Unit 1 AP Psych Vocab

Acetylcholine

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

Addiction

A complex condition characterized by compulsive drug use or behaviors despite harmful consequences.

Agonist

A drug or chemical that enhances the activity of neurotransmitters.

Alcohol

A depressant that slows down the central nervous system, impairing cognitive and motor functions.

All-or-nothing Principle

The principle that a neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all.

Antagonist

A drug or chemical that inhibits or blocks the action of neurotransmitters.

Autonomic Nervous System

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary functions like heart rate, digestion, and glandular secretion.

Caffeine

A stimulant found in coffee, tea, and many soft drinks that increases alertness and reduces fatigue.

Central Nervous System

The brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing and coordinating information.

Cocaine

A powerful stimulant drug that increases levels of dopamine in the brain, leading to intense euphoria and increased energy.

Depolarization

The process by which a neuron's membrane potential becomes less negative, leading to the firing of an action potential.

Depressants

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in reward, motivation, and motor control.

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters that are natural painkillers produced by the brain.

Environment

Every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us.

Eugenics

A controversial and unethical movement aimed at improving the genetic quality of the human population.

Evolutionary Perspective

The study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.

Excitatory Neurotransmitters

A neurotransmitter that promotes the firing of neurons.

GABA

The main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

Glial Cells

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons, and play a role in learning and thinking.

Glutamate

The main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain.

Hallucinogens

Drugs that alter perception and cause hallucinations or profound distortions in a person's perceptions of reality.

Heredity

The genetic transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring.

Heroin

An opioid drug that produces intense euphoria and pain relief, highly addictive.

Hormones

Chemical messengers produced by the endocrine glands and circulated in the bloodstream, regulating the activity of target cells or organs.

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

A neurotransmitter that inhibits the firing of neurons.

Interneurons

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.

Marijuana

A drug containing THC that alters mood, perception, and cognitive function.

Melatonin

Neurotransmitter released by the pineal gland to inhibit the brain and induce sleep.

Motor (efferent) Neurons

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.

Multiple Sclerosis

A disease in which the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerves, leading to communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body.

Myasthenia Gravis

An autoimmune disorder that affects communication between nerves and muscles, leading to muscle weakness.

Natural Selection

The principle that heritable traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

Nervous System

The body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

Neuron

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter and hormone involved in arousal and alertness.

Opioids

A class of drugs that act on opioid receptors to produce morphine-like effects, including pain relief and feelings of euphoria.

Oxytocin

Neurotransmitter involved in several aspects of reproduction. Plays a key component in sexual arousal, recognition, trust, romantic attachment, and parent-infant bonding, as well as inducing labor contractions and lactation.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy and promoting rest and digestion.

Peripheral Nervous System

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body, transmitting information to and from the brain and spinal cord.

Psychoactive Drug

A chemical substance that alters perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior.

Reflex Arc

The neural pathway that controls a reflex action.

Refractory Period

A brief period after a neuron has fired during which it cannot generate another action potential.

Resting Potential

The electrical charge of a neuron when it is not active.

Reuptake

The reabsorption of neurotransmitters by the sending neuron after they have been released into the synaptic gap.

Reuptake Inhibitor

Medications that block the reabsorption of neurotransmitters into neurons, increasing their levels in the brain.

Sensory (Afferent) Neurons

Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that affects mood, appetite, and sleep.

Somatic Nervous System

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles and transmits sensory information to the central nervous system.

Stimulants

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

Substance P

A neurotransmitter involved in the transmission of pain signals.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The division of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body's resources during stress and emergencies, preparing the body for 'fight or flight' responses.

Threshold

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

Tolerance

The diminishing effect of a drug with regular use, requiring larger doses to achieve the same effect.

Withdrawal

The discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug or behavior.