AP Psych Unit 1 Review

Genetic predisposition

Increased chance of developing specific trait due to genetics

Neurons

individual nerve cells

Neurotransmitters

chemicals contained in terminal buttons that enable neurons to commuinicate

CNS

Consists of brain and spinal cord

Endocrine system

system of glands that secrete hormones, controlled by the hypothalamus

Cerebral cortex

gray wrinkled surface of brain w neurons

Hemispheres

Cerebral cortex is divided into two ____ with stark differences even though they mirror in image

Circadian rhythym

Biological clock

Limbic System

Emotional processing, memory, includes amygdala and hippocampus

Hypothalamus

regulates biological needs and drives such as hunger, controls pituitary gland hormone release

Amygdala

part of limbic system that regulates fear and emotional responses

Hippocampus

part of the brain that forms memory

Brainstem

connects brain to spinal cord and regulates functions such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure

Cerebellum

fine motor movements (bell)

Basal ganglia

Motor control, learning, decisions

Thalamus

relays sensory and motor information

Dendrites, cell body (soma), axon

Parts of a neuron

Dendrites

recieve signals from other neurons

Cell body

contains nucleus and organelles for cell function

Axon

long fiber that carries electrical signals away from the cell body

sensory, motor, inter

types of neurons

neurons do not regenerate

why are brain injuries devastating?

PNS

All nerves and ganglia outside brain and spinal cord