AP Psychology Unit 1

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215 Terms

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Biological psychology
a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
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neuron
a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
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sensory neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory reseptors to the brain and spinal cord
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motor neurons
neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
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interneurons
neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
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myelin sheath
A lack of this is attributed to Multiple Sclerosis.
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action potential
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
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neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to reseptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse
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reuptake
a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron
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endorphins
"morphine within" - natural . opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
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nervous system
the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
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central nervous system (CNS)
the brain and spinal cord
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peripheral nervous system
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
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nerves
bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
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somatic nervous system
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles.
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autonomic nervous system
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.
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sympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
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parasympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
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reflex
a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response
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hormones
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues
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pituitary gland
the endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
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lesion
tissue destruction; a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue
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electroencephalogram (EEG)
an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on th scalp.
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fMRI (functional MRI)
a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans, fMRI shows brain functions
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brainstem
the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions
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medulla
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
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reticular activating system
a nerve netowrk in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal
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thalamus
the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum amd medulla - all senses, but smell are processed here
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cerebellum
the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output an balance
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limbic system
doughnut-shaped neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives
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amygdala
two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to raw emotions such as fear and anger
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hypothalamus
a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp). helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward (think 4 F's!!)
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cerebral cortex
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural calles covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information processing center
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glial cells
cells in the nervour system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
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frontal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements
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parietal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; received sensory input for touch and body postion
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occipital lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head, includes areas that receive information from visual fields
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temporal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear
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motor cortex
an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
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sensory cortex (somatosensory cortex)
area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
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association areas
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in promary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions ssuch as learning, remembering, , thinking, and speaking
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aphasia
impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's Area (impairing speaking) or Wernicke's Area (impairing understanding)
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Broca's Area
controls language expression - an area, usually in the left frontal lobe, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech
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Wernicke's Area
controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe
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plasticity
the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reogranizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
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corpus callosum
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
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split brain
a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them
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refractory period
in neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state
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all-or-none principle
a neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing.
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agonists
a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter's action - it mimics the neurotransmitter
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antagonist
a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's action
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hippocampus
a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process for storage (conscious) memories of facts and events
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acetylcholine
A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction.
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adoption study
A research design that investigates the relationships among genetic and environmental factors in the development of personality, behavior, or disorder by comparing the similarities of biological parent-child pairs with those of adoptive parent-child pairs.
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adrenaline
A hormone whose major action is to increase heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar, providing a surge of energy to power our fight-or-flight respose.
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biological psychologists
Researchers who use advanced technologies to study the links between genetic, neural, and hormonal with psychological processes.
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contralateral hemispheric organization
The arrangement whereby each hemisphere is mainly responsible for the information of the opposite side of the body.
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cortex specialization
The tendency for one side or area of the brain to carry out specific brain activities. Even though both sides of the brain are almost identical, one hemisphere primarily carries out some functions over others.
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depolarization
The process leading up to the height of action potential when sodium is rushing into the cell causing the interior to become more positive.
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dopamine
A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's pleasure and reward system.
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eugenics
A much-criticized nineteenth-century movement that proposed measuring human traits and using the results to encourage only smart and fit people to reproduce
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evolutionary psychology
An approach to psychological inquiry that views human cognition and behavior in a broadly Darwinian context of adaptation to evolving physical and social environments and new intellectual challenges.
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excitatory
The function of a neurotransmitter which results in a greater likelihood of an action potential.
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executive function
Higher level cognitive processes of planning, decision making, problem solving, action sequencing, task assignment and organization, effortful and persistent goal pursuit, inhibition of competing impulses, flexibility in goal selection, and goal-conflict resolution.
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family study
Research conducted among siblings, parents, or children to assess evidence for genetic links for characteristics or outcomes, often related to health or disease.
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GABA
Most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter; regulates daily sleep-wake cycles.
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genetic predisposition
A tendency for certain traits to be inherited, including physical and mental conditions and disorders.
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ghrelin
A hunger-arousing hormone.
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glutamate
A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory.
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heredity
The transmission of traits from parents to their offspring.
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higher-order thinking
Cognitive processes that involve critical thinking, problem-solving, analysis, evaluation, and creativity. It goes beyond rote memorization or simple recall of information and requires individuals to apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate knowledge to solve complex problems and make informed decisions.
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inhibitory
The function of a naturally occuring chemical which results in a reduced likelihood of an action potential.
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left hemisphere
The part of the brain that receives somatosensory signals from and controls muscles on right side of body, controls the facial muscles that allow us to produce speech, and enables us to understand spoken word.
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leptin
A hunger-suppressing hormone.
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linguistic processing
The cognitive activities involved in understanding and producing language. It encompasses various processes such as perceiving speech sounds, comprehending word meanings, constructing grammatically correct sentences, and conveying thoughts through speech or writing.
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melatonin
A hormone produced mainly by the pineal gland that is implicated in the initiation of sleep and in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle.
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multiple sclerosis
A disease due to the degeneration of the myelin sheath in which communication to muscles and brain regions slow, resulting in diminished muscle control and sometimes impaired cognition.
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myasthenia gravis
A neuromuscular disease in which the muscles cannot contract, resulting in muscle weakness, difficulties with muscle control, or paralysis.
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natural selection
The principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to the succeeding generations.
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nature
The innate, presumably genetically determined, characteristics and behaviors of an individual. In psychology, the characteristics most often and traditionally associated with nature are temperament, body type, and personality.
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neural transmission
The movement of the action potential down the length of the axon, releasing neurotransmitters across the synaptic space to a receiving neuron.
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norepinephrine
A neurotransmitter that helps control alterness and arousal. An undersupply can lead to a depressed mood.
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nurture
The totality of environmental factors that influence the development and behavior of a person, particularly sociocultural and ecological factors such as family attributes, parental child-rearing practices, and economic status.
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oxytocin
A hormone which enables orgasm, and in a pregnant person, labor contractions and milk flow while nursing.
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prefrontal cortex
Located at the very front of the brain, this part functions in attention, planning, working memory, and the expression of emotions and appropriate social behaviors; its genetic predisposition
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ghrelin
A hunger-arousing hormone.
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glutamate
A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory.
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heredity
The transmission of traits from parents to their offspring.
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higher-order thinking
Cognitive processes that involve critical thinking, problem-solving, analysis, evaluation, and creativity. It goes beyond rote memorization or simple recall of information and requires individuals to apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate knowledge to solve complex problems and make informed decisions.
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inhibitory
The function of a naturally occuring chemical which results in a reduced likelihood of an action potential.
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left hemisphere
The part of the brain that receives somatosensory signals from and controls muscles on right side of body, controls the facial muscles that allow us to produce speech, and enables us to understand spoken word.
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leptin
A hunger-suppressing hormone.
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linguistic processing
The cognitive activities involved in understanding and producing language. It encompasses various processes such as perceiving speech sounds, comprehending word meanings, constructing grammatically correct sentences, and conveying thoughts through speech or writing.
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melatonin
A hormone produced mainly by the pineal gland that is implicated in the initiation of sleep and in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle.
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multiple sclerosis
A disease due to the degeneration of the myelin sheath in which communication to muscles and brain regions slow, resulting in diminished muscle control and sometimes impaired cognition.
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myasthenia gravis
A neuromuscular disease in which the muscles cannot contract, resulting in muscle weakness, difficulties with muscle control, or paralysis.
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natural selection
The principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to the succeeding generations.
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nature
The innate, presumably genetically determined, characteristics and behaviors of an individual. In psychology, the characteristics most often and traditionally associated with nature are temperament, body type, and personality.
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neural transmission
The movement of the action potential down the length of the axon, releasing neurotransmitters across the synaptic space to a receiving neuron.
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norepinephrine
A neurotransmitter that helps control alterness and arousal. An undersupply can lead to a depressed mood.