AP Psych Unit 1B Vocab

Biological psychology

The scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

Biopsychosocial approach

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

Levels of analysis

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

Neuroplasticity

the brain’s 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 of 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)

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

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

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

fMRI (functional MRI)

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

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 the 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 association 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 at the 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 function includes processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.

The cerebellum along with the basil ganglia -deep brain structures involved in motor movement) enables nonverbal and skill (or procedural) learning. With assistance from the

pons, it also coordinates voluntary movement.

limbic system

associated with emotions, drives, and memory formation, contains the amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, thalamus, and pituitary gland.

Amygdala

two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion enables aggression and fear

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.

Some neural clusters in the hypothalamus influence hunger; others regulate thirst, body temperature, and sexual behavior. Together, they help maintain a steady (homeostatic) internal state.

To monitor your body state, the hypothalamus tunes into your blood chemistry and any incoming orders from other brain parts.

Hippocampus

a neural center in the limbic system that helps process explicit (conscious) memories – of facts and events – for storage.

Frontal Lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead. They enable linguistic processing, muscle movements, higher-order thinking, and executive functioning. (such as making plans and judgments.)

Parietal Lobes

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; it receives sensory input for touch and body position.

Occipital Lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; it includes areas that receive information from visual fields.

Temporal Lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; it includes the auditory areas, each of which receives information primarily from the opposite ear.

They also enable language processing.

Somatosensory Cortex

a cerebral cortex area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.

Association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in the primary motor or sensory functions, but rather are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.

prefrontal cortex

the forward part of the frontal lobes enables judgment, planning, social interactions, and processing of new memories.

Phineas Gage

had his frontal lobe blown out of his head (the most famous case study in psychology)

Corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

Split Brain

a condition resulting from surgery that separates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them.