AP Psychology: Unit 1: All

Central nervous system (Nervous System)

The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral nervous system (Nervous System)

The part of the nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the limbs and organs.

Autonomic nervous system (Nervous System)

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary body functions, such as heart rate and digestion.

Sympathetic nervous system (Nervous System)

The division of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for stressful or emergency situations (fight-or-flight response).

Parasympathetic nervous system (Nervous System)

The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body and conserves energy (rest-and-digest response).

Somatic nervous system (Nervous System)

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.

Nervous system (Nervous System)

The network of nerve cells and fibers that transmits signals between different parts of the body.

Action potential (Neural Firing)

A brief electrical charge that travels down an axon, triggering the transmission of a signal to the next neuron.

All-or-nothing principle (Neural Firing)

The principle that a neuron either fires completely or not at all, with no partial action potentials.

Axon (Neural Firing)

The long, threadlike part of a neuron that transmits electrical impulses away from the cell body to other neurons or muscles.

Dendrites (Neural Firing)

Branching extensions of neurons that receive messages from other neurons and conduct impulses toward the cell body.

Depolarization (Neural Firing)

The process during the action potential when sodium ions rush into the neuron, causing the inside to become less negative.

Glial cells (Neural Firing)

Non-neuronal cells that provide support, protection, and nourishment to neurons.

Interneurons (Neural Firing)

Neurons that communicate internally and intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs.

Motor neurons (Neural Firing)

Neurons that carry signals from the central nervous system to muscles and glands to produce movement.

Multiple sclerosis (Neural Firing)

A disease in which the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerves (myelin sheath), disrupting neural communication.

Myasthenia gravis (Neural Firing)

A chronic autoimmune disorder that causes muscle weakness due to impaired communication between nerves and muscles.

Myelin sheath (Neural Firing)

The fatty tissue that surrounds the axon of a neuron, speeding up the transmission of electrical impulses.

Nerves (Neural Firing)

Bundles of axons in the peripheral nervous system that transmit information to and from the central nervous system.

Neural transmission (Neural Firing)

The process of transferring information from one neuron to another through synapses.

Neuron (Neural Firing)

The basic building block of the nervous system, responsible for transmitting information throughout the body.

Reflex (Neural Firing)

An automatic, involuntary response to a stimulus.

Reflex arc (Neural Firing)

The neural pathway involved in a reflex action, typically involving sensory, interneuron, and motor neurons.

Refractory period (Neural Firing)

A brief period after the action potential during which a neuron is unable to fire again.

Resting potential (Neural Firing)

The electrical charge of a neuron when it is not active, typically around -70 millivolts.

Reuptake (Neural Firing)

The process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the sending neuron after they have transmitted a neural signal.

Reuptake inhibitors (Neural Firing)

Drugs that block the reuptake of neurotransmitters, increasing their levels in the synapse.

Sensory neurons (Neural Firing)

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

Synapse (Neural Firing)

The junction between two neurons where neurotransmitters are released to transmit signals.

Threshold (Neural Firing)

The level of stimulation required to trigger an action potential in a neuron.

Acetylcholine (NTMs, Hormones)

A neurotransmitter involved in learning, memory, and muscle contraction.

Adrenaline/Epinephrine (NTMs, Hormones)

A hormone and neurotransmitter involved in the body’s fight-or-flight response.

Dopamine (NTMs, Hormones)

A neurotransmitter involved in reward, motivation, and pleasure.

Endocrine system (NTMs, Hormones)

A system of glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream to regulate bodily functions.

Endorphins (NTMs, Hormones)

Neurotransmitters that act as natural painkillers and promote a sense of well-being.

GABA (NTMs, Hormones)

A neurotransmitter that inhibits brain activity, helping to calm and reduce neural excitability.

Ghrelin (NTMs, Hormones)

A hormone that stimulates appetite and signals hunger to the brain.

Glutamate (NTMs, Hormones)

The primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, involved in learning and memory.

Hormones (NTMs, Hormones)

Chemical messengers secreted by glands in the endocrine system that regulate various bodily functions.

Leptin (NTMs, Hormones)

A hormone that regulates energy balance by inhibiting hunger.

Melatonin (NTMs, Hormones)

A hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles.

Norepinephrine (NTMs, Hormones)

A neurotransmitter and hormone involved in alertness, arousal, and the stress response.

Neurotransmitter (NTMs, Hormones)

Chemicals that transmit signals across synapses between neurons.

Oxytocin (NTMs, Hormones)

A hormone involved in social bonding, reproduction, and childbirth.

Serotonin (NTMs, Hormones)

A neurotransmitter that affects mood, appetite, and sleep.

Substance P (NTMs, Hormones)

A neurotransmitter involved in transmitting pain signals.

Addiction (Drugs)

A condition characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behavior and use, despite harmful consequences.

Agonists (Drugs)

Drugs that enhance or mimic the action of a neurotransmitter.

Alcohol (Drugs)

A depressant drug that reduces neural activity and impairs judgment and coordination.

Antagonists (Drugs)

Drugs that block or inhibit the action of a neurotransmitter.

Caffeine (Drugs)

A stimulant that increases alertness by blocking the neurotransmitter adenosine.

Cocaine (Drugs)

A powerful stimulant drug that increases dopamine levels in the brain, producing euphoria and energy.

Depressants (Drugs)

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow down body functions, such as alcohol and barbiturates.

Hallucinogens (Drugs)

Drugs that cause perceptual distortions and alter sensory experiences.

Heroin (Drugs)

An opioid drug that creates intense feelings of pleasure and pain relief but is highly addictive.

Marijuana (Drugs)

A psychoactive drug that alters perception, mood, and various cognitive functions.

Opioids (Drugs)

A class of drugs that act on opioid receptors to produce pain relief and euphoria, including heroin and morphine.

Psychoactive drugs (Drugs)

Substances that alter mood, perception, or brain function.

Stimulants (Drugs)

Drugs that increase neural activity and speed up body functions, such as caffeine, nicotine, and cocaine.

Tolerance (Drugs)

The need for increasing doses of a drug to achieve the same effect as the body becomes accustomed to it.

Withdrawal (Drugs)

The unpleasant physical and psychological symptoms experienced when discontinuing the use of an addictive substance.

Brain stem (Hindbrain)

The part of the brain responsible for automatic survival functions, such as heart rate and breathing.

Cerebellum (Hindbrain)

A brain structure involved in balance, coordination, and fine motor control.

Medulla oblongata (Hindbrain)

The part of the brainstem that controls vital functions such as heart rate and breathing.

Pons (Hindbrain)

A structure in the brainstem that plays a role in regulating sleep and arousal.

Reticular formation (Hindbrain)

A network of neurons in the brainstem involved in arousal, alertness, and attention.

Amygdala (Limbic System)

A brain structure involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and aggression.

Hippocampus (Limbic System)

A brain structure involved in memory formation and spatial navigation.

Hypothalamus (Limbic System)

A brain structure that regulates hunger, thirst, body temperature, and the release of hormones.

Limbic system (Limbic System)

A group of brain structures involved in emotions, motivation, and memory.

Pituitary gland (Limbic System)

The “master gland” that regulates other endocrine glands and controls growth, reproduction, and metabolism.

Reward center (Limbic System)

Brain structures, particularly in the limbic system, involved in the release of dopamine in response to pleasurable stimuli.

Thalamus (Limbic System)

A brain structure that acts as a relay station for sensory information, sending it to the appropriate areas of the brain.

Association areas (Cerebrum)

Areas of the cerebral cortex involved in integrating and interpreting sensory information and higher mental functions.

Broca’s area (Cerebrum)

A region in the frontal lobe of the brain involved in speech production and language processing.

Cerebral cortex (Cerebrum)

The outer layer of the cerebrum, responsible for complex thought processes, decision-making, and sensory interpretation.

Cerebrum (Cerebrum)

The largest part of the brain, responsible for voluntary activities, sensory perception, and higher cognitive functions.

Executive functioning (Cerebrum)

A set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control, essential for managing tasks and decision-making.

Frontal lobes (Cerebrum)

The part of the brain involved in reasoning, planning, movement, and problem-solving, located just behind the forehead.

Motor cortex (Cerebrum)

A region of the frontal lobe responsible for voluntary movement.

Occipital lobes (Cerebrum)

The part of the brain responsible for visual processing, located at the back of the head.

Parietal lobes (Cerebrum)

The part of the brain that processes sensory information related to touch, temperature, and body position.

Prefrontal cortex (Cerebrum)

The frontmost portion of the frontal lobes, involved in complex behaviors such as decision-making, social interactions, and personality.

Somatosensory cortex (Cerebrum)

A part of the parietal lobe that processes sensory input from the skin, muscles, and joints.

Temporal lobes (Cerebrum)

The part of the brain responsible for auditory processing and memory, located on the sides of the head.

Wernicke’s area (Cerebrum)

A region in the left temporal lobe responsible for language comprehension.

Aphasia (Other Brain Topics)

A language disorder caused by damage to specific areas of the brain, affecting speech and comprehension.

Aphasia - Broca’s (Other Brain Topics)

A type of aphasia characterized by difficulty in speech production while comprehension remains intact.

Aphasia - Wernicke’s (Other Brain Topics)

A type of aphasia where speech production is fluent but comprehension and meaningful language use are impaired.

Contralateral control (Other Brain Topics)

The concept that each hemisphere of the brain controls the opposite side of the body.

Corpus callosum (Other Brain Topics)

A large band of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain and allows communication between them.

EEG (Other Brain Topics)

A technique used to measure electrical activity in the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp.

fMRI (Other Brain Topics)

Functional magnetic resonance imaging, a brain imaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.

Hemispheric specialization (Other Brain Topics)

The idea that each hemisphere of the brain is specialized for certain functions, such as language on the left and spatial tasks on the right.

Lesion (Other Brain Topics)

Damage to a specific area of the brain, often used in research to study the effects on behavior and cognition.

MRI (Other Brain Topics)

Magnetic resonance imaging, a technique that uses magnetic fields to produce detailed images of the brain’s structure.

Plasticity (Other Brain Topics)

The brain’s ability to change and adapt, especially during early development or in response to injury.

Split brain research (Other Brain Topics)

Studies of patients who have had their corpus callosum severed, revealing insights into the separate functions of the brain’s hemispheres.

Adoption Studies

Research studies that assess hereditary influence by examining the resemblance between adopted children and both their biological and adoptive parents.

Environment

All external conditions, influences, and stimuli that affect an individual, including culture, education, and social relationships.