AP Psych- Unit 1

Biological Psychology

Study of brain's role in behavior and mental processes.

Glial Cells

Support cells that maintain neuron function and structure.

Nucleus

Center of neuron containing DNA that dictates function.

Axon Hillock

Region that initiates the impulse down the axon.

Myelin

Fatty substance that insulates axons and speeds transmission.

Multiple Sclerosis

Condition linked to myelin breakdown affecting signal transmission.

Axon Terminal

End of neuron that releases neurotransmitters into synapse.

Synapse

Space between neurons where neurotransmitters transmit signals.

Antidepressants

Medications that increase neurotransmitter levels in synapse.

Afferent Neurons

Sensory neurons transmitting information to the brain.

Efferent Neurons

Motor neurons transmitting signals from brain to muscles.

Neural Impulse

Electrical signal that travels along a neuron.

Electrochemical Process

Neural communication involving electrical and chemical changes.

Polarization

State of neuron with negatively charged ions at rest.

Resting Potential

Inactive state of neuron waiting for stimulation.

Action Potential

Signal that travels down the axon when threshold is met.

Threshold

Minimum stimulation required for neuron to fire.

All-or-None Principle

Neuron fires fully or not at all once threshold is reached.

Refractory Period

Recovery phase after neuron fires, less responsive to stimuli.

Acetylcholine (Ach)

Memory, mood, voluntary muscle movement.

Excess of Acetylcholine

Convulsions or excess shaking.

Deficiency of Acetylcholine

Alzheimer's disease, paralysis.

Excess of Dopamine

Schizophrenia.

Deficiency of Dopamine

Parkinson's disease.

Excess of Serotonin

Tremors, headaches.

Deficiency of Serotonin

Depression, eating disorders, alcoholism, aggression.

GABA

Mood, sleep, movement.

Excess of GABA

Lethargy.

Deficiency of GABA

Anxiety disorders, Huntington's disease.

Excess of Norepinephrine

Fear, anxiety.

Deficiency of Norepinephrine

Depression.

Excess of Glutamate

Brain damage due to overstimulation.

Deficiency of Glutamate

Neurological disorders.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Composed of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Composed of the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Composed of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Responsible for fight/flight response & expends energy.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Responsible for the restoration of spent energy.

Left Hemisphere

Controls most of the right-side functions of the body; responsible for language and grammar, logical analysis, problem solving, and mathematical computations.

Right Hemisphere

Controls most of the left-side functions of the body; responsible for visual-spatial tasks, the ability to recognize faces, creativity, and musical ability.

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for controlling inhibitions, short-term memory, reasoning, and planning for the future.

Parietal Lobe

Responsible for receiving & combining tactile stimuli from all over the body.

Occipital Lobe

Responsible for processing visual stimuli and maintaining balance.

Temporal Lobe

Responsible for processing auditory stimuli.

Wernicke's Area

Responsible for transforming spoken words into thoughts; damage can result in Wernicke's aphasia.

Broca's Area

Responsible for transferring thoughts into audible spoken words; damage can result in Broca's aphasia.

Motor Cortex

Responsible for voluntary movements of the body; located in the back of the frontal lobe.

Somatosensory Cortex

Responsible for processing tactile information.

Hindbrain

Primitive brain part for basic life functions.

Midbrain

Transmits signals between hindbrain and forebrain.

Forebrain

Complex brain part regulating emotions and memory.

Medulla Oblongata

Controls respiration, digestion, heartbeat, and blood pressure.

Pons

Relays information between cerebellum and cerebrum.

Reticular Formation

Regulates alertness; damage can cause coma.

Cerebellum

Aids in balance and coordination of movement.

Brain Stem

Connects brain to spinal cord for information exchange.

Striatum

Controls smooth body movements.

Olfactory Bulb

Transmits smell information from nose to brain.

Pituitary Gland

Master gland for hormone production and distribution.

Limbic System

Emotion and memory area, includes amygdala and hippocampus.

EEG

Measures brain's electrical activity via scalp electrodes.

CT/CAT Scan

Produces 2D images using X-rays for brain structure.

MRI

Detailed imaging of soft tissue without X-rays.

fMRI

Measures brain activity via blood flow changes.

PET Scan

Uses radioactive liquid to measure brain metabolism.

TMS

Temporarily excites neurons to study brain function.

Endocrine System

Releases hormones throughout the body.

Hormones

Chemical signals carried through the bloodstream.

Metabolism

Process of converting food into energy.

Melatonin

Hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles.

Adrenal Gland

Produces adrenaline and cortisol for stress response.

Testosterone

Increases muscle size and secondary sex characteristics.

Estrogen

Promotes female secondary sex characteristics and height.

Case Studies

Research method using brain injury observations.

Phineas Gage

Railroad worker with frontal lobe damage case study.

Lesion

Tissue damage affecting cognitive function.

Plasticity

Brain's ability to adapt to changes.

Sensation

Detection of physical stimuli in the environment.

Transduction

Conversion of physical energy into neural signals.

Absolute Threshold

Minimum stimulus energy for sensation 50% of time.

Subliminal Stimuli

Stimuli below the absolute threshold, not perceived.

Signal Detection Theory

Examines factors affecting stimulus detection.

Sensitivity

Ability to detect a stimulus.

Response Criterion

Willingness to respond to a stimulus.

Difference Threshold

Smallest detectable difference between two stimuli.

Weber's Law

Difference threshold depends on stimulus strength.

Sensory Adaptation

Decreased sensitivity to unchanging stimuli.

Accessory Structure

Part of sense organ collecting environmental energy.

Sensory Receptors

Cells responding to specific energy fluctuations.

Sensory Cortex

Processes sensory information in the cerebral cortex.

Thresholds

Minimum stimulus intensity required for detection.

Difference Thresholds

Smallest detectable difference between two stimuli.

Electromagnetic Radiation

Energy form including visible and invisible light.

Cornea

Protective membrane covering the front of the eye.

Pupil

Opening in the eye allowing light entry.

Iris

Muscle controlling pupil size and light intake.

Lens

Bends light to focus images on the retina.

Accommodation

Lens adjustment for focusing on near or far objects.

Nearsightedness

Inability to focus on distant objects clearly.

Farsightedness

Inability to focus on nearby objects clearly.