AP Psychology Unit 1.1, 1.2, 1.3,

AP Psychology Unit 1.1, 1.2, 1.3,

nature-nature issue

he longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today’s science views traits and behaviors as arising from the interaction of nature and nurture

heredity

he genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

environment

every non-genetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to our experiences of the people and things around us

behavior genetics

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

evolutionary psychology

he study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.

natural selection

the principle that the inherited traits enabling an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will (in competition with other trait variations) most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

mutation

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change

heredity

the genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

environment

every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to our experiences of the people and things around us

genes

the biochemical units of heredity

genome

the complete instructions for making an organism.

raternal (dizygotic) twins

individuals who developed from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than ordinary siblings, but they shared a prenatal environment.

identical (monozygotic) twins

individuals who developed from a single fertilized egg that split in two, creating two genetically identical organisms.

epigenetics

above or in addition to genetics. the study of molecular mechanisms by which environments can influence genetic expression

nervous system

the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems

central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body

nerves

bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sensory organs

sensory (afferent) neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.

motor (efferent) neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process

information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

somatic nervous system

he division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system

autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms

sympathetic nervous system

he division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

reflex

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk reflex

neuron

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

cell body

the part of a neuron that contains the nucleus the cells life support center

dendrites

A neurons often bushy, branching extensions that receive an integrate messages conducting impulses towards the cell body

axon

The segmented neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

myelin sheath

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons, it enables vastly grade transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node the the next

glial cells

cells in the nervous system, that support, nourish, and protect neuron; they may also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory

action potential

a neural impulse, a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

threshold

the level of stimulation required to rigger a neural impulse

refractory period

in neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state

all-or-none response

a neurons reaction of either firing or not firing

synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the deceits or cell body of the receiving neuron. the tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap between neurons. when released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind the receptor sites in the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.

reuptake

a neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron.

endorphins

“morphine within”; natural, opioid like, neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.

agonist

molecule that increases a neurotransmitters action

antagonist

molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitters action

endocrine system

a body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands and fat tissue that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

hormones

Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues

psychoactive drug

a chemical substance that alters the brain, causing changes in perceptions and moods

substance use disorder

a disorder characterized by continued substance use despite resulting life disruption