ap psych unit 1 part 1

Traits

Characteristics that are inherited

Evolutionary Perspective

Perspective that focuses on the biological bases of universal mental characteristics that all humans share

Heritability

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

Enviornmentality

Proportion of observed variance in group of individuals attributable to environmental variance

Nature vs. Nurture

Name for a controversy in which it is debated whether genetics or environment is responsible for driving behavior

Down Syndrome

A condition of intellectual disability and associated physical disorders caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21.

Huntington's Chorea

A rare genetic disease in which the central nervous system degenerates and the individual loses control over voluntary movements, with the symptoms often appearing between ages 30 and 50.

Nervous System

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

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.

Neurons

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

Sensory (afferent) neurons

Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

Motor (efferent) neurons

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

Reflexes

Specific patterns of motor response that are triggered by specific patterns of sensory stimulation

Interneurons

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

Somatic Nervous System

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles

Autonomic Nervous System

A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system. Controls involuntary activity of visceral muscles and internal organs and glands.

Sympathetic Nervous System

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

Parasympathetic Nervous System

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

Nerves

Bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

Neurons

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

Soma

The cell body where the signals from the dendrites are joined and passed on

Dendrites

Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.

Axon

The extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

Myelin Sheath

Covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses

Nodes of Ranvier

Gaps in the myelin sheath coating on the neural axon; allows the electrical impulse to move quickly down the axon

Terminal Buttons

Small knobs at the end of axons that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters

Synapse

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another

Glial Cells

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

Resting Membrane Potential

The electrical charge of a neuron when it is not active

Nerve Impulse (action impulse)

An electrical charge that travels along the membrane of a neuron

Excitatory

Pushing a neuron's accelerator

Inhibitory

Keeps next cell from firing

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that affects hunger,sleep, arousal, and mood.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's pleasure and reward system.

GABA

An inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter involved in arousal, as well as in learning and mood regulation

Endorphins

Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

Substance P

A neurotransmitter that is involved in the transmission of pain messages to the brain.

Hormones

Chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another

Pituitary Gland

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

Adrencorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)

Secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland; stimulates secretions of the adrenal cortex

Adrenal Glands

A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.

Epinephrine

Neurotransmitter secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress. Also known as adrenaline.

Leptin

A hormone produced by adipose (fat) cells that acts as a satiety factor in regulating appetite.

Ghrelin

Hormone secreted by empty stomach; sends "I'm hungry" signals to the brain

Melatonin

A hormone manufactured by the pineal gland that produces sleepiness.

Oxytocin

a hormone released by the pituitary gland that causes increased contraction of the uterus during labor and stimulates the ejection of milk into the ducts of the breasts.

Agonist

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

Antagonist

A substance or factor that blocks or inhibits the effects of another substance or process

Alcohol

Depressant

Barbiturates

Drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment

Tranquilizers

Depressant drugs, such as Valium and Xanax, that reduce anxiety and induce relaxation.

Caffeine

A mild stimulant found in coffee, tea, and several other plant-based substances

Amphetamines

Drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes

Cocaine

A powerful and addictive stimulant, derived from the coca plant, producing temporarily increased alertness and euphoria

Nicotine

A stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco

Opioids

Any drug or agent with actions similar to morphine.

Hallucinogens

Psychedelic ("mind-manifesting") drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

Dependence

A state in which there is a compulsive or chronic need, as for a drug

Tolerance

The diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect

Withdrawal

The discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug

Hindbrain

An area of the brain that coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord

Cerebellum

A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills.

Brain stem

Connection to spinal cord. Filters information flow between peripheral nervous system and the rest of the brain.

Medulla Oblongata

Part of the brainstem that controls vital life-sustaining functions such as heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, and digestion.

Reticular Activating System

Located in the upper brain stem; responsible for maintenance of consciousness, specifically one's level of arousal.

Brain's reward system

Comprises brain structures and pathways that manage feelings of pleasure and reinforcement

Pons

A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

Forebrain

The largest and most complicated region of the brain, including the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum.

Limbic system

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

Thalamus

The brain's sensory switchboard, 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

Hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

Anterograde amnesia

The inability to transfer new information from the short-term store into the long-term store

Amygdala

A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression.

Hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

Lateral hypothalamus

The part of the hypothalamus that produces hunger signals (LH)

Ventromedial Hypothalamus

The part of the hypothalamus that produces feelings of fullness as opposed to hunger, and causes one to stop eating. (VMH)

Cerebral Cortex

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.

Sensory Cortex

Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

Motor Cortex

An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

Brain Hemispheres

left hemisphere specializes in math, logic, languages; right hemisphere specializes in music, visuals, facial recognition, spacial

Corpus Collosum

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

Expressive Aphasia (Broca's aphasia)

The inability to produce language ( despite being able to understand language)

Receptive Aphasia (Wernicke's aphasia)

Difficulty understanding verbal or written words.

Impaired auditory comprehension and feedback

Split-Brain Patients

People whose corpus callosum has been surgically severed

Contralateral Processing

Process in which the right brain processes information from the left visual field and vice versa

Frontal Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement

Parietal Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch.

Temporal Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.

Occipital Lobe

An area at the back if each cerebral hemisphere that is the primary receiving area for visual information

Optic Chiasm

The point in the brain where the visual field information from each eye "crosses over" to the appropriate side of the brain for processing

Apraxia

Inability to perform particular purposive actions, as a result of brain damage.

Agnosia

The inability to recognize familiar objects.

Alexia

Inability to read

Agraphia

Inability to write