VCE Psychology Unit 3 AOS 1

Autonomic nervous system

a self-regulating sub-division of the peripheral nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the body's visceral muscles (internal organs and glands) to regulate function and provide feedback to the brain about their activities

Axon

a single, tubelike, extension that carries neural information away from the neuron

Axon terminal

the end part of an axon collateral where terminal buttons that store and secrete neurotransmitter are located

Central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord; receives, processes and transmits messages to and from the peripheral nervous system/body to control human functioning

Conscious response

a reaction to a sensory stimulus that involves awareness; usually voluntary, goal-directed and with some degree of control over it

Dendrite

an extension of a neuron that detects and receives information from other neurons

Excitatory effect

when a neurotransmitter stimulates or activates a postsynaptic neuron to perform its functions; compare with inhibitory effect

Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)

the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, making postsynaptic neurons less likely to fire

Glutamate (Glu)

the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS, thereby enhancing information transmission by making postsynaptic neurons more likely to fire

Inhibitory effect

when a neurotransmitter blocks or prevents a postsynaptic neuron from firing and therefore performing its functions; compare with excitatory effect

Interneuron

carries messages between sensory and motor neurons within the central nervous system

Motor neuron

carries messages from the central nervous system to cells in skeletal muscles, organs and glands to stimulate activity

Myelin

white, fatty substance covering and insulating an axon

Neural pathway

a route based on interconnected neurons that form a communication network within the brain and between the brain and other parts of the nervous system and body

Neuron

individual nerve cell

Neurotransmitter

a chemical substance produced by a neuron that carries a message to other neurons or cells in muscles, glands or other tissue; compare with neuromodulator

Parasympathetic nervous system

a sub-division of the autonomic nervous system that decreases the activity of most visceral muscles (internal organs and glands) to lower bodily arousal back to a relaxed homeostatic state after a threat has passed

Peripheral nervous system

an outlying network of neurons that carries information to and from the CNS and body

Sensory neuron

receives and carries sensory information from both the external and internal environments and transmits to the central nervous system

Somatic nervous system

a sub-division of the peripheral nervous system that carries sensory information from the body to the CNS and motor information from the CNS to the body

Spinal cord

the long, thin bundle of nerve tissue that extends from the base of the brain to the lower back; carries information to and from the brain and PNS. enables the spinal reflex

Spinal reflex

an unconscious, involuntary response to certain stimuli, initiated within the spinal cord and controlled solely by neural circuits; also called reflex arc

Sympathetic nervous system

a sub-division of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for action by increasing the activity of most visceral muscles (internal organs and glands) at times of vigorous activity, stress or threat

Synapse

the site where adjacent neurons communicate by transmitting neural signals to one another

Synaptic gap

the tiny space between the axon terminal of a presynaptic neuron and the dendrite of a postsynaptic neuron

Unconscious response

a reaction to a sensory stimulus that does not involve awareness; involuntary, unintentional, automatic and we cannot ordinarily control its occurrence; compare with conscious response

Adrenaline

a hormone secreted during stress; also called epinephrine

Alarm reaction

the first stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome in which the body goes into a temporary state of shock, then rebounds (counter shock), following initial exposure to a stressor

Approach coping strategy

an effort to cope with stress by confronting the stressor and dealing directly with it and its effects; compare with avoidance coping strategy

Avoidance coping strategy

an effort to cope with stress by evading the stressor and dealing indirectly with it and its effects; compare with approach coping strategy

Context-specific effectiveness

in relation to coping, when there is a match or 'good fit' between the coping strategy that is used and the stressful situation

Coping

in relation to stress management, attempting to manage the demands of a stressor in some effective way

Coping flexibility

the ability to effectively modify or adjust one's coping strategies according to the demands of different stressors

Coping strategy

a specific method used to manage or reduce the stress produced by a stressor

Cortisol

a hormone secreted from the adrenal glands in response to a stressor

Exhaustion stage

the third stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome when the body can no longer sustain resistance

Fight-or-flight-or-freeze response

an involuntary, bodily response to a sudden and immediate threat (or stressor) in readiness for fight (confront), flight (escape) or freeze (be silent and unseen)

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

a three-stage physiological response to a stressor involving alarm reaction (shock/countershock), resistance and exhaustion

Primary appraisal

in the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, an individual's evaluation of the significance of a potential stressor and whether anything is at stake in the encounter, resulting in a decision that it is either irrelevant, benign-positive or stressful

Resistance stage

the second stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, when the body's resistance to the particular stressor rises above normal

Secondary appraisal

in the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, an individual's evaluation of their ability to control or overcome a stressful
situation

Stress

a psychobiological response produced by internal or external stressors

Stressor

a stimulus that causes or produces stress; may be internal or external

Transactional Model of Stress and Coping

proposes that stress involves an encounter between an individual and their environment, and that a stress response depends upon both an individual's appraisal of the stressor and their ability to cope with it

Afferent pathway

a neural pathway that carries information towards the brain or spinal cord (e.g. sensory information); compare with efferent pathway

Brain

receives, processes and transmits information to and from the body guiding thoughts, emotions and behaviours

Dopamine

a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator with multiple functions depending on where it acts; functions include roles in coordinating movement, learning and behaviours that are rewarding

Enteric nervous system

a sub-division of the autonomic nervous system embedded within the walls of the gastrointestinal (digestive) tract and
dedicated to its functioning

Efferent pathway

a neural pathway that carries information away from the brain or spinal cord (e.g. motor information); compare with afferent pathway

Long-term potentiation

the long-lasting enhancement of synaptic transmission due to repeated strong stimulation; compare with long- term depression

Long-term depression

the long-lasting decrease in the strength of synaptic connections and transmission and neuronal response; compare with long-term potentiation

Neuromodulator

a neurotransmitter that can influence the effects of other neurotransmitters; also called modulator neurotransmitter

Pruning

the elimination of weak, ineffective or unused synapses (and therefore connections to other neurons); also called synaptic pruning

Rerouting

when new connections are made between neurons to create alternate neural pathways

Sensory receptor

a specialised cell that detects a specific stimulus such as light, sound, touch

Serotonin

a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator with multiple functions depending on where it acts; functions include emotional processing, mood, and sleep onset

Sprouting

the creation of new extensions on a neuron to allow it to make new connections with other neurons

Synaptic plasticity

the ability of a synapse to change in response to experience

Acute stress

stress that lasts for a relatively short
time

Chronic stress

stress that continues for a prolonged period of time

Counter shock

in the General Adaptation Syndrome, rebound from the temporary state of shock during the initial alarm reaction stage

External stressor

a stressor which originates outside the individual from situations and events in the environment

Gut-brain axis (GBA)

a bidirectional, multi-faceted communication link between the central and enteric nervous systems

Gut microbiota

the microorganisms (e.g. bacteria, viruses and fungi) present in each individual's digestive tract ('gut')

Internal stressor

a stressor that originates within the individual

Noradrenaline

a hormone secreted during stress; also called norepinephrine

Shock

in the General Adaptation Syndrome, the temporary state immediately following exposure to a stressor during the initial alarm reaction stage

Stress hormone

adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol

Stress response

our reaction to a stressor. Can be both biological and psychological

Between Subjects

each group of participants perform different things (adv time saving) (dis need more people)

Within Subjects

each participant is involved in both groups (adv less people) (dis more time)