UNIT 1 (copy)

neural firing, brain, sleep, sensation

Heredity

Passing of traits from parents to offspring through genes.

Nature

The influence of genetic inheritance on behavior.

Nurture

The influence of the environment and experience on behavior.

Genetic predisposition

An increased likelihood of developing a condition based on genetics.

Evolutionary perspective

Explains behavior in terms of survival and reproduction.

Natural selection

The process where traits that help survival are passed on.

Eugenics

A controversial belief in improving humans through selective breeding.

Twin studies

Research comparing identical and fraternal twins to study genetic influence.

Family studies

Research on families to see how traits run in families.

Adoption studies

Research comparing adopted children to biological and adoptive parents to separate genetic and environmental effects.

Central nervous system

Controls most functions of the body and mind; includes the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral nervous system

Connects the central nervous system to limbs and organs.

Autonomic nervous system

Controls involuntary body functions.

Sympathetic nervous system

Prepares the body for stress (fight or flight).

Parasympathetic nervous system

Calms the body down after stress.

Somatic nervous system

Controls voluntary muscle movements.

Neurons

Nerve cells that send messages in the body.

Glial cells

Support cells for neurons.

Reflex arc

A quick, automatic response to a stimulus.

Sensory neurons

Carry signals from the body to the brain.

Motor neurons

Carry signals from the brain to the body.

Interneurons

Connect sensory and motor neurons.

Neural transmission

The process of sending signals through neurons.

Action potential

A brief electrical charge that travels down a neuron.

All-or-nothing principle

A neuron either fires completely or not at all.

Depolarization

When a neuron becomes active and sends a signal.

Refractory period

Time after firing when a neuron can't fire again.

Resting potential

The state of a neuron when not firing.

Reuptake

When leftover neurotransmitters are taken back into the neuron.

Threshold

The level needed to trigger a neural impulse.

Multiple sclerosis

A disease where the myelin sheath is damaged.

Myasthenia gravis

A disease causing muscle weakness.

Excitatory neurotransmitters

Increase chances of a neuron firing.

Inhibitory neurotransmitters

Decrease chances of a neuron firing.

Dopamine

Affects mood, movement, and reward.

Serotonin

Affects mood, sleep, and appetite.

Norepinephrine

Affects alertness and arousal.

Glutamate

Major excitatory neurotransmitter.

GABA

Major inhibitory neurotransmitter.

Endorphins

Reduce pain and increase pleasure.

Substance P

Sends pain signals.

Acetylcholine

Helps with movement and memory.

Hormones

Chemicals that affect the body and brain.

Adrenaline

Increases heart rate and energy.

Leptin

Helps control hunger.

Ghrelin

Makes you feel hungry.

Melatonin

Helps control sleep.

Oxytocin

Involved in bonding and trust.

Psychoactive drugs

Affect the brain and behavior.

Agonists

Mimic neurotransmitters.

Antagonists

Block neurotransmitters.

Reuptake inhibitors

Stop neurotransmitters from being reabsorbed.

Stimulants

Increase brain activity.

Caffeine

A common stimulant.

Cocaine

A powerful stimulant.

Depressants

Slow down brain activity.

Alcohol

A common depressant.

Hallucinogens

Cause hallucinations.

Marijuana

A drug that has both hallucinogenic and calming effects.

Opioids

Pain-relieving drugs.

Heroin

An illegal opioid.

Tolerance

Needing more of a drug to get the same effect.

Addiction

A strong craving and use of a substance.

Withdrawal

Symptoms when stopping a drug.

Brain stem

Controls basic life functions.

Medulla

Controls heartbeat and breathing.

Reticular activating system

Helps control wakefulness and sleep.

Reward center

Linked to pleasure and addiction.

Cerebellum

Controls coordination and balance.

Cerebral cortex

The brain's outer layer for thinking.

Limbic system

Involved in emotion and memory.

Thalamus

Directs sensory signals to the brain.

Hypothalamus

Regulates hunger, thirst, and temperature.

Pituitary gland

The master hormone gland.

Hippocampus

Helps form memories.

Amygdala

Involved in fear and emotion.

Corpus callosum

Connects the two brain hemispheres.

Occipital lobes

Process visual information.

Temporal lobes

Process sound and language.

Parietal lobes

Process touch and spatial information.

Association areas

Link information from different brain areas.

Somatosensory cortex

Processes touch sensations.

Frontal lobes

Involved in decision-making and movement.

Linguistic processing

Understanding and using language.

Higher-order thinking

Complex thinking like reasoning and planning.

Executive functioning

Managing attention, behavior, and emotions.

Prefrontal cortex

Helps with planning and judgment.

Motor cortex

Controls movement.

Split brain research

Studying patients with severed corpus callosum.

Hemispheric specialization

Each brain half has different jobs.

Broca’s area

Controls speech production.

Wernicke’s area

Controls language understanding.

Aphasia

Language problems from brain damage (Broca’s and Wernicke’s).

Contralateral hemispheric organization

Each brain side controls opposite body side.

Plasticity

The brain’s ability to change and adapt.

EEG

Measures brain waves.

fMRI

Shows brain activity.

Lesioning

Destroying brain tissue to study effects.

Consciousness

Awareness of yourself and your environment.

Circadian rhythm

The body’s 24-hour clock (sleep/wake cycle).