Unit 1 - AP Psychology 2024-2025

Nature versus Nurture

arguing which plays a greater role in psychological traits or behaviors - genes and heredity or environment

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Brain and spinal cord

Autonomic Nervous System

controls involuntary functions such as heartbeat, digestion, breathing, etc

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

sensory and motor neurons that connect to brain and spinal cord

Parasympathetic Nervous System

responsible for the body's rest and digestion response when the body is relaxed, resting, or feeding.

Sympathetic Nervous System

the part of your nervous system that carries signals related to your “fight-or-flight” response.

Somatic Nervous System

component of the peripheral nervous system associated with the voluntary control of body movements via skeletal muscles.

Action Potential

occurs when a neuron sends information down an axon, away from the cell body. Neuroscientists use other words, such as a "spike" or an "impulse"

Reputake

neurotransmitters are released by the neurons and travel back across the synapse to be reabsorbed by the axon terminals

Refractory Period

Before a neuron can fire again, the ions need to return to their original position, or repolarized. This brief pause between firings is called the

Multiple Sclerosis

chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath

Myasthenia Gravis

chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness and rapid fatigue of the voluntary muscles caused by a breakdown in the normal communication between nerves and muscles

Acetycholine

Enables muscle action, learning, and memory

Dopamine

Influences voluntary movement, learning, attention, and emotion

Seratonine

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

Norepinephrine

Helps control alertness and arousal

GABA

Inhibitory neurotransmitter; natural tranquilizer involved in calming you down

Glutamate

Excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

Endorphine

Influence the perception of pain and pleasure

Depressant

reduce neural activity, Increase relaxation, decrease mood and arousal, Slow down (depress) bodily processes, Ex. alcohol, barbiturates, 

Stimulant

excite neural activity, Increase energy, decrease appetite, brief feelings of euphoria, Speed up (stimulate) bodily processes, Ex. caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines (meth)

Hallucinogen

distort perception, Cause false sensory hallucinations, impair memory, feelings of relaxation and/or euphoria, Ex. marijuana, mushrooms, LSD, ecstasy/MDMA (also a stimulant)

Agonist

These drugs work because they either increase/mimic a neurotransmitters action

Antagonist

These drugs work because they block receptor cites

Medulla

the base of the brainstem that controls breathing and heartbeat

Cerebellum

“Little brain”, Section at the rear of the brain stem, Coordinates movement and balance, processes sensory input, judgment of time, and enables nonverbal learning and memory, One of the first parts of the brain impacted by alcohol, thus explaining why people stagger and struggle to react quickly when intoxicated.

Hippocampus

responsible for processing and storing explicit memories of facts and events

Amygdala

responsible for survival emotions of fear and aggression

Endocrine System

System consists of the pituitary gland, or “master gland”, which is controlled by the hypothalamus and is responsible for the release of hormones throughout the body by controlling all endocrine glands. The pineal gland produces melatonin, regulating the body’s sleep cycle.

Adrenaline

Prepare body for emergencies → fight or flight

ghrelin

Feelings of hunger (tummy goes grrrrr)

Leptin

Feelings of satiety (keeps you Lean)

Melatonin

Regulate the sleep/wake cycle

Oxytoxin

Facilitate lactation and improve relationships  →  bonding hormone (the cuddle hormone)