AP Physcology-Unit 1

Evolutionary Psychology

Branch of psychology studying how adaptation and natural selection connect with mental processes and behaviors.

Behavioral Genetics

Area of biology and psychology focusing on heredity and individual differences in behavior and personality.

Environment

Every nongenetic influence.

Heredity

The genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring.

Heritability

The extent to which differences among people are attributable to genes.

Natural Selection

Process where organisms better adapted to their environments tend to survive and transmit genes.

Mutations

Genes that facilitate survival increase, while those with no effect do not.

Instincts

Stereotyped patterns of behavior triggered in specific situations, nearly identical among members of the same species.

Gene

The basic unit of heredity found on chromosomes.

Genotype

One's genetic makeup, representing nature.

Phenotype

One's actual development and appearance, based on genotype and environment.

Reciprocal Determinism

The environment affects the person, the person reacts, and then influences the environment.

Epigenetics

Environmental pressures changing gene activity, which can be passed on to the next generation.

Polygenic

Behaviors or traits likely caused by many genes.

Diathesis

Psychological disorders having genetic predispositions with an environmental trigger.

Maturationism

Developmental concept where all children follow the same genetic pattern.

Plasticity

The brain changing itself on a cellular level in response to the environment.

Kinship Studies

Comparing traits in biologically related or unrelated people to determine genetic roles.

Identical Twins (Monozygotic)

Twins that share 100% of their genes.

Fraternal Twins (Dizygotic)

Twins that share 50% of their genes in common.

Twin Studies

Studies using identical and fraternal twins where differences in identical twins point to nurture.

Adoption Studies

Studies showing adopted children often share stronger genetic traits with biological parents.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord; all nerves housed in bone.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

All the other nerves in the body not encased in bone; divided into somatic and autonomic systems.

Sensory Neurons (Afferent)

Neurons that carry incoming information from sensory receptors to the central nervous system.

Motor Neurons (Efferent)

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to muscles and glands.

Glial Cells

Support cells that provide nutrients, guide neural connections, clean up waste, and aid cognition.

Myelin Sheath

A fatty covering that insulates the axon and speeds up the neural impulse.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Division of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body to respond to stress.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body down after a stress response.

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters that block or prevent chemical messages from being sent.

Excitatory Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters that excite the neuron to continue to fire.

Multiple Sclerosis

A condition where the myelin sheath is damaged, causing disruption in neural transmission.

Myasthenia Gravis

An autoimmune disorder where antibodies block acetylcholine receptors, affecting nerve signals to muscles.

Endocrine System

The body's system of ductless glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.

Adrenaline

A hormone involved in the fight-or-flight response.

Oxytocin

A hormone involved in social bonding, known as the us vs. them hormone.

Leptin

A hormone involved in turning off hunger.

Ghrelin

A hormone involved in turning on hunger.

Melatonin

A hormone that helps turn on the sleep process.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Neurotransmitter involved in muscle actions, learning, and memory.

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter affecting voluntary movement, learning, attention, and emotion.

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter involved in mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal.

Agonist

A chemical substance that mimics or enhances the action of a neurotransmitter.

Antagonist

A chemical substance that blocks or opposes the action of a neurotransmitter.

Tolerance

Diminishing effect with regular use of the same drug dose, requiring larger doses.

Withdrawal

Discomfort and distress following the discontinuation of an addictive drug.

Hindbrain

Brain region that directs essential survival functions, including the medulla, pons, and cerebellum.

Midbrain

Controls motor movement, transmits sensory info, and connects hindbrain and forebrain.

Forebrain

Brain region that manages complex cognitive activities, sensory functions, and voluntary motor activities.

Medulla

Part of the brainstem in charge of breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate.

Pons

Part of the brainstem that helps relay sensory information, coordinate movements, and regulate sleep.

Reticular Activating System (RAS)

Nerve network that filters incoming stimuli and controls arousal and alertness.

Cerebellum

Structure controlling coordination of muscle movement, balance, and procedural learning.

Amygdala

Limbic system structure that plays a key role in emotions, especially anger and fear.

Hypothalamus

Structure regulating hunger, thirst, sexual behavior, and governing the endocrine system.

Hippocampus

Limbic system structure important for processing and storing explicit facts and events.

Thalamus

The sensory switchboard of the brain for all senses except olfaction.

Pituitary Gland

The master endocrine gland of the body.

Cerebral Cortex

Interconnected neural cells covering the forebrain; ultimate control and information processing center.

Frontal Lobe

Located behind the forehead; controls linguistic processing, executive functioning, and higher mental processes.

Prefrontal Cortex

Region of the frontal lobe responsible for thought processing, foreseeing consequences, pursuing goals, and maintaining emotional control.

Broca's Area

Located in the left frontal lobe; responsible for controlling the muscles involved in producing speech.

Parietal Lobe

Brain region that controls association areas, spatial processing, math, and sensory organization.

Somatosensory Cortex

Thin vertical strip receiving incoming touch sensations, located near the back crown of the brain.

Occipital Lobe

Located at the rear of the brain; controls visual information processing.

Temporal Lobe

Located at the sides of the brain; controls auditory and linguistic processing.

Wernicke's Area

Region in the temporal lobe that interprets written and spoken speech.

Motor Cortex

Rear of the frontal lobes and controls most skeletal/voluntary movements.

Wernicke's Aphasia

Person cannot comprehend speech but can speak fluently.

Broca's Aphasia

Person can comprehend speech but cannot speak fluently.

Association Areas

Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor sensory functions.

Right Hemisphere

Responsible for control of the left side of the body, and is the more artistic and creative side of the brain.

Left Hemisphere

Responsible for control of the right side of the body, and is the more academic and logical side of the brain.

Biological Psychology

The scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes.

Biopsychosocial Approach

Integrative approach that considers biological, psychological, and social factors.

Levels of Analysis

Using the parts of the biopsychosocial approach when analyzing a psychological concept or phenomenon.

EEG

Electrodes placed on the scalp measure brain waves through electrical activity.

MEG

Head coil records magnetic fields from the brain's electrical currents.

CT Scan

A series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and turned into a 3-D, cross-sectional image of the brain.

MRI

Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue.

PET

A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.

fMRI (functional MRI)

Reveals blood flow, and therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans.

Lesions

Tissue destruction; brain lesions can occur naturally, during surgery or experimentally.

Brain Plasticity

Brain's ability to change (especially during childhood) by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.

Roger Sperry

Found that the human brain has specialized functions in the right and left hemispheres.

Corpus Callosum

The large band of neural fibers that connects the left and right hemisphere of the brain.

Split Brain

Condition resulting from surgery that cuts the corpus callosum, separating the two hemispheres.

Dual Processing

The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks.

Circadian Rhythm

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

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

A cluster of neurons in the hypothalamus that causes the pineal gland to adjust melatonin production based on light.

Jet Lag

Disruption of biological rhythms resulting from rapid travel through multiple time zones, causing fatigue and irritability.

Hypnagogic Sensations

Bizarre sensory experiences like a feeling of falling or floating that occur during the transition to NREM-1 sleep.

Sleep Spindles

Bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain wave activity that occur during NREM-2 sleep.

Delta Waves

Large, slow brain waves associated with the deep sleep of NREM-3.

REM Sleep

Stage of sleep during which vivid dreams commonly occur; also known as paradoxical sleep.

REM Rebound

The tendency for rapid eye movement sleep to increase following sleep deprivation.

Effects of Sleep Loss

Includes suppressed immune cells, increased hunger hormones, decreased productivity, and memory impairment.

Insomnia

Inability to fall or stay asleep; the most common sleep disorder.

Sleep Apnea

A sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts throughout the night.