Unit One

plasticity

capacity to learn and adapt

natural selection

inherited traits that allow an organism to survive

evolutionary psychology

study of the evolution of behavior and the mind using ideas of natural selection

behavior genetics

study of the power of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

mutation

a random error in gene replication that leads to change

environment

non-genetic influence (people and experience around us)

hereditary

genetic transfer of traits from parent to offspring

gene

biochemical unit of hereditary

genome

complete instructions for making an organism

nervous system

body’s electrochemical communication network, consisting of nerve cells

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

transmits information from cns to other issue

nerves

axons that form cables connecting central nervous system to the rest of the body

sensory neurons

carry information from body’s tissue to other sensory receptors in brain and spinal cord

motor neurons

carry instructions from cns to other issue

interneurons

combination of sensory and motor neurons

somatic nervous system

voluntary control

autonomic nervous system

operates automatically

sympathetic nervous system

arouses and expends energy

parasympathetic nervous system

conserve energy

reflex

automatic response to sensory stimulus

cell body

holds nucleus in a neuron

dendrites

neurons branches that receive and integrate messages

axon

segmented neuron extension that passes messages to other neurons through branches

glial cells

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

action potential

a neural impulse

threshold

level of stimulation needed to trigger a neural impluse

domino effect

one neuron sets off the charge difference

refractory period

resting period after a neuron fires

all-or-none response

a neuron’s reaction to either firing or not firing

synapse

gap in neurons

neurotransmitter

chemical messengers that cross synaptic gap between neurons

reuptake

neurotransmitter reabsorbed by sending neuron

acetylcholine

enables muscle action,learning, and memory

dopamine

pleasure

serotonin

mood and arousal

norepinephrine

alertness

GABA

inhibitory

glutamate

excitatory

endorphins

perception of pain or pleasure

substance p

immune response

agonists

increase neurotransmitters' action

antagonists

blocks neurotransmitters’ action

psychoactive drugs

exterior chemical that alters the brain

substance use disorder

continued substance use despite life disruption

tolerance

effect of substance decreases as user continues to use it

addiction

term for compulsive substance use

withdrawal

distress following discontinuing use of addictive drug or behavior

lesion

tissue distruction

electroencephalogram (EEG)

monitors electrical activity across brain

magnetic resonance imaging

uses magnetic fields and radio waves to make computer generated images of soft tissue

fmri

brain activity compared to MRI

hindbrain

medulla, pons, cerebellum

midbrain

top of the brain stem

forebrain

cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus

brainstem

connects brain and spinal cord

thalamus

directs sensory messages to appropriate parts of the brain

reticular formation

filters information

cerebellum

movement and balance

limbic system

neural system that includes the amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, thalamus, pituitary gland

amygdala

neural clusters in the limbic system linked to emotion

hypothalamus

hunger and thirst

hippocampus

helps process memories

cerebral cortex

interconnected neural cells covering the forebrain’s hemispheres

frontal lobe

linguistic processing, muscle movement, high-level thinking, decision making

parietal lobe

sensory input for touch and body position

occipital lobe

visual fields

temporal lobe

auditory

motor cortex

controls voluntary movement

somatosensory cortex

processes touch and movement sensations

association areas

not involved in typical motor functions, but rather higher level thinking, learning, and remembering

prefrontal cortex

judgement, planning, social interaction, new memories

neurogenesis

formation of new neurons

corpus callosum

band of neurofibers that stretches across and connects the left and right hemis

split brain

post surgery condition where the 2 hemispheres are now divided

consciousness

subjective awareness of self and environment

cognitive neuroscience

study of the brain activity linked with cognition (thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating)

blindsight

condition where a person can respond to a visual stimulus, but not consciously experience it

parallel processing

processing multiple aspects of a stimulus or a problem simultaneously

sequential processing

processing one aspect of a stimulus or problem

circadian rhythm

an organism’s biological clock that operates on a 24 hour cycle and controls temperature and wakefulness

alpha waves

somewhat slow brain waves that occur during a relaxed, awake state

hallucinations

false sensory experience

hypnagogic sensations

bizarre experiences while transitioning to sleep

sleep spindles

bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain wave activity that helps memory processing

delta waves

large, slow brain waves during deep sleep

sleep helps…

• strengthen memory

• increase concentration

• boosts mood

• moderates hunger

• reduces obesity

• fortifies immune system

• improves school performance

insomnia

recurring trouble falling or staying asleep

narcolepsy

uncontrollable sleep attacks- a person may lapse directly into REM sleep at random

sleep apnea

temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakening

REM sleep behavior disorder

REM paralysis does not occur

dreams

sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s brain

sensation

sensory receptors and nervous system receive environmental stimuli

sensory receptors

sensory nerve endings that respond to stimuli

perception

brain organizing and interpreting sensory information

bottom-up processing

begins with sensory receptors and works up to brain’s integration of sensory information

top-down processing

guided by higher level mental processing, perceptions draw on experience and expectations

transduction

conversion of one form of energy into another

psychophysics

study of the relationship between physical characteristics of a stimulus and how we psychologically experience them