WWHS AP Psychology 1.Q.1

nature (inherited brain chemistry, DNA, chromosomes)

heredity

nurture (family interactions, in vitro exposures, diet, education)

environmental factors

genetic predisposition

an increased likelihood of developing a particular disease based on a person's genetic makeup

evolutionary perspective

study of evolution, behavior, and mind using principles of natural selection (ex: fear of heights, dislike of bitter foods)

natural selection

inherited traits that enable an organism to survive will be more likely passed on to succeeding generations

eugenics

pseudoscientific view that the genetic makeup of the population can be improved by selective breeding (preventing reproduction by people with various disabilities)

twin studies

monozygotic (identical): differences due to nurture dizygotic (fraternal): differences due to nature

family studies

asses evidence for genetic links for characteristics or outcomes

adoption studies

compare biological parent-child relationships with adoptive parent-child relationships

two main parts of the nervous system

1) central nervous system (CNS) 2) peripheral nervous system (PNS)

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

all other nerves

spinal cord

sends messages from and to the brain; handles swift reflexes

interneurons

middleman between sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent) neurons; only found in the CNS

parts of the peripheral nervous system

somatic and autonomic

somatic nervous system

1) messages from brain to skeletal muscles 2) messages from sense organs to brain

SAME neuron acronym meaning

sensory = afferent motor = efferent

autonomic nervous system

controls glands and muscles for respiration, digestion, etc

parts of the autonomic nervous system

sympathetic and parasympathetic

sympathetic nervous system

FIGHT OR FLIGHT

parasympathetic nervous system

REST AND DIGEST

job of neurons

transmit information

glial cells

structure, insulation, communication, waste transport (worker bees that support neurons)

reflex arc

simple, automatic response to stimuli BEFORE stimulus reaches brain

reflex arc steps

1) sensory neurons send signal to brain 2) spinal cord intercepts signal 3) interneurons send info to motor neurons 4) motor neurons contract muscles

neural transmission

the transfer of information between two neurons

what type of communication do neurons use?

electrochemical signals

what type of communication is used WITHIN the neuron?

electrical signals (action potentials)

resting potential

neurons at rest; the inside of the neuron's membrane is negative

threshold

minimum intensity needed to trigger an action potential (neural impulse)

action potential

neural impulse; electrical charge that travels down the axon

depolarization

movement of a cell's membrane potential to a more positive value

all-or-nothing principle

a neuron either fires completely or not at all

refractory period

brief resting pause after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potential cannot occur until axon returns to resting state

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers of the nervous system 1) degraded by enzymes in synaptic space 2) reuptake THEN repackaged for use

reuptake

the reabsorption of neurotransmitters by the sending (pre-synaptic) neuron

multiple sclerosis

CNS disease when myelin sheath is destroyed, causing a slow down or messages or neuron death

myasthenia gravis

receptor sites on muscle contraction neurons attacked by immune system, leads to muscle weakness

excitatory

increases chance neuron will fire

inhibitory

decreases chance neuron will fire

hormones

chemical messengers of the endocrine system (last longer than neurotransmitters)

adrenaline

fight or flight hormone

leptin

hunger suppressant hormone

ghrelin

hunger stimulation hormone

melatonin

sleep hormone

oxytocin

labor, lactation, love hormone

where are hormones located?

endocrine system (glands)

hormone release mechanism

in response to signals from brain to glands

neurotransmitters release mechanismm

in response to action potentials

Acetylcholine (ACh) function

CNS: attention, learning PNS: muscle contractions

Acetylcholine (ACh) effects

deficit: dementia, paralysis surplus: spasms, cramps

dopamine function

CNS: voluntary movement, emotion regulation pleasure/reward

dopamine effects

deficit: tremors, decreased mobility (Parkinsons) surplus: hallucinations (schizophrenia)

serotonin function

CNS: mood, hunger, sleep, arousal PNS: modulates pain signals

serotonin effects

deficits: depression surplus: life threatening serotonin syndrome

norepinephrine function

CNS: alertness, attention PNS: fight or flight

norepinephrine effects

deficit: depressed mood, focus issues surplus: constant fight or flight

endorphins function

CNS + PNS: inhibit pain transmission (indirectly increase pleasure)

endorphins effects

deficit: pain surplus: euphoria

substance p function

modulation of pain

substance p effects

surplus: chronic pain

glutamate

most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter surplus: migraines, seizures, anxiety

GABA function

sleep regulation

GABA effects

deficit: anxiety, epilepsy, insomnia, huntingtons surplus: sedation, lack of coordination, memory impairment

psychoactive drugs

chemical substances that alter brain function by interacting with neurotransmitter systems

agonists

enhances the effect of a neurotransmitters

two mechanisms of agonists

1) mimic a neurotransmitter at receptor sites of receiving/post-synaptic neurons 2) block a neurotransmitter's reuptake

antagonist

prevents the effects of a neurotransmitter

stimulands

increase neural activity

cocaine

acts as a reuptake inhibitor for norepinephrine, dopamine, and seratonin

depressants

decrease neural activity

what two parts of the brain are most impacted by alcohol and what functions are altered because of it?

prefrontal cortex --> impulse control cerebellum --> coordination and balance

what neurotransmitter is involved with alcohol?

GABA (antagonist)

marijuana effects

indirectly stimulates dopamine release

what neurostransmitter is connected to opiates?

endorphins (agonist)

long term effects of opiates

neurons decrease their production of endorphins

neuroadaptation

chance in brain chemistry that offsets effects of a psychoactive drug