ap psych

unit two review

neuron

a cell that sends signals

cell body

Largest part of a typical neuron; contains the nucleus and much of the cytoplasm

dendrites

receive messages from other cells

axon

sends messages

myelin sheath

a covering formed by glial cells surrounding the axon allowing for impulses to jump from node to node increasing conduction velocity

glial cells

cells that support, nourish, and protect neurons

action potential

the depolarization of a neuron

threshold

-55mv

refractory period

the time following an action potential during which a new action potential cannot be initiated

all-or-none response

-55mv or failed

synpase

where neurons meet

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that cross the synaptic cleft between nuerons to change the receiving neurons membrane potential

reuptake

the reuptake of neurotransmitters by the sending neuron

endorphines

built in opiates

agonist

a molecule that stimulates a response by binding to a receptor site

antagonist

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a response by binding to a receptor site

nervous system

brain, spinal cord, peripheral

cns

brain+spine

pns

nerves(sensory and motor)+sensory organs

nerves

neural "cables" containing many axons. These bundled axons, which are part of the peripheral nervous system, connect the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

sensory neurons (afferent)

info in

motor neurons (efferent)

info out

Interneurons (association)

links between sensory and motor neurons. found in brain or spinal cord.

somantic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles

autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.

sympathetic nervous system

arousal

parasympathetic nervous system

rest and digest

reflex

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus

endocrine system

hormones(slow)(cascades)

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

adrenal glands

endocrine glands located on top of each kidney that secrete over 30 different hormones to deal with stress, regulate salt intake, and provide a secondary source of sex hormones affecting the sexual changes that occur during adolescence

pituitary gland

The endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

lesion

abnormal tissue

eeg

records electrical activity in the brain

meg

record magnetic fields produced by the electrical activity of the brain

ct scan

series of xray images(3d)

pet scan

radioactive glucose injected into patient, site of decay in body measured by the scanner to show metabolic activity

mri

uses spinning donut of magnets to produce magnetic and radio waves and uses a computer to generate images that can distinguish between soft tissues

fmri

mri but also detects blood flow because iron

brain stem

Connection to spinal cord. Filters information flow between peripheral nervous system and the rest of the brain.

medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

thalamus

the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

reticular formation

a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal

Cerebellum

the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance

limbic system

neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.

Amygdala

2 lima bean sized limbic system structures involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression.

Hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

Hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

cerebral cortex

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.

frontal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement

parietal lobe

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

occipital lobe

vision

temporal lobe

An area on each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex near the temples that is the primary receiving area for auditory information

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

Somantosensory Cortex

area of the brain, located in the parietal lobe, that processes sensory input from the skin, muscles, and joints

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

plasticity

the brains ability to change

neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons

synpatic pruning

the normal developmental process through which synapses that are rarely activated are eliminated

synaptic cleft

gap between adjacent neurons

corpus callosum

A thick band of axons that connects the two cerebral hemispheres and acts as a communication link between them.

split brain

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them

consciousness

a person's subjective experience of the world and the mind

cognitive neuroscience

A field that attempts to understand the links between cognitive processes and brain activity.

dual processing

the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks

Blindsight

a condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it

parallel processing

the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain's natural mode of information processing for many functions, including vision. Contrasts with the step-by-step (serial) processing of most computers and of conscious problem solving.

sequential processing

processing one aspect of a problem at a time; generally used to process new information or to solve difficult problems

behavior genetics

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

hereditary

(adj.) of or passed down by inheritance from an ancestor; transmitted from parent to child

environmental

relating to the natural world and the impact of human activity on its condition.

Chromosomes

a threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.

dna deoxyribonucleic acid

A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.

genes

the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein

Genome

the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes

monozygotic twins

identical twins formed when one zygote splits into two separate masses of cells, each of which develops into a separate embryo

dizygotic twins

twins who are produced when two separate ova are fertilized by two separate sperm at roughly the same time

Hereditability

a measure of the variability of behavioral traits among individuals that can be accounted for by genetic factors

interaction

the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)

molecular genetics

the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes

molecular behavior genetics

the study of how the structure and function of genes interact with our environment to influence behavior

Epigenetics

the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

evolutionary psychology

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection

natural selection

A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.

mutation

A change in a gene or chromosome.

social script

a commonly understood pattern of interaction that serves as a model of behavior in familiar situations

sleep

periodic, natural loss of consciousness--as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation

circadian rhythm

the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle

rem sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep, a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active.

alpha waves

the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state

NREM sleep

non rem, Quiet, typically dreamless sleep in which rapid eye movements are absent; divided into four stages; also called quiet sleep.

Hallucinations

false sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus

hypnagogic sensations

bizarre experiences, such as jerking or a feeling of falling or floating weightlessly, while transitioning to sleep

delta waves

the large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep

suprachiasmatic nucleus

a cluster of neurons in the hypothalamus in the brain that governs the timing of circadian rhythms

insomnia

Difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.

sleep apnea

a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings

night terrors

sleep disruptions that occur during Stage IV of sleep, involving screaming, panic, or confusion

dream

a sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person's mind. Dreams are notable for their hallucinatory imagery, discontinuities, and incongruities, and for the dreamer's delusional acceptance of the content and later difficulties remembering it.