ap psych flashcards

Nature

Influence of genetics on behavior

Evolutionary Perspective

Behavior shaped by survival and reproduction

Natural Selection

Traits aiding survival get passed on

Environment

External factors influencing development

Heredity

Genetic passing of traits

Nurture

Influence of experience and environment

Eugenics

Controlling breeding to improve traits

Nervous System

Body’s communication network

Central Nervous System

Brain and spinal cord

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls involuntary actions

Sympathetic Nervous System

Activates fight-or-flight response

Peripheral Nervous System

Connects CNS to body

Somatic Nervous System

Controls voluntary movement

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Calms body after stress

Neurons

Nerve cells that send signals

Glial Cells

Support and protect neurons

Reflex Arc

Automatic response to stimuli

Sensory Neurons

Carry info to CNS

Motor Neurons

Send commands from CNS to muscles

Interneurons

Connect neurons within CNS

All-or-Nothing Principle

Neuron fires fully or not at all

Depolarization

Neuron’s charge becomes positive to fire

Reuptake

Neurotransmitters reabsorbed by sending neuron

Multiple Sclerosis

Myelin breaks down

Excitatory Neurotransmitters

Increase chance of neuron firing

Dopamine

Linked to reward and movement

Norepinephrine

Controls alertness and arousal

GABA

Major inhibitory neurotransmitter

Substance P

Sends pain signals

Hormones

Chemical messengers in bloodstream

Leptin

Hormone that reduces hunger

Refractory Period

Time before neuron can fire again

Resting Potential

Neuron’s stable negative charge

Threshold

Level needed to trigger a neuron

Myasthenia Gravis

Weakness from blocked acetylcholine

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

Decrease neuron firing

Serotonin

Regulates mood, sleep, and appetite

Glutamate

Major excitatory neurotransmitter

Endorphins

Reduce pain and increase pleasure

Acetylcholine

Aids movement and memory

Adrenaline

Triggers fight-or-flight response

Ghrelin

Hormone that increases hunger

Oxytocin

Promotes bonding and trust

Melatonin

Regulates sleep cycle

Brain Plasticity (neuroplasticity)

Brain’s ability to adapt and change

EEG

Measures brain’s electrical activity

MRI

Detailed brain structure imaging

CT

X-ray image of brain structure

PET

Shows brain activity using glucose

fMRI

Shows real-time brain activity

Lesions

Tissue damage used to study function

Brain Stem

Controls basic life functions

Medulla Oblongata

Controls heartbeat and breathing

Reticular Activating System (Reticular Formation)

Regulates alertness and arousal

Cerebellum

Coordinates balance and movement

Cerebral Cortex

Outer layer for higher thought

Limbic System

Emotion and memory center

Thalamus

Relays sensory information

Hypothalamus

Regulates hunger

Pituitary Gland

Master hormone gland

Hippocampus

Forms new memories

Amygdala

Processes emotions like fear

Corpus Callosum

Connects brain hemispheres

Broca’s Area

Produces speech

Wernicke’s Area

Understands language

Cortex Specialization

Different cortex areas have unique roles

Contralateral Hemispheric Organization

Left brain controls right body and vice versa

Aphasia

Language impairment

Occipital Lobe

Processes vision

Temporal Lobe

Processes hearing and memory

Parietal Lobe

Processes touch and spatial info

Somatosensory Cortex

Registers touch sensations

Frontal Lobe

Controls planning and decision-making

Prefrontal Cortex

Responsible for reasoning and personality

Motor Cortex

Controls voluntary movement