AP Psych Vocab

Dendrites

Receive incoming messages

Cell Body (soma)

Contains the nucleus

Myelin Sheath

Fatty tissue that insulates axon, speeding up transmission of the message

Node of Ranvier

Space between myelin sheath

Axon

Longest part of the neuron which electrical messages travel the length of

Schwann Cells

Non-neuronal cells in the CNS that form myelin sheath

Axon Terminal Buds

The end point pod a neuron that releases neurotransmitters into the synapse; sending the message to the next neuron

Resting Potential

when a neuron is not firing and has a negative charge with mostly potassium ions inside and mostly sodium ions on the outside

Polarization

at resting potential when sodium is on the outside, potassium on the inside of a neuron

Action Potential

Nerve impulse - causes the neuron to fire

All-or-nothing principle

when the nucleus decides to fire, it fires down the axon completely or not at all

intensity

strength/power of message

depolarization

when message begins, sodium ions come in & depolarize (neutralize) section of axon. Like a domino effect, Na ions rush in causing K ions to flush out

refractory period

potassium ions were previously pushed out and neuron “pauses to reload”

Neurotransmitters

chemical substance that causes the synapse to carry on the message to the next neuron

Synapse

open space between the neurons at which neurtransmitters cross

Acetylcholine

Muscle contractions, memory & learning (Alzheimers)

Dopamine

Movement, thought process, rewarding sensation (Parkinson, schizophrenia, drug addiction)

Serotonin

Emotion states, sleep (depression)

Norepinephrine

Physical arousal, learning and memory (depression, stress)

GABA

inhibition of brain activity (anxiety)

Endorphines

Pain perception, positive emotions, “runners high” (opiate addiction)

Glutamine

Excitatory neurotransmitters; involved in memory. overstimulate brain, produce migraine or seizures

Substance P

Regulates bone & cartilage metabolism & fracture healing. Sickle cell disease, IBS, fibromyalgia, reduce pain sensitivity and stability of bones

Agonist transmitters

Mimic neurotransmitter activity, fits in receptor site like a master key

Antagonist transmitters

Blocks neurotransmitter activity, fills in receptor site like a fake key

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

sensory and motor neurons that connect CNS to the rest of the body

Central Nervous System

Contains spine and brain in the center of the body

Autonomic PNS

Controls involuntary functions

Somatic PNS

controls voluntary movements and communication to an from the sensory organs

Sympathetic autonomic pns

physically arouses the body, flight or flight

parasympathetic autonomic pns

calms the body, rest and digest

Interneurons

only neurons n CNS acting as messengers between sensory and motor neurons

sensory (afferent) interneurons

carries incoming messages from the sense receptors to the cns

Motor (efferent) neurons

carries outgoing information from the ins to the peripheral nervous system and muscles

Endocrine system

communicates with the brain using chemical messages, hormones

Hormones

released into and circulate through the bloodstream, received only at a specific site

Pituitary gland

“master gland” directed by the hypothalamus, sends out hormone singles to other glands

Thyroid Gland

produces hormone thyroxine - stimulates chemicals important to all body tissues, regulate metabolism, physical growth & development, and calcium rate

Adrenal gland

release epinephrine and norepinephrine - help individuals generate extra energy to deal with difficult situations; regulate fight or flight and metabolism

Gonads (sex glands)

testes - release testosterone
ovaries - release estrogen and progesterone
regulate body development and maintain reproductive organs in adults

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

monitors electrical activity of the brain over time by means of recording electrodes attached to the surface of the scalp

CT Scan

Computerized Tomography Scan, computer enhanced x-ray of brain structure, multiple x rays shot, combines images to make vivid horizontal slice of brain, least expensive, used to look for abnormalities in brain

MRI

Uses magnetic fields, radio waves, & computerized enhancements to map out brain structure

fMRI

consists of several variations of MRI technology that monitory blood and oxygen flow in the brain to identify areas of high activity, provides structural & functioning information in the same image, monitors brain activity in real time

Lesioning

destroying a piece of brain tissue

electrical stimulation of brain (ESB)

sending weak electric current into a brain structure to activate it, delivered through electrode, but current is different, close but doesn’t duplicate normal signals

PET Scan

mapping out actual activity in the brain over time. radioactively tagged chemicals introduced into brain, serve as markers for blood flow or metabolic activity. color coded map, monitored by x rays

brainstem

part of the brain with longest ancestry, even most simple creatures have this part of the brain. connects to the spinal cord, made of medulla, pons, reticular formation, thalamus

Hindbrain

structures on top of spinal cord. controls basic biological structures

Medulla oblongata

located just above spinal cord, great rate breathing, blood pressure. operates on autopilot without conscious awareness, like most of brainstem

Pons

Located just above the medulla, connects hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain together, maintains sleep-wake cycle, involved in controlling facial expressions

Cerebellum

Bottom rear of the brain - “little brain” coordinates fine muscle & body movements, like tracking a target.

Midbrain

coordinates simple movements with sensory info, contains the reticular formation: arousal and ability to focus attention.

Forebrain

makes us human, largest part of the brain made up of the thalamus, limbic system, and cerebral cortex

thalamus

in forebrain, receives sensory info & sends to appropriate areas of forebrain, like a switch board, everything except smell

Limbic System

Emotional Control Center of brain

Hypothalamus

Pea sized in brain, controls body temp, hunger, thirst, sexual arousal (libido), endocrine system (directs pituitary gland)

Medical forebrain bundle (MFB)

runs between the ventral segmental area (VTA) and lateral hypothalamus.

Hippocampus

involved in learning and memory processing

amygdala

vital for basic emotions, more involved in volatile emotions like anger, aggression, anxiety, and fear

Cerebral cortex

Top layer of brain, contains wrinkles called fissures, fissure increase surface area of brain, made up of “gray matter” - densely packed neurons responsible for information processing

Glial Cellcs

support brain cells

White matter

highway that consists of large networks of nerve fibers that allow information to pass to all the different regions of brain

Anterior frontal lobe

prefrontal cortex, very important for “higher cognitive functions” and determination of the personality

Posterior frontal lobe

consists of premotor and motor areas

areas of cerebral cortex

divided into eight lobes, four in each hemisphere (frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal

Association areas

any area not dealing with senses or muscle movements

frontal lobe

abstract thought and emotional control, contains motor cortex for controlling muscle movements, and broca’s area for controlling muscles that produce speech. damage to broca’s area is Broca’s aphasia, causes broken speech

parietal lobes

contain (somato) sensory cortex, receives incoming touch sensations from rest of the body, mostly made up of association areas

motor cortex

left hemisphere section controls body right side

sensory cortex

left hemisphere section receives input from body right side

occipital lobes

in back of head, handles visual input from eyes. lateralized - predominantly on one side, right half of each retina goes to left occipital lobe and vice versa. contains visual cortex, interprets messages from eyes into images

temporal lobes

processes sound sensed by ears & interpreted in auditory cortex. not lateralized. contains wernickes area - part of left temporal love: involved in understanding meaning of words; interprets written n spoken speech

wernickes aphasia

unable top understand language: the syntax n gammer; person is able to speak fluently and pronounce entirely wrong words correctly.

spatial/unilateral neglect

condition produced by damage to the right parietal and occipital lobes, results in an inability to recognize objects or body parts in the left visual field

hemispheres

divided into left and right, contralateral controlled - left controls right side of body and vice versa

corpus callosum

attaches the two hemispheres of cerebral cortex, when removed you have a split brain patient.

left hemisphere

specializes in language, speech, handwriting, calculation, sense of time and rhythm, and thought analysis

right hemisphere

specializes in processing involving perceptions like visual and spatial perception, recognition of patterns, faces, emotions, melodies, expression of emotions, and comprehension of simple language

reticular formation

network of neurons in brainstem, controls sleep-wake cycle and alertness/attention

psychoactive drugs

chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood. drugs that are small enough to pas through blood brain barrier

blood-brain barrier

semi permeable membrane within brain capillaries

physical dependence

physiological need for a drug, marked with withdrawal symptoms

negative reinforcement

tendency to continue a behavior that leads to the removal of or escape from unpleasant circumstances or sensations

psychological dependence

psychological need to use a drug to alleviate negative emotions

reward pathway

nucleus accumbent (motivation and goal-directed behavior) + ventral segmental area (dopamine production) + dopamine = intense pleasure

tolerance

diminished effect with regular use, body begins to stop naturally producing these chemicals

withdrawal

discomfort and distress that follow discontinued use

depressants

drugs that reduce neural activity, slow body functions. alcohol, barbiturates, opiates

stimulants

drugs that excite neural activity, speed up body functions. caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, cocaine

hallucinogens

psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input. LSD

barbiturates

depress activity of cos, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment

alcohol

most commonly used and abused depressant, health risks to liver, brain, and heart, indirectly stimulates the release of gaba which is the brains major depressant

opiates

plant-based substance, opium, depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety, mimics effects of endorphins, the nervous systems natural painkillers,

morphine

created by dissolving opium in an acid then neutralizing acid with ammonia, still used to control severe pain, in controlled doses for very short periods.

heroin

derivative of morphine, does not have many of the disagreeable side effects of morphine

amphetamines

synthesized in labs, crystal meth is a crystalline form, smoked and used by recreational drug users, results in short term energy and euphoria, eventually reduces baseline dopamine level, leaving user permanently depressed.

amphetamine psychosis

condition causing addicts to become delusional and paranoid; think ppl are out to get them; violence is a likely outcome against self and others

synesthesia

neuropsychological trait in which the stimulation of one sense causes the automatic experience of another sense