🧠 AP Psychology Ultimate Guide (copy)

Broca's area

A region in the left frontal lobe linked to expressive aphasia and loss of ability to speak.

Wernicke's area

Located in the left temporal lobe, involved in the comprehension of language; damage can lead to receptive aphasia.

Lesions

Precise destruction of brain tissue used to study loss of function.

Brain lateralization

The idea that the left and right hemispheres of the brain have specialized functions.

Computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT)

A scanning technique that creates images using X-ray data to reveal brain structures.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A technique using magnetic fields and radio waves to visualize internal structures of the body, including the brain.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A test that measures electrical activity in the brain, often used to diagnose conditions like epilepsy.

Positron emission tomography (PET)

An imaging test that helps reveal how your tissues and organs are functioning by using a radioactive drug.

Functional MRI (fMRI)

An MRI technique that measures and maps brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.

Glial cells

Supportive cells in the nervous system that assist in neuron maintenance and function.

Neurogenesis

The process of generating new neurons in the brain, occurring throughout life.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in reward and movement regulation.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that contributes to the regulation of mood, emotion, and behavior.

Hippocampus

A brain region crucial for the formation of new memories.

Cerebellum

A part of the brain that controls coordination and balance.

Medulla oblongata

Regulates vital functions such as heartbeat and breathing.

Pons

A brain structure that connects different parts of the nervous system, involved in sleep and arousal.

Sympathetic nervous system

Part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for stress-related activities.

Parasympathetic nervous system

Part of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body and aids in digestion.

Cerebral cortex

The outer layer of the brain responsible for higher-order functions such as thought, memory, and language.

Gyri

The ridges on the brain's surface that increase surface area.

Sulci

The grooves on the brain's surface separating gyri.

Plasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections.

Reflex arc

The neural pathway that mediates a reflex action.

Endocrine system

Glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream, influencing various bodily functions.

Heritability

The proportion of variation in traits among individuals that can be attributed to genetic factors.

Cognitive dissonance

The mental discomfort experienced when holding two or more contradictory beliefs.

Self-fulfilling prophecy

When a belief or expectation about an outcome actually causes that outcome to happen.

Empathy

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

Autonomous moral reasoning

The ability to make ethical decisions based on personal principles rather than external rules.

Ego

Freud's concept of the rational part of personality that mediates between the desires of the id and the moral standards of the superego.