AP Psychology: Biological Bases of Behavior and Research Methods

Vocabulary flashcards covering the biological bases of behavior, nervous system anatomy and functions, neurotransmitters, drug actions, and psychological ethics from the test materials.

Myasthenia Gravis (MG)

An autoimmune disorder that disrupts communication between neurons and muscles at the neuromuscular junction by producing antibodies that attack nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, causing muscle weakness and fatigue.

Pyridostigmine

A cholinesterase inhibitor medication that increases the availability of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, used to treat muscle weakness in myasthenia gravis.

Myasthenic Muscle Score (MMS)

A clinical evaluation scale used to measure disease severity and muscle strength in myasthenia gravis, scored out of 100.

Agonist

A chemical or drug that mimics or increases the activity of a neurotransmitter, such as a medication that increases endorphin action to alleviate pain.

Antagonist

A chemical or drug that inhibits or blocks the normal action of a neurotransmitter at receptor sites, such as curare blocking acetylcholine receptors.

Curare

A poison that functions as an antagonist by blocking action at acetylcholine synapses, preventing muscle contractions and causing paralysis.

Central Nervous System

The nervous system division comprising the brain and spinal cord, responsible for sending, receiving, and processing sensory and motor signals.

Autonomic Nervous System

The branch of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary bodily processes, including digestion, respiration, heart rate, and pupil dilation.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The branch of the autonomic nervous system responsible for arousal and fight-or-flight responses, causing pupil dilation, accelerated heart rate, reduced digestion, and bladder relaxation.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that conserves energy and maintains resting functions, causing pupil contraction, decreased heart rate, increased digestion, and bladder contraction.

Spinal Reflex Arc

A rapid neural pathway that responds to stimuli without brain intervention, following the sequential order: receptor, sensory neuron, spinal cord interneuron, and motor neuron.

Glial Cells

Non-neuronal cells in the nervous system that provide structural support, insulation (such as myelin), and waste removal functions for neurons.

Multiple Sclerosis

A neurological condition characterized by damage to the myelin sheath, causing neural messages to travel abnormally slowly down the axon and resulting in motor impairment.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter primarily associated with reward pathways, motor control, and the feeling of wanting or seeking something.

Resting State (Neuron)

The polarized condition of a neuron prior to firing, in which the inside of the cell membrane carries a negative charge compared to the outside.

Threshold

The critical level of stimulation or depolarization that must be reached just before the generation of an action potential.

Reuptake

The biological process by which excess neurotransmitters are reabsorbed from the synapse into the terminal buttons of the presynaptic (sending) neuron.

Reuptake Inhibitor

A psychoactive drug that prevents neurotransmitters from being absorbed back into the sending neuron, effectively trapping them in the synapse to increase their availability.

Depressant

A drug category, including alcohol, that reduces central nervous system activity—particularly in the cerebellum and hippocampus—often by affecting gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

Alcohol Tolerance

A physiological state where an individual requires increasingly higher amounts of alcohol to produce the same level of well-being or intoxication previously experienced.

Opiate

A class of analgesic drugs specifically utilized to alleviate severe physical pain.

Confidentiality

An ethical guideline in psychological research and practice requiring that an individual's private records and participation details remain protected from unauthorized disclosure to outside entities.