ap psych unit 1a: bio and sleep

quick definitions

behavior genetics

-study of relative power and limits of genetic & env influences on behavior

nature

-genetics

-influence that our inherited characteristics have on us

nurture

-environment

-influence that surroundings/upbringing has on us

genetics

sci study of heredity

environment

-every nongenetic influence

(from prenatal nutrition to ppl/things around us)

genetic predisposition

-inborn tendencies

-increased bio vulnerability to a specific trait, behavior, or mental health condition passed down from parents

identical (monozygotic) twins

-twins who develop from 1 fertilized egg that splits in 2

-genetically identical

fraternal (dizygotic) twins

-twins who develop from separate eggs (2)

-genetically no closer than siblings

interaction

-interplay that occurs when effect of 1 factor (like env) depends on another (like heredity)

epigenetics

-study of env’ influences on gene expression that occur WITHOUT a DNA change

-(how env’ factors/behaviors can turn gene expression ‘on’ or ‘off’ without changing the DNA)

-ex: severe stress experienced by a parent can leave epigenetic marks on their DNA that could be passed down to their kids, making their kids more prone to anxiety

evolutionary pysch

study of evolution of behavior and the mind

-uses natural selection principles

mutation

random error in gene replication that leads to a change

eugenics

-study of factors that influence hereditary qualities of human race & ways to improve those qualities

-(study of human breeding to create “perfect” ppl)

nervous system

-”fast” communication system

-uses electrical signals and chemicals called neurotransmitters to transmit messages

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

-sensory & motor neurons that connect central nervous system to rest of body

somatic nervous system

-division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles

autonomic nervous system

-part of peripheral nervous system that controls the glands & muscles of internal organs

sympathetic nervous system

-division of autonomic nervous system that arouses body

-mobilizing its energy

-(fight or flight)

parasympathetic nervous system

-division of autonomic nervous system that CALMS body

-rest and digest

nerves

-bundled axons that form neural cables

-connects central nervous system w/ muscles, glands, & sense organs

sensory (afferent) neurons

-carry incoming info from sensory receptors to brain & spinal cord

motor (efferent) neurons

-carry info from sensory receptors to brain & spinal cord

interneurons

-neurons w/in brain & spinal cord that communicate internally & intervene b/t sensory inputs & motor outputs

spinal reflex arc

-spine receives sensory input, integrates, sends out response

mirror neurons

-frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when performing certain actions or when observing another do so

neuron

-nerve cell

-basic building block of nervous system

axon

extension of neuron that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles/glands

axon terminal

-end of neuron

-where neurotransmitters are stored

cell body/ soma

-neuron’s cell body

-its life support center

dendrite

-bushy, branching extensions of a neuron

-receive messages & conduct impulses toward cell body

myelin sheath

-layer of fatty tissue encasing fibers of neurons

-enables faster transmission speed of neural impulses as impulse hops from one node to the next

glial cells

-cells in nervous system that support, nourish, protect neurons

neurotransmitters

-chem messengers stored in axon terminals

-cross synaptic gaps b/t neurons, binding w/ receptor cites on receiving neuron

-influence whether that neuron will generate neural impulse

nodes of Ranvier

gaps in myelin sheath

nucleus

-control center of a neuron

receptor sites

-areas on surface of neurons & other cells that are sensitive to specific neurotransmitters

synaptic gap

-tiny space b/t neurons found at synapse

terminal branches

-branched end of the axon

vesicle

-membrane bound sac in axon terminal of neuron that holds neurotransmitters

action potential

-neural impulse

-brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

refractory period

-period of inacitvity after neuron has fired

threshold

-level of stimulation required to trigger a neutral impulse

all or nothing response

-neuron’s reaction of either firing (w/ full strength response) or not firing

depolarization

-step of action potential when sodium rushes INTO cell

-causing interior to lose it’s negative charge

repolarization

-step of action potential when potassium rushes OUT of cell

-causing interior to become negatively charged again

resting potential

-normal, unfired state of a neuron

-when inside of neuron is more negatively charged than positively-charged outside of neuron

synapse

-junction b/t axon terminal of sending neuron & dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron

reuptake

-neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by sending neuron

excitatory neurostransmitters

-chemicals released from axon terminal of a neuron

-excite next neuron into firing

inhibitory neurotransmitters

-chemicals released from axon terminal of a neuron

-inhibit next cell from firing

acetylcholine (ACh)

-neurotransmitter involved in learning, memory, & triggers muscle contraction

dopamine

-neurotransmitter involved in movement, learning, attention, emotion, brain’s pleasure & reward system

serotonin

-neurotransmitter involved w/:

-mood, hunger, sleep, arousal

endorphins

-category of neurotransmitters involved in pain control & pleasure

GABA

-inhibitory neurotransmitter

-lack of it related to seizures, tremors, insomnia

glutamate

-major excitatory neurotransmitter

-involved in memory

norepinephrine

-neurotransmitter involved in arousal, learning, & mood regulation

substance P

-neurotransmitter involved in transmission of pain messages to brain

agonist

-molecule that by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response

antagonist

-molecule that, by binding to receptor site, inhibits/blocks a response

reuptake inhibitor

-substance that block presynaptic neuron from reabsorbing released neurotransmitters

multiple sclerosis

-chronic disease of central nervous system

-damage to myelin sheath

-plaque occurs in brain & spinal cord causing tremor, weakness, incoordination, tingling, vision & speech disturbances

myasthenia gravis

-chronic autoimmune disease

-affects neuromuscular junction & produces serious weakness of voluntary muscles

endocrine system

-body’s “slow” communication system

-uses chemicals called hormones to transmit messages

hormones

-chem messengers

-manufactured by endocrine glands

-travel through bloodstream & affect other tissues

epinephrine/adrenaline

-chemical substance secreted by adrenal glands when under stress

-responsible for immediate fight or flight response

norepinephrine/ noradrenaline

-neurotransmitter in sympathetic nervous system

-helps control alertness, arousal

pituitary gland

-endocrine system’s “master gland”

-under hypothalamus, regulates growth & controls other endocrine glands

leptin

-hormone that signals the hypothalamus & brain stem to reduce appetite & increase amount of energy used

ghrelin

-hormone secreted by empty stomach

-sends “I’m hungry” signals

melatonin

-hormone by pineal gland that produces sleepiness

oxytocin

-hormone released by posterior pituitary that stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth & milk ejection during breastfeeding

-social bonding & parental behavior

substance use disorder

-continued substance craving/use despite significant life disruption

psychoactive drug

-chem substance that alters perceptions & moods

tolerance

-diminishing effect

-w/ regular use of same dose of drig, user must take larger doses b4 experiencing its effects

withdrawal

-discomfort & distress after stopping the use of an addictive drug

depressants

-drugs

-REDUCE neural activity

-SLOW body functions

-ex: alcohol, barbiturates, opiates

alcohol

-depressant

-pyschoactive drug in beer, wine, liquors

heroin

-narcotic drug from opium

-extremely addictive

barbiturates

-deppressant

-pyschoactive drugs from barbituric acid

-used as SEDATIVES

tranquilizers

-deppressant

-reduce anxiety & induce relaxation

-ex: valium & xanax

opiates

-depressant

-relieve pain & produce euphoria

-used as paiterm 146n killers

-ex: morphine & heroin

stimulants

-drugs that excite neural activity & speed up body functions

-ex: caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy

caffeine

-mild stimulant in coffee, tea, plant based substances

amphetamines

-stimulant

-psychoactive drugs created synthetically

-used to treat ADD or narcolepsy

nicotine

-stimulant

-addictive, psychoactive drug in tobacco

cocaine

-stimulant

-addictive psychoactive drug from coca plant

-increased alertness & euphoria

methamphetamine

-stimulant

-very powerful & dangerous amphetamine

ecstasy (MDMA)

-stimulant & mild hallucinogen

-psychoactive drug created synthetically

-produce euphoria & social intimacy

hallucinogens

-psychedelic drugs that distort perceptions & evoke sensory images in a sense of sensory input

-ex: LSD or THC

LSD

-hallucinogenic

-powerful psychoactive drug

marijuana

-often smoked

-euphroia, impairment of judgement & concentration

-occasional hallucinations

THC

-hallucingoen

-psychoactive drug found in marijuana

lesion

-tissue destruction

electroencephalogram (EEG)

-amplifies & records electrical activity that sweeps across brain’s surface

-measured by electrodes placed on scalp

-reveals brain activity

-shows structure

-sleep & seizure research

computed tomography (CT) scan

-series of X ray photos from different agles

-slice through body

-structure

positron emission tomography (PET) scan

-detects where a radioactive form of goes while brain does specific task

-reveals function

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

-uses magnetic fields & radio waves to produce computer generated images

-distinguish among diff types of soft tissue

-structure

functional MRI (fMRI)

-uses successive MRI scans to show bloodflow

-both structure & function