ap psych - unit 2 vocab (mods 9-15)

axon

the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or muscles to glands

action potential

a neural impulse, a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

all or none response

a neuron's reaction of either firing (w/ a full strength response) or not firing

agonist

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, simulates a response

antagonist

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response

adrenal glands

a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine/norepinephrine) that helps arouses the body in times of stress

amygdala

2 lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion

autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (like heart), it's sympathetic division arousses, it's parasympathetic division calms

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that aren't involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking and speaking

biological psychology

the scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes

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

behavior genetics

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behaviors

central nervous system (cns)

the brain and spinal cord

chromosomes

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes

CT (computed tomography) scan

a series of x-ray photos taken from different angles combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain's structure (aka CAT scan)

cognitive neuroscience

the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity, lined with cognition (perception, thinking, memory, language)

cerebellum

the "little brian" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input , coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory

consciousness

our awareness of ourselves and environment

cerebral cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and info processing center

corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the 2 brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

dendrites

a neurons bushy, branching, extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses towards the cell body

dual processing

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

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

a complex molecule containing the genetic info that makes up the chromosomes

endorphins

"morphine w/in" a natural opiate-like neurotransmitter linked to pain control and to pleasure

epigenetics

the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

endocrine system

the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

evolutionary psychology

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

environment

every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us

electroencephalogram (EEG)

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp

fMRI (functional MRI)

a technique for revealing blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans

frontal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments

fraternal twins (dizygotic twins)

twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They're genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal membrane

glial cells

in nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking

genes

the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins

genome

the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organisms chromosomes

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues

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

heritability

the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to the genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied

interneurons

neurons w/in the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs

identical twins (monozygotic twins)

twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in 2, creating 2 genetically identical organisms

interaction

the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (like environment) depends on another factor (like heredity)

lesion

tissue destruction, a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

limbic system

neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated w/ emotion and drives

myelin sheath

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next

molecular genetics

the subfield at biology that studies the molecular structures and function of genes

motor (efferent) neurons

neurons that carry outgoing info from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

mutations

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce a computer generated image of soft tissue. Scans show brain anatomy

medulla

the base of the brainstorm; controls heartbeat and breathing

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that control voluntary movements

neurons

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse

natural selection

the principle that, among the the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed onto succeeding generations

neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons

nervous system

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

nerves

bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the CNS w/ muscles, gland and sense organs

occupital lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive info from the visual fields

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

pituitary gland

the endocrine systems most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
Parasympathetic nervous system - the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

parietal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and towards the rear; receives a sensory input for touch and body position

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

PET (positron emission tomography) scan

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

refractory period

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

reflex

a simple autonomic response to a sensory stimulus such as a knee-jerk reaction

recticular formations

a nerve network that frames through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal

synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft

sensory (afferent) neurons

neurons that carry incoming into from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

split brain

a condition resulting from a surgery that isolates the brains 2-hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly corpus callosum) collecting them

somatosensory cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobes that register and process body touch and movement senses

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles (skeletons)

plasticity

the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood by recognizing after damage or by building new paths based on experience

threshold

the level of stimulation needed to trigger a neural impulse

thalamus

the brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

temporal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear