AP Psych Unit 1 - Neuroscience

Heredity

transmission of traits from parents to offspring through genes

Nature vs. Nurture

debate over whether genetics or environment has stronger influence on behavior

Epigenetics

study of how environment can change gene expression without altering DNA

Nervous System

body’s electrochemical communication network that transmits information

Central Nervous System (CNS)

brain and spinal cord that process and interpret information

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

all nerves outside CNS that connect it to the body

Somatic Nervous System

division of PNS that controls voluntary skeletal muscle movements

Autonomic Nervous System

division of PNS that controls involuntary body functions

Sympathetic Nervous System

part of autonomic system that arouses body for fight-or-flight

Parasympathetic Nervous System

part of autonomic system that calms body and restores energy

Neuron

basic nerve cell that receives and transmits information

Dendrite

branch-like extensions that receive messages and send them to the soma

Cell Body (Soma)

main body of neuron that contains the nucleus

Axon

long fiber that carries electrical impulses away from soma

Axon Terminal

branches at the end of axon that release neurotransmitters

Myelin Sheath

fatty insulation around axons that speeds neural transmission

Sensory Neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from body to CNS

Interneurons

neurons in CNS that process and relay information

Motor Neurons

neurons that carry outgoing signals from CNS to muscles and glands

Glial Cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory.

Resting Potential

electrical charge of a neuron when not firing

Threshold

level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

Action Potential

brief electrical impulse sent down the axon

All-or-None Principle

neuron fires completely or not at all

Depolarization

when positive ions enter neuron and reduce its resting charge

Refractory Period

short time after firing when neuron cannot fire again

Synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.
where communication occurs

Neurotransmitter

chemical messenger between neurons

Excitatory

signals that increase likelihood of neuron firing

Inhibitory

signals that decrease likelihood of neuron firing

Reuptake

process where neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by sending neuron

Agonists

drugs that mimic or increase neurotransmitter effects

Antagonists

drugs that block neurotransmitters

Reuptake Inhibitors

drugs that block reabsorption of neurotransmitters

GABA

inhibitory neurotransmitter that slows neural activity

Glutamate

main excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Enables muscle action, learning, and memory

Dopamine

influences movement

Serotonin

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

Norepinephrine

controls alertness and arousal

Endorphins

natural painkilling neurotransmitters

Substance P

neurotransmitter involved in pain signals

Endocrine System

network of glands that secrete hormones into bloodstream

Hormones

chemical messengers that travel through blood to affect tissues

Hypothalamus (Endocrine System)

controls pituitary gland and homeostasis

Pituitary Gland (Endocrine System)

master gland that regulates other glands

Adrenaline (Epinephrine)

hormone that triggers fight-or-flight response

Ghrelin

hormone that stimulates hunger

Leptin

hormone that reduces hunger

Melatonin (Endocrine System)

hormone from pineal gland that regulates sleep

Hindbrain

lower brain region controlling basic survival functions

Brainstem

oldest brain region that controls vital survival functions

Medulla

controls heartbeat and breathing

Pons

coordinates movement and helps regulate sleep

Reticular Activating System (RAS)

controls alertness and arousal

Cerebellum

the “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.

Forebrain

largest brain area responsible for complex behavior and thinking

Thalamus

sensory relay station that directs information to brain regions

Limbic System

neural system (including the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.

Amygdala

two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion processing especially fear and aggression

Hippocampus

forms and stores new memories

Hypothalamus (Brain)

maintains homeostasis like hunger and body temperature

Cerebrum

largest brain structure responsible for thought and action

Cerebral Cortex

outer layer of brain responsible for thinking and information processing

Corpus Callosum

band of fibers connecting two brain hemispheres

Pituitary Gland (Brain)

the endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, this gland regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

Hemispheric Specialization

idea that hemispheres have different functions

Contralateral Organization

each hemisphere controls opposite body side

Frontal Lobe

responsible for decision-making and movement

Prefrontal Cortex

part of frontal lobe involved in planning and judgment

Motor Cortex

controls voluntary muscle movements

Broca’s Area

controls speech production

Parietal Lobe

processes touch and body position

Somatosensory Cortex

processes sensory input from touch

Occipital Lobe

processes visual information

Temporal Lobe

processes auditory information

Wernicke’s Area

controls language comprehension

Phineas Gage

case study showing frontal lobe role in personality

Split-Brain Research

study of patients with severed corpus callosum

Brain Plasticity

brain’s ability to reorganize and adapt after damage

EEG

measures brain’s electrical activity

CT/CAT Scan

uses X-rays to view brain structure

MRI

uses magnetic fields to produce brain images

fMRI

measures brain activity through blood flow

PET Scan

tracks glucose to show brain activity

Consciousness

awareness of self and environment

Circadian Rhythms

body’s biological 24-hour clock

Melatonin (Sleep)

hormone that controls sleep cycle based on light

REM and Non REM Sleep

REM includes dreaming and brain activity; NREM is deep sleep

Dream Theories

explanations about purpose of dreaming

Sleep Disorders

conditions that interfere with normal sleep patterns