Psych Vocab Unit 1.1-1.3

evolutionary psychology

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

behavior genetics

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

enviornment

every nongenetic influence

genome

complete instruction for making an organism, all genetic material in chomosomes

heredity

passiing of genes from parents to offspring

genes

biochemical units of heredity that make up chromosomes

nature

behaviors are a result of genetic makeup

nurture

behaviors are a result of out enviornment

identical twins

come from one egg that splits

fraternal twins

two eggs, no more similar than regular siblings

epigenetics

study of molecular mechanisms by which environments can influence genetic expression

central nervous system

brain and spine

peripheral nervous system

sensory and motor neurons that connect CNS to body

autonomic nervous system

controls glands and muscles of internal organs

somatic nervous system

voluntary movements of skeletal muscles

nerves

bundled axons connecting CNS with muscles, glands, and sensory organs

sypathetic nervous system

arouses body, mobilizes energy, fight or flight

parasympathetic nervous system

calms body, conserves energy, “rest and digest“

sensory neurons

carry info from sensory outputs to CNS

motor neurons

carry info from brain to muscles and endocrine system

cell body

contains nucleus

dendrites

recieve and integrate messages

axon

passes messages though its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

myelin sheath

fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing axons, enabling greater transmission speed as neural impulses go from one node to the next

glial cells

support, nourish, and protect neurons

action potential

neural impulse

depolarization

process of neuron becoming activated

refractory period

resting pause that occurs after neuron has fired

resting potential

an axons non activated state

multiple sclerosis

In MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath, the protective covering that insulates nerve fibers.

myasthenia gravis

weakness and possible paralysis

excitatory neurotransmitters

increase likelihood of neuron reaching action potential

inhibitory neurotransmitters

decrease likeliness of neuron reaching action potential

antagonist

molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitters action

agonist

increases neurotransmitters action

dopamine

neurotransmitter, muscle movement, attention, learning; too much=schizophrenia, too little=parkinsons

norepinephrine

neurotransmitter, helps control alertness and arousal

GABA

neurotransmitter, inhibitory, undersupply=seizures

serotonin

neurotransmitter, mood, hunger, sleep. arousal, undersupply=depression

glutamate

neurotransmitter, excitatory, oversupply=migraines and seizures

endorphins

neurotransmitter, perception of pain and pleasure

substance P

neurotransmitter, pain perception and immune response

ACh

neurotransmitter, enables muscle action, learning, memory, undersupply=alzheimers

endocrine system

slow chemical comms system, secretes hormones into bloodstream

hormones

messengers of endocrine system

neurotransmitter

messengers of nervous system

leptin

hormone, decreases hunger

melatonin

hormone, helps regulate sleep schedule

adrenaline

hormone, activates sympathetic nervous system, fight or flight

ghrelin

hormone, increases hunger

oxy

hormone, stimulates orgasms, contractions, and milk production 

cocaine

stimulant, feelings of euphoria

opioids

depress neural activity, reducing pain and anxiety

heroin

reduces feelings of pain and gives a feeling of euphoria, reduces natural endorphin production

addiction

compulsive substance use

depressants

reduce neural activity and slow body functions

stimulants

excite neural function and speeds up body function

alcohol

depressant that slows brain activity that controls judgement and inhibitions

hallucinogens

distort perception and evoke sensory images in absence of sensory input

marijuana

mild hallucinogen, relaxation, appetite, cognitive impairment

LSD

hallucinogen, distortions in visual perception

tolerance

requires user to take more and more to achieve the same high