS).