AP Psych vocab

1. Action Potential

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

2. All-or-None Response

a neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing

3. Antagonist

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response

4. Autonomic Nervous System

part of the PNS that controls glands and muscles of internal organs (e.g., heart)

5. Axon

the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or muscles/glands

6. Central Nervous System

brain and spinal cord

7. Dendrites

branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

8. Endorphins

neurotransmitters that influence pain/pleasure; released during exercise, linked to "runner’s high"

9. Frontal Lobes

part of the cerebral cortex involved in speaking, muscle movements, and making plans/judgments

10. Glial Cells

support, nourish, and protect neurons; may also play roles in learning and memory

11. Hippocampus

helps process explicit (conscious) memories of facts and events

12. Hypothalamus

directs eating, drinking, body temp, helps govern endocrine system via pituitary gland

13. Interneurons

neurons within brain/spinal cord; communicate internally and process info between sensory/motor

14. Limbic System

neural system below cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

15. Medulla

base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

16. Motor Cortex

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

17. Motor Neurons

neurons that carry outgoing info from brain/spinal cord to muscles/glands

18. Myelin Sheath

fatty tissue around axons that speeds transmission

19. Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross synapses; influence whether neuron generates impulse

20. Occipital Lobes

part of the cerebral cortex at back of head; receives visual info

21. Parasympathetic Nervous System

part of ANS that calms the body, conserving energy

22. Parietal Lobes

cerebral cortex at top of head; receives sensory input for touch and body position

23. Peripheral Nervous System

sensory and motor neurons that connect CNS to rest of body

24. PET Scan

visual display of brain activity that detects where glucose goes during a task

25. Plasticity

brain’s ability to change, esp. during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or building pathways

26. Pons

part of brainstem that coordinates movement and controls sleep

27. Reflex

simple, automatic response to sensory stimulus (like knee-jerk)

28. Reuptake

reabsorption of neurotransmitter by sending neuron

29. Sensory Cortex

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

30. Sensory Neurons

neurons that carry incoming info from sensory receptors to CNS

31. Serotonin

neurotransmitter that affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal; undersupply linked to depression

32. Somatic Nervous System

division of PNS that controls skeletal muscles

33. Sympathetic Nervous System

division of ANS that arouses body, mobilizing energy in stressful situations

34. Synapse

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

35. Synaptic Gap

tiny gap at junction; neurotransmitters cross here

36. Temporal Lobes

cerebral cortex above ears; includes auditory areas, receiving info from opposite ear

37. Thalamus

brain’s sensory control center; directs messages to sensory areas and transmits replies

38. fMRI

technique revealing bloodflow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans

39. Amygdala

two neural clusters in limbic system; linked to emotion (especially fear and aggression)

40. Biological Psychology

study of links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes

41. Cerebellum

"little brain" at rear of brainstem; processes sensory input, coordinates movement and balance

42. Cerebral Cortex

fabric of interconnected neural cells covering cerebral hemispheres; ultimate control center

43. Corpus Callosum

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

44. EEG

amplified recording of electrical activity sweeping across brain surface; measured by electrodes

45. Endocrine System

body’s "slow" chemical communication system; glands secrete hormones into bloodstream

46. fMRI (Functional MRI)

technique for revealing bloodflow and brain activity by comparing MRI scans

47. Genes

biochemical units of heredity; segments of DNA that make up chromosomes

48. Hormones

chemical messengers made by endocrine glands that travel through bloodstream

49. Lesion

tissue destruction; brain lesion is destruction of brain tissue

50. MRI

technique that uses magnetic fields/radio waves to produce images of soft tissue

51. Natural Selection

principle that traits contributing to survival/reproduction are more likely to be passed on

52. Nervous System

body’s speedy electrochemical network, consisting of nerve cells of CNS and PNS

53. Neurons

nerve cells; basic building block of nervous system

54. Occipital Lobe

region of cerebral cortex at back of head; receives info from visual fields

55. Plasticity (Neuroplasticity)

brain’s ability to change by reorganizing after damage/building pathways

56. Reticular Formation

nerve network in brainstem; plays role in controlling arousal

57. Somatosensory Cortex

area at front of parietal lobes; processes touch/movement sensations

58. Temporal Lobe

part of cortex above ears; includes auditory areas