AP Psych Cram Sheet Unit 2

soma, axon, dendrites

three main parts of a neuron

(soma is where nucleus is held, axon is the cell body, and dendrites are where message is received)

myelin sheath

A layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.

Synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron

Action Potential (AP)

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

sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord (afferent)

motor neurons

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

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit information from one neuron to another

GABA

a major inhibitory neurotransmitter, calms the body down

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory (long term)

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's pleasure and reward system. (causes addiction)

Endorphins

"morphine within"--natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure. (runners high)

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory (short term) and also triggers muscle contraction

Oxytocin

A hormone released by the posterior pituitary; the love hormone

Serotonin

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal - the happiness NT

Norepinephrine

helps control alertness and arousal

Agonist

a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter's action

Antagonist

a molecule that decreases a neurotransmitter's action

Reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

Hindbrain

location of the brain where the medulla, pons, cerebellum are located

reticular formation (RF)

a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal - found in midbrain

limbic system

neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with EMOTIONS and drives

Amygdala

A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression.

Hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

Thalamus

relays messages between lower brain centers and cerebral cortex

Hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

Wernicke's vs Broca's

Wernickes: "Word Salad" -- incoherent speech w/ normal speed/tone/rhythm

Brocas: "Broken Speech (Boca)" -- someone who can't find the words; Speaking to you, just not making any sense; lacks ability to find the words that they want to say; lots of pausing

cerebral cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center

frontal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement

pareital lobe

Lobe located at the top and back of the brain; contains the centers of touch; area processes from the skin and internal body receptors for touch, temperature, and body position.

occipital lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information

temporal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.

somatosensory cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

endocrine system

Glands secrete hormones that regulate processes such as growth, reproduction, and nutrient use (metabolism) by body cells.

circadian rhythm

the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle

REM sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep, a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active.

Stages of sleep

1. Lightest Sleep (NREM) 2. Slightly Deeper Sleep (NREM) 3. Deeper Sleep (NREM) 4. Delta Waves are omitted but there is not much difference between this stage and stage 3 (NREM) 5. REM

Plasticity

the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

Drugs

substances other than food that change the structure or function of the body or mind

Stimulants

Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, and Ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

Depressants

drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

corpus callosum

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

CNS

central nervous system; brain and spinal cord

PNS (peripheral nervous system)

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

somatic nervous system

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

autonomic nervous system

A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system. Controls involuntary activity of visceral muscles and internal organs and glands.

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

parasympathetic nervous system

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

manifest content of dreams

according to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream (as distinct from its latent, or hidden, content)

latent content of dreams

According to Freud, the "disguised" meanings of dreams, hidden by more obvious subjects

Neuroplasticity

the ability within the brain to constantly change both the structure and function of many cells in response to experience or trauma