AP PSYCH UNIT 1 VOCAB (PART 3)

Terms 37-54 / 72

dual processing

the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks.

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body.

sympathetic nervous system

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

autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the gland and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). It’s sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.

parasympathetic nervous system

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

fraternal twins

twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment.

endocrine system

the body's “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental function such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.

cerebral cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemisphere; the body’s ultimate control and information processing center.

identical twins

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

epigenetics

“above” or “in addition to” (epi) genetics; the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without DNA change.

cerebellum

the “little brain” at the rear of the brain stem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance.

broca’s area

controls language expression-an area, usually in the left frontal lobe, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.

brainstem

the oldest part and center core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brain stem is responsible for automatic survival functions.

molecular genetics

the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes.

heritability

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

myelin sheath

a layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.

dendrites

a neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.