AP Psych Unic 1.1-1.4

What is the relationship between psychology and biology?

Everything psychological is also biological.

What does the term 'Nature via Nurture' imply?

Behavior derives from genetic predispositions (nature) influenced by environmental factors (nurture).

Who proposed the concept of Natural Selection?

Charles Darwin.

What does Evolutionary Psychology focus on?

It views behavior as programmed with unconscious principles that enhance survival and reproduction.

What is Behavioral Genetics?

The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

What are chromosomes?

Threadlike structures made of DNA that contain genes, with 46 units of genetic material (23 from each parent).

What is DNA?

Coiled chains of molecules that form chromosomes and contain genetic information.

What are genes?

Segments of DNA that contain the instructions for building proteins and influencing traits.

What is epigenetics?

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

What are identical twins?

Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits into two, creating genetically identical organisms.

What are fraternal twins?

Twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs and are genetically no more similar than regular siblings.

What is the biopsychosocial approach?

A perspective that considers biological, psychological, and social factors in human development.

What is the Nervous System?

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

What is the Central Nervous System?

The part of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord.

What is the Peripheral Nervous System?

The part of the nervous system that includes all the nerves outside the central nervous system.

What does the Somatic Nervous System control?

Voluntary actions of the body.

What does the Autonomic Nervous System regulate?

Automatic actions like breathing and heart rate.

What is the function of the Sympathetic Nervous System?

It arouses the body and expands energy during stressful situations.

What does the Parasympathetic Nervous System do?

It conserves energy and calms the body after a crisis.

What are sensory neurons?

Neurons that acquire sensory information from the environment and send it to the brain.

What are motor neurons?

Neurons that send messages from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands.

What are reflexes?

Simple automatic responses to sensory stimuli that occur before the brain registers the stimulus.

What are interneurons?

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

What is the basic building block of the nervous system?

A neuron.

What is the role of environmental events in gene expression?

They can turn on or off certain genes.

What is the significance of twin studies in psychology?

They help researchers understand the influence of genetics and environment on behavior.

What happens when identical twins are separated at birth?

They may exhibit similar personality traits despite being raised in different environments.

What are the two types of neurons that transmit information?

Sensory (afferent) neurons and motor (efferent) neurons.

What is the function of interneurons?

Interneurons help with reflexes and are located in the spine and brain.

What are neural networks?

Clusters of neurons that work together, similar to a city or industrial center.

What happens when you learn a new skill in terms of neural networks?

Neurons form complex groups to produce optimal responses.

What is the role of dendrite receptors?

Dendrite receptors receive information from the body and other neurons.

What is action potential?

An electrical impulse that travels down the axon of a neuron.

What assists the axon in transmitting messages?

The myelin sheath, which improves communication.

What is the synapse?

The gap between two neurons where neurotransmitters cross.

What is the function of neurotransmitters?

They carry chemical messages across the synapse to the next neuron.

What is the refractory period?

The time during which a neuron cannot fire again after an action potential.

What is the difference between excitatory and inhibitory signals?

Excitatory signals promote action potential, while inhibitory signals prevent it.

What is the threshold in neural communication?

The level of excitatory signals needed to trigger an action potential.

What does the term 'all or none response' refer to?

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

What is reuptake in the context of neurotransmitters?

The process by which excess neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the sending neuron.

What are agonists?

Molecules that bind to receptor sites and mimic natural neurotransmitters.

What are antagonists?

Molecules that block receptor sites and inhibit neurotransmitter action.

What neurotransmitter is associated with pleasure and reward?

Dopamine.

Which drugs are agonists for serotonin?

LSD and Ecstasy.

What is the role of the endocrine system?

It is the body's slow chemical communication system that secretes hormones.

What is adrenaline, and where is it secreted from?

Adrenaline is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, involved in 'fight or flight' responses.

What is the master gland of the endocrine system?

The pituitary gland.

What hormone is associated with social trust and bonding?

Oxytocin.

What is the resting potential of a neuron?

The state of a neuron when it is not firing, characterized by a difference in ion charge inside and outside the axon.

What happens during depolarization in a neuron?

Positive ions flood into the axon, changing the charge and allowing the action potential to propagate.

What is the significance of glia cells?

Glia cells assist in sending information and protecting neurons.

How does the action potential travel along the axon?

It moves from one segment of the axon to the next, triggering depolarization and the opening of ion channels.

What is the connection between neural communication and behavior?

Both neurotransmitters and hormones influence behavior, but they operate at different speeds and durations.

What is oxytocin commonly referred to as?

The 'love hormone'

What are psychoactive drugs?

Chemical substances that alter the brain, causing changes in perceptions and moods.

What is the effect of psychoactive drugs acting as agonists?

They mimic natural neurotransmitters and enhance neural communication.

What happens when psychoactive drugs act as antagonists?

They block neural communication or reuptake.

Name a legal psychoactive drug.

Tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, or prescription drugs.

What can drug abuse lead to?

Substance Use Disorder.

What are withdrawal symptoms?

Physical and psychological symptoms that occur when a person stops using a drug.

What are depressants?

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

What is a common misconception about alcohol?

Many people are surprised that alcohol is a depressant.

What are barbiturates used for?

To reduce anxiety, but they impair memory and judgment.

What are opioids?

Drugs that depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety.

What is a stimulant?

A drug that excites neural activity and speeds up body functions.

What is the risk associated with long-term nicotine use?

A teen to grave smoker has a 50% chance of dying from the habit.

What is cocaine's effect on neurotransmitters?

It depletes the brain's supply of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.

What is methamphetamine known for?

Stimulating neural activity and releasing large amounts of dopamine.

What are hallucinogens?

Psychedelic drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.

What is LSD commonly known as?

Acid.

What is the active ingredient in marijuana?

THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol).

What is phrenology?

The study of bumps on the skull to reveal a person's mental abilities and character traits.

Who was Phineas Gage?

A man who suffered a severe brain injury that changed his behavior.

What is a lesion in the context of brain studies?

A procedure that destroys small areas of the brain to observe changes in behavior.

What does an EEG measure?

Electrical, metabolic, and magnetic signals of brain activity.

What is a CT scan used for?

To take X-rays of the brain to reveal brain damage.

What does a PET scan depict?

Brain activity by showcasing glucose consumption when the brain is stimulated.

What is the purpose of an MRI?

To produce images of soft tissue using magnetic fields and radio waves.

What does an fMRI reveal?

Blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans.

What is neuroplasticity?

The brain's ability to change by reorganizing after damage or building new pathways based on experience.

How does the hippocampus relate to London cab drivers?

Years of memorizing streets have led to a larger hippocampus, which is associated with memory.

What changes occur in the auditory cortex of pianists?

Pianists have a larger auditory cortex due to their extensive listening to sounds.

What happens when the left motor cortex is damaged in childhood?

The right motor cortex may learn new skills to take over struggling tasks.

What are the three major divisions of the brain?

Hindbrain, Midbrain, and Forebrain.

What does the hindbrain consist of?

The medulla, pons, and cerebellum, which direct essential survival functions.

What is the role of the midbrain?

It connects the hindbrain with the forebrain and controls some motor movements.

What functions does the forebrain manage?

Complex cognitive activities, sensory and associative functions, and voluntary motor activities.

What is the role of the brainstem?

It serves as a cross-over site for brain to body communication and controls autonomic functions.

What is the limbic system associated with?

Emotions, drives, and memory.

What is the cerebral cortex?

The outer bark of the brain, involved in perceiving, thinking, and speaking.

What is the function of glia cells in the brain?

They support neurons by providing nutrients, insulating with myelin sheath, and participating in learning.

What are association areas in the cerebral cortex?

Small pieces of the brain involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.

What is the role of the somatosensory cortex?

It specializes in receiving skin senses such as touch and temperature.

What does the motor cortex control?

It controls voluntary movements and is part of the frontal lobe.

What happens to brain neurons after severe damage?

Severed brain and spinal cord neurons do not regenerate, but neuroplasticity may allow for some reordering.

What is neurogenesis?

The formation of new neurons, which may help mend broken connections in the brain.

What role does the hypothalamus play?

It regulates homeostasis and influences basic emotions and drives.

What is the function of the amygdala?

It is involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and rage.

What is the significance of the corpus callosum?

It connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, facilitating communication between them.