AP Psych Unit 1

Cards for the Unit 1 study guide

Neural Communication:

The act of neurons sending electrical signals via action potentials and neurotransmitters across the synapse to other neurons.

Neurotransmitter:

The chemical messenger released by the neuron to communicate and send information to other neurons through the synapse. They achieve their purpose in the synapse. 

Hormone:

The exact same chemicals as neurotransmitters, yet they work in the blood stream and not in neurons.

Synapse

A junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. This gap is called the synaptic gap or cleft. This gap is where vesicles carrying neurons reach the edge of the axon and release the neurons to enter receptor sites on the receiving neuron to send the message.

Motor Neurons:

carry outgoing information from the CNS to muscles and glands.

Sensory Neurons:

carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the CNS.

Interneurons:

Neurons that connect/chain motor and sensory neurons together.

Peripheral nervous system:

A network of nerves that connects the CNS to the rest of the body, which splits up into the autonomic and somatic nervous systems.

Somatic:

The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movement of skeletal muscles, while also relying information from the skin, muscles and senses like touch and sound to the CNS.

Autonomic:

A part of the peripheral nervous system, the autonomic nervous system is the reason we don’t have to think about breathing or digesting food. The system breaks up into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.

Sympathetic:

The arousing part of the Automatic nervous system, which focuses on Arousal, preparing for fight or flight, and mobilizing the body’s energy.

Parasympathetic:

The Calming part of the Automatic nervous system, which focuses on calming and returning the body to homeostasis and energy conservation.

Central nervous system:

Consisting of the brain and spinal cord, the central nervous system is the body’s command center for information processing, coordinating actions and regulating functions.

Spinal Reflex:

A rapid involuntary movement that is made in the spinal cord rather than the brain. An unconscious response.

Myelin Sheath:

The cover of the axon, which helps with speeding up the neural impulses. It is made of fatty tissue.

Causes of Multiple Sclerosis:

Occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks myelin sheath, which disrupts neural communication.

MRI

Exposes the brain to a magnetic field and clearly shows brain structure. They can be done on any part of the body.

fMRI

The only way to show both brain structure and activity, an fMRI uses a non-harmful magnetic field to get a see activity inside the different structures of the brain. The fMRI reads oxygen blood cells and picks up where astrocytes are.

PET:

A patient drinks radioactive glucose and images show where the brain is burning (using the energy) of the glucose. It is faster and more precise than an EEG

EEG:

Measures electrical currents inside the brain, which in-turn measures brain activity. The multitudes of electrodes put on a person's brain during an EEG measure an action potential and neural firing. Commonly used in sleep studies and investigations in seizures. (Completely pain free and does not do ethical harm)

(The mad scientist looking thing)

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for critical thinking and executive functioning. They are also involved in movement and decision making. Within the frontal lobe is the motor cortex, which is a strip of cortex that controls movement in the body. The left motor cortex controls the right side of the body, and vice versa. The frontal lobe also has broca’s area and association areas.

The Michael Scott of the brain

Temporal Lobe:

The part of the brain that processes hearing and smell, as well as language comprehension, memories and recognition. DOES NOT HELP WITH SPEAKING.

Parietal Lobe:

Involved with bodily sensation and senses from touch receptors in the skin, as well as body position and taste.

Occipital Lobe

Located in the back of the head with the visual cortex, the Occipital lobe processes vision coming in from the eyes.

Cerebellum:

 The part of the brain coordinates movement, balance, coordination and muscle memory.

“You not about to unbalance me, little me” -Supahot cerebellum

Corpus Callosum:

A bundle of nerve fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres. It is a bundle of axons that form a BRIDGE between the left and right hemispheres. This can be cut in split brain surgery, which causes no communication between the left and right hemispheres.

Wernicke’s area: (LEFT SIDE OF BRAIN)

Mostly found in the left temporal lobe, (In left handed people, it is more likely that both these areas could be on the right side of the brain) is responsible for language comprehension/understanding. Knowing the difference between a chair or a stool, rules of grammar.

Broca’s area: (LEFT SIDE OF BRAIN)

Mostly found in the left frontal lobe, is located close to the motor strip, which controls motor speech. (talking) 

Cerebral Cortex:

The outer layer of the cerebrum. This is where all the thinking happens. The cerebral cortex breaks up into 8 lobes, with 4 on the left and 4 on the right.

Limbic System:

The part of the brain that is linked with emotion and basic desires. Includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and the hypothalamus.

Hippocampus:

Involved with forming new memories. The part of the brain that creates and stores memories. 

Amygdala:

Involved with alerting the body to fear and aggression. The amygdala is the smoke detector of the brain. Alters the body to be fearful and triggers fight, flight or freeze before the conscious brain gets involved. The amygdala only sets off the alarm, but doesn’t control fear or aggression.

Hypothalamus:

Involved in anything related to hormones and the pituitary gland, with the Hypothalamus mastering the master (Pituitary) gland. The hypothalamus tells the pituitary gland what to and how to function. 

Master (Hypothalamus) of Puppets (Pituitary gland and hormones)

Reticular Formation:

Bundle of nerves in the brainstem, which controls arousal and attention.

Medulla:

Located where the spinal cord meets the skull, the medulla controls heartbeat and breathing.

Thalamus:

Egg shaped organs above the brainstem, which receives info from senses (No info received from smell) and relays the rest of the information to the rest of the brain.

Left Brain Functions:

The more logical, language-based hemisphere which controls the right side of the body.

Example: Learning a new language or math skill usually takes a lot of Left brain power.

Right Brain Functions:

The more abstract, creativity-based hemisphere that controls the left side of the body. Also has something to do with a sense of self/self identity.

Example: Learning a new instrument or committing to a self-identity usually takes a lot of Right brain power.

Aphasia:

Language impairment due to brain damage of Wernicke’s and Broca’s areas that can affect remembering and comprehension.

Example: Someone usually has trouble remembering people, forming grammatically correct sentences and sometimes speaking after suffering a stroke.

Endocrine System function:

The body’s “slow” chemical communication system, which is carried out by hormones releasing glands. The endocrine system is slower at communicating than neurotransmitters, but the hormones and messages last longer.

Pituitary Gland:

The master gland of the endocrine system, which tells every other gland what to do. The pituitary gland regulates growth and secretion of hormones when under the influence of the hypothalamus.

Plasticity:

Allows for recovery after Aphasesia due to the brain adapting and rewiring itself to function. The younger you are, the more plasticity you have. This allows for higher chances of full recovery in younger people with brain trauma. 

Endorphins:

Inhibitory neurotransmitter that messages pain, which reduces pain after exercise and other activities.

Acetylcholine:

A neurotransmitter connected to movement and memory.

Example: Low levels of Acetylcholine are found in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.

Dopamine:

Involved with attention, movement and emotion.

Example: Excess supplies of dopamine correlate to increased risk of schizophrenia, while low levels of dopamine correlate to increased risks of Parkinson's disease.

Glutamate:

A major excitatory neurotransmitter, connected to memory and learning.

Example: Excess supply is linked to seizures and migraine.

Norepinephrine:

Associated with alertness, arousal and attention.

Serotonin:

Connected to mood, hunger and sleep.

Example: Low levels of serotonin are associated with increased risk of depression.

GABA:

Overview: A major inhibitory neurotransmitter. As an inhibitory, it sends a message to neurons preventing firing of action potential and sending messages through the synapse.

Example: An undersupply is linked to seizures and insomnia. 

Substance P:

A pain signalling neurotransmitter, sends a message of pain throughout the brain.