Bio Vocab

AP Psychology

Nature

Definition: The biological/genetic predispositions that impact one’s human traits

Characteristics/facts:

• physical

• emotional

• intellectual

Examples: eye color, hair color, and skin color

Non-examples: outlook on life

Nurture

Definition: The influence of learning and other environmental factors on these traits

Characteristics/facts:

• physical

• emotional

• intellectual

Examples: confidence, behavior, and life outlook

Non-examples: eye color, hair color, and skin color

Eugenics

Definition: The practice or advocacy of controlled selective breeding of human populations

Characteristics/facts:

• started in the late 1800s

• still exists in the US

• mostly affects people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with disabilities

Examples: The nazis’ justification for their treatment of the jews

Non-examples: A mixed couple having children

Twin studies

Definition: Research designs used in psychology to measure the influence of genetic factors on human behavior by comparing identical twins with fraternal twins

Characteristics/facts:

• all studied traits are partly influenced by genetic differences

• height = stronger influence

• personality = intermediate level

Examples:

Non-examples:

Serotonin

Definition: A substance that is found mostly in the digestive tract, central nervous system, and platelets. Acts as a neurotransmitter substance that nerves use to send messages

Characteristics/facts: Plays a key role in -

• mood

• sleep

• digestion

• bone health

• too low or too high can cause physical and psychological health problems

Examples: Aerobic exercise can significantly increase serotonin production in the body

Non-examples: Dopamine

Dopamine

Definition: A neurotransmitter and hormone that acts on areas of the brain to give you feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation

Characteristics/facts:

• “feel-good” hormone

• involved in movement

• involved in memory

Examples: Anything that makes you happy releases dopamine like eating good food.

Non-examples: Seratonin

Sympathetic nervous system

Definition: A network of nerves that helps your body activate its “fight-or-flight” response

Characteristics/facts:

• Adrenaline

• increased heart rate

• increased breathing rate

• increased pupil size

• increased blood pressure

• decreased digestion

Examples: When you feel threatened your sympathetic nervous system is activated and you either run or fight

Non-examples: Ability to relax (parasympathetic)

Parasympathetic nervous system

Definition: Part of the body’s autonomic nervous system. Controls the body’s ability to relax. Sometimes called the “rest and digest” state

Characteristics/facts:

• decreased respiration

• decreased heart rate

• increased digestion

Examples: Undoes all of the work of the sympathetic nervous system, causing the body to relax and return to resting state

Non-examples: “Fight or Flight” (sympathetic)

Acetylcholine

Definition: A compound that occurs throughout the nervous system, in which it functions as a neurotransmitter

Characteristics/facts: Plays a role in-

• memory

• learning

• attention

• muscle movement

Examples: Attaches to ACH receptors and signals for the release of calcium. The calcium then binds with troponin, pulling the tropomyosin and exposing the actin-binding site. The myosin filament head is now able to bind with the actin filament, forming the crossbridge. When returning to the rested position the myosin pulls the actin till it snaps back (like a rubber band). This is a muscle contraction

Non-examples: Anticholinergics (blacks the action of ACH)

Leptin

Definition: A protein produced by fat cells that is a hormone acting mainly in the regulation of appetite and fat storage

Characteristics/facts:

• inhibit hunger

• regulate energy balance

Examples: When the fat cells increase leptin levels increase

Non-examples: When fat cells increase leptin levels decrease

Ghrelin

Definition: A hormone produced by your stomach

Characteristics/facts:

• other parts of your body like your brain, small intestine, and pancreas also release small amounts of ghrelin

• also known as the “hunger hormone”

Examples: Ghrelin increases food intake and helps your body store fat

Non-examples: Amylin- a hormone that decreases food intake

GABA

Definition: A neurotransmitter that slows down your brain by blocking specific signals in your central nervous system

Characteristics/facts:

• creates or sends chemical messages to other nerve cells

• lessens the ability of a nerve cell to receive

Examples: Like brakes on a car

Non-examples: Like the gas in a car

agonists

Definition: A substance that initiates a physiological response when combined with a receptor. (a drug that produces a response)

Characteristics/facts:

• selectivity

• affinity

• intrinsic activity

Examples: Full agonists like heroin and oxycodone

Non-examples: Antagonist, drugs that block or oppose the natural action or response of a receptor

antagonists

Definition: A substance that blocks or inhibits the function of a neurotransmitter in the brain by blocking the receptor

Characteristics/facts:

• bind to the receptor

• shift the dose-response curve

• do not alter the magnitude of the maximum response

Examples: naltrexone and naloxone

Non-examples: methotrexate (inhibitor)

Re-uptake inhibitors

Definition: A substance that interferes with the reabsorption of neurotransmitters.

Characteristics/facts:

• increase in extracellular concentrations of the neurotransmitter

• increase in neurotransmission

Examples: SSRIs- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a type of antidepressants

Non-examples: naltrexone and naloxone (antagonists)

Reward center

Definition: A complex network of neural circuits that help regulate motivation, reinforcement, and pleasure response

Characteristics/facts:

• reward-related cognition

• associative learning

• incentive salience

Examples: reward-related activities like eating, substance use, and social interactions

Non-examples:

Amygdala

Definition: Region of the brain primarilly associated with emotional processes

Characteristics/facts:

• regulating anxiety

• aggression

• fear

• emotional memory

Examples:

Non-examples: pons and medulla

Hypothalamus

Definition: Region of the forebrain below the thalamus that coordinates both the autonomic nervous system and the activity of the pituitary

Characteristics/facts: Controls

• body temp

• thirst

• hunger

Examples:

Non-examples: amygdala and pons

Hippocampus

Definition: The part of your brain that’s responsible for your memory and learning

Characteristics/facts:

• a layer of densely packed neurons

• curls into an S-shaped structure

Examples:

Non-examples: hypothalamus and amygdala

Higher-order thinking

Definition: Thinking on a level that is higher than memorizing facts or telling something back to someone exactly the way it was told to you

Characteristics/facts:

• prepares students to be original thinkers and learners for life

• self-directed

Examples: application and critical thinking

Non-examples: skills at the bottom of blooms taxonomy hierarchy

Executive functioning

Definition: A set of cognitive processes and mental skills that help an individual plan, monitor, and successfully execute their goals

Characteristics/facts: can improve execution functioning by

• using a planner

• establish routines

• managing time

Examples: planning, organization, and attention

Non-examples: difficulty planning, organizing, and managing time and space

Re-uptake (mechanism)

Definition: The process in which the presynaptic neuron reabsorbs its released neurotransmitter after the neurotransmitter has done its job by binding to the postsynaptic neuron-reabsorbs

Characteristics/facts:

• guards against neuronal overstimulation

• enables energy conservation

Examples: the re-absorption of serotonin

Non-examples: inhibitors and antagonists

Plasticity

Definition: The brain’s malleability or ability to change

Characteristics/facts:

• neuroplasticity allows nerve cells to change or adjust

• Can reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life

Examples: Learning a new language or practicing music

Non-examples: requireing brain surgery

Reflex arc

Definition: An involuntary sequence or aaction (nearly instantaneous) response to a stimulus

Characteristics/facts: Five main components-

• receptors

• sensory neurons

• interneurons

• motor neurons

• muscles

Examples: When we touch something hot

Non-examples: grabing a box off a shelf

Pituitary gland

Definition: A small, pea-sized gland located at the base of your brain below your hypothalamus

Characteristics/facts:

• below your hypothalamus

• endocrine gland

• located at the base of your brain

Examples:

Non-examples: amygdala and pons

Lesion

Definition: An area of damage, injury, or abnormal change to a part of the brain

Characteristics/facts: Symptoms-

• Weakness

• disruption of senses

• confusion

Examples: Phineas Gage, a man who had a steel rod penetrate his frontal lobe

Non-examples: Someone who has never expericenced an injury