AP Psych Topic 1.3 Vocab

Neurons

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

Glial Cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory

Reflex Arc

a fast, automatic neural pathway that produces an involuntary response to a stimulus without requiring initial processing from the brain

Sensory Neurons

nerve cells that carry incoming information from the body's sensory receptors toward the central nervous system

Motor Neurons

nerve cells that carry outgoing instructions from the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) out to the body's muscles and glands

Interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs

All-or-Nothing Principle

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

Depolarization

the process where a neuron's internal charge becomes less negative (moving closer to zero or positive) as positive ions rush in, which triggers an action potential if it reaches the threshold

Reuptake

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

Multiple Sclerosis

a chronic disease of the central nervous system where the immune system attacks and damages the myelin sheath, the protective fatty insulation surrounding nerve fibers

Excitatory

a chemical signal that makes a receiving neuron more likely to fire an action potential

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse

Dopamine

HAPPINESS; a neurotransmitter that controls voluntary muscle movement, attention, learning, and the brain's rewarding pleasure system - ex of malfunction: schizophrenia, parkinson’s disease

Norepinephrine

a dual-function chemical messenger that acts as both a neurotransmitter in the brain and a stress hormone in the body, primarily responsible for regulating alertness, arousal, and the fight-or-flight response. - ex of malfunction:

GABA

(gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system that reduces neural activity and promotes relaxation - ex of malfunction:

Substance P

Hormones

Leptin

Melatonin

Refractory Period

Resting Potential

Threshold

Myasthenia Gravis

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

Serotonin

Glutamate

Endorphins

Acetylcholine

Adrenaline

Ghrelin

Oxytocin

Psychoactive Drugs

Antagonist

Agonist

Stimulants

Depressants

Reuptake Inhibitor

Caffeine

Cocaine

Alcohol

Hallucinogens

Opioids

Marijuana

Heroine

Addiction

Tolerance

Withdrawal