How are people influenced to behave in certain ways?

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Major division of the nervous system that transmits and receives messages to and from the peripheral nervous system.

Brain

Receives, processes, interrogates, and organizes sensory info; coordinates motor movement and responses.

Spinal cord

Connects brain and peripheral nervous system; receives sensory and motor messages and sends them to the brain.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Consists of nerves, muscles, organs, glands, and transmits sensory and motor messages.

Somatic Nervous System

Communicates sensory info to the CNS; communicates motor info to the skeletal muscles (spinal reflex).

Autonomic Nervous System

Connects CNS to visceral muscle and glands.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Readies body for action.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Calms body after action (homeostasis).

Enteric Nervous System

Network of neurons living in the gastrointestinal tract.

Unconscious Response

Involuntary actions that don't require brain awareness of stimuli to create the action.

Conscious Response

Voluntary action requiring the brain to be aware of stimuli to make a decision and take action.

Neuron

Basic unit of the nervous system.

Dendrites

Detect/receive chemical messages/neurotransmitters.

Soma/Cell Body

Integrates info from dendrites and initiates electrical signal at axon.

Nucleus

Holds genetic material.

Axon

Transmits electrical signals from dendrites to axon terminals.

Myelin Sheath

Insulates and protects axon to increase speed of electrical transmission.

Axon Terminal

Receives electrical signals and releases neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse.

Neuromodulator

Influences or temporarily changes the effects of neurotransmitters.

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)

Inhibitory neurotransmitter that maintains neurotransmission at an optimal level.

Glutamate

Excitatory neurotransmitter that strengthens and grows synaptic connections.

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter associated with reward-based learning and pleasurable experiences.

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter involved in mood, emotional processing, sleep, appetite, and pain.

Neural Plasticity

The ability of the brain's neural structure or function to change by experience throughout the lifespan.

Synaptic Plasticity

The ability of synapses to change over time.

Sprouting

Growth of nerve endings on axons or dendrites to allow neurons to make new connections.

Rerouting

New connection made between neurons to create alternate neural pathways.

Pruning

Elimination of weak, less used synapses to fine-tune the brain's neural circuits.

Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)

Long-lasting strengthening of synaptic connections due to repeated co-activation.

Long-Term Depression (LTD)

Long-lasting weakening of synaptic connections over time as a result of reduced co-activation.

Stress

Psychological and physiological response to a stressor that challenges a person's ability to cope.

Eustress

Positive psychological response to a stressor.

Distress

Negative psychological response to a stressor.

Stressor

Source of tension that challenges a person's ability to cope.

Chronic Stress

Less intense, long-lasting, constant response to a stressor.

Acute Stress

Immediate response to a stressor that lasts a short time.

Cortisol

Hormone that increases blood sugar levels and energizes the body.

Gut-Brain Axis

Bi-directional communication link between the central and enteric nervous systems.

Gut Microbiota

Microorganisms present in the digestive tract that produce neurotransmitters.

Explanatory Power

Ability of a theory/model to explain a subject effectively.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Three-stage physiological response to stress occurring regardless of the stressor encountered.

Stage 1 - Alarm Reaction

Immediate response where the body activates fight, flight, freeze response.

Stage 2 - Resistance

Ability to deal with a stressor develops and rises above normal.

Stage 3 - Exhaustion

Body cannot continue to cope with stressor; resistance to coping drops below normal.

Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model of Stress and Coping

Model proposing that stress involves an encounter between an individual and their environment.

Primary Appraisal

Evaluating how the situation made us feel; determining if it is irrelevant, benign/positive, or stressful.

Secondary Appraisal

Determining if there are the required resources to cope with the stressor.

Context-Specific Effectiveness

'Good fit' between the coping strategy used and the stressful situation.

Coping Flexibility

Ability to modify coping strategies when they are not working.

Approach Strategies

Behaviors that attempt to decrease stress by dealing with the problem/stressor.

Avoidance Strategies

Behaviors that attempt to decrease stress by not dealing with the problem/stressor.