Untitled Flashcard Set

Heredity

The genetic transmission of traits from parents to their offspring.

Environment

The combination of physical, biological, social, and cultural conditions that influence our behavior and functioning.

Evolutionary Perspective

The branch of psychology that studies the mental adaptations of humans to a changing environment.

Genotype

The genetic constitution of an individual organism.

Natural Selection

Certain behaviors and genes best for survival; often summarized as 'Survival of the Fittest'.

Behavior Genetics

A field that focuses on discovering how genes and experiences interact and lead to specific behaviors and mental abilities.

Mutation

A permanent change in the genetic material of an organism.

Excitatory Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that send signals that stimulate the brain.

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that send signals to calm the brain down and create balance.

Reflex

Automatic and unlearned responses to stimuli that do not require a conscious response.

Peripheral Nervous System

A branch of the human nervous system that includes all components except the brain and spinal cord.

Somatic Nervous System

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movements.

Autonomic Nervous System

A part of the peripheral nervous system that regulates bodily processes such as breathing, heart rate, and digestion.

Sympathetic Nervous System

A branch of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for action, often called 'fight or flight'.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A branch of the autonomic nervous system that restores the body's energy sources, known as 'rest and digest'.

Neurons

Individual nerve cells that make up our entire nervous system.

Dendrites

Structures that receive neural messages.

Axon

A wire-like structure that passes messages along from the cell body.

Synapse

The space between the terminal buttons of one neuron and the dendrites of the next neuron.

Action Potential

An impulse or brief electric charge that travels down the axon.

Endocrine System

The glands and organs that make hormones and release them into the bloodstream.

Adrenaline

Hormone secreted when an individual is stimulated by fear or anxiety, getting the body into 'fight or flight' mode.

Melatonin

Hormone that helps initiate sleep and regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

Psychoactive Drugs

Drugs that have significant effects on psychological processes.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Agonists for serotonin that increase the amount of serotonin available to the brain, used to treat depression.

Plasticity (Neuroplasticity)

The ability of the brain to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections.

Circadian Rhythm

The biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a roughly 24-hour cycle.

NREM

Non rapid-eye-movement sleep; stages of sleep where dreams are relatively uncommon.

REM Sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur.

Transduction

The process of converting one form of energy into another; in sensation, the transforming of stimulus energies into neural impulses.

Just-Noticeable Difference (Difference Threshold)

The minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 percent of the time.

Color Constancy

Perception that the color of an object remains the same even if lighting conditions change.

Gustation

The mouth's ability to tell the difference between sweet, sour, bitter, and salty properties.

Phantom Limb Sensation

The feeling that an amputated limb is still present.

Gate-Control Theory

The theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological 'gate' that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass to the brain.