AP Psych - Unit 1 Study Set

Nature

Genes (Hereditary)

Nurture

Experiences (environmental)

Evolutionary Perspective

Study of how behaviors and mental processes present in the species today exist because they were naturally selected

Natural Selection

Offspring that survive are more likely to pass their genes to the next generation

Eugenics

Using evolutionary perspective in ways that discriminate against others

Twin Studies

Provide evidence for the influence of nature vs. nurture

Adoption Studies

Environment shared by the children, no discernible impact on personality

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Contains the brain and the spinal chord and interacts with all processes in the body

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Responsible for gathering info and transmitting CNS decisions to other body parts

Contains 2 parts:

• Autonomic Nervous System

• Somatic Nervous System

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls glands and internal organ muscles (involuntary)

Contains 2 parts:

• Sympathetic Nervous System

• Parasympathetic Nervous System

Somatic Nervous System

Enables voluntary control of skeletal muscles

ex.) someone taps your arm and your head turns to look at them

Sympathetic Nervous System

Fight or flight, makes you ready for action (gas pedal)

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Calms you after sympathetic nervous system response (break pedal)

Neurons

Neural cells that transmit information (Queen bees)

3 Types:

• Sensory

• Motor

• Interneurons

Glial Cells

Provide structure, insulation, communication, waste transport (Worker bees)

Reflex Arc

In spinal chord, how neurons within central and peripheral nervous systems work together to respond to stimuli

Sensory Neurons

(Affrent) Information from sense organs to CNS

Motor Neurons

(Efferent) Information from CNS to muscles to move

Interneurons

(Middle) processes information between sensory and motor neurons

Neural Transmission

Process by which neurons communicate with each other

All-or-Nothing Principle

Neural firing either happens at full response or not at all

Depolarization

Makes a cell less negative, triggers action potential

Refractory Period

Neurons need short breaks

Resting Potential

Balanced state where neuron maintains negative charge on inside, waiting to activate

Reuptake

After singal transmitted, reabsorbs into cell that released it

Threshold

Level of stimulation required to trigger neural impulse

Multiple Sclerosis

Autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibers in the CNS

Myasthenia Gravis

Autoimmune disorder that affects muscles

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that travel across synapse and bind to receptors

Excitatory vs. Inhibitory Messages

Excitatory - Gas pedal

Inhibitory - Break pedal

Acetylcholine

Muscle action, learning, and memory

Dopamine

Movement, learning, attention, and emotion

Serotonin

Mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

Norepinephrine

Control alertness and arousal

GABA

Major inhibitory neurotransmitter

Glulamate

Excitatory neurotransmitter; memory

Endorphins

Influence perception of pain or pleasure

Hormones

Chemical substances that carry messages throughout the body in the blood

Adrenaline

Glands that respond to stress/fear (Fight or flight)

Leptin

Feeling full, regulates body weight and energy balance

Ghrelin

Feeling Hungary and regulating body weight and energy balance

Melatonin

Regulating sleep and wakefulness

Oxytocin

Key role in social bonding

Psychoactive Drugs

Alters perceptions and moods

Agonists

Increase/mimics neurotransmitters (opiates)

Antagonists

Blocks neurotransmitters (meth/prescriptions)

Reuptake Inhibitors

Prevent re-absorption of neurotransmitters, increasing availability in synaptic cleft (mental health)

Depressants

Reduce neural activity and slow body functions

• alcohol, barbiturates, opiates

Stimulants

Excite neural activity and speed up body functions

• caffeine, cocaine

Hallucinogens

Distort perceptions and evoke hallucinations

• Marijuana, shrooms

Opioids

Depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

• Heroin

Tolerance

Diminishing effect, makes you need to take more before experiencing effect again

Addiction

Compulsive craving of drugs or behaviors despite known adverse consequences

Withdrawal

Discomfort/distress after discontinuing addictive drugs/behaviors

• Physical dependence

• Mental dependence

Brain Stem

Central core, responsible for autonomic responses