Unit 1 AP Psychology

Ap Psychology

The study of behavior and mental processes

Psychology

Debate between whether your characteristics are more influenced by nature (biologicial + genetic factors) or nurturing (environmental factors+ learning from your surroundings)

Nature vs. Nurture

The study of the evolution of behavior and the mind using principles of natural selection

Evolutionary Psychology

Organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring

Natural Selection

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

Behavior genetics

Modification of an organism that makes it more fit for existence under the conditions of its environment

Adaptation

Random errors in gene replication

Mutation

The genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

Heredity

The complete set of DNA found in an organism

Genome

The biochemical units of heredity

Genes

Also known as identical twins, they are developed from a single fertilized egg that splits. They are genetically identical

Monozygotic twins

Also known as fraternal twins, they form from two separatley fertilized eggs. No more similar than ordinary siblings

Dizygotic twins

They use these studies to see how genetics and the environment one grows up in affects your behaviors/personality.

Why are twin and adoption studies used in psychology?

The study of the molecular mechanisms by which environments can influence genetic expression without DNA change

Epigenetics

The body system made up of neurons that communicate via neurotransmitters

Nervous system

Made up of the brain and spinal cord

Central nervous system

Responsible for gathering information and transmitting CNS decisions to other body parts. Made up of sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

Peripheral nervous system

Controls the glands and internal organ muscles. Responsible for all the muscles we do not voluntarily think about moving

Autonomic nervous system

Enables voluntary control of our skeletal muscles, ie: turning your head in response to something

Somatic nervous system

Arouses the body, mobilizing its energy. Accelerates heart rate, races blood pressure, cools you with sweat, “fight or flight”

Sympathetic nervous system

Conserves energy and calms you. “Rest and digest”. It essentially tries to return/keep your body at homeostasis

Parasympathetic nervous system

Takes information inwards from body tissues and sensory receptors (sensory neurons) to the CNS

Affarent neurons

Carry instructions from the CNS outwards to the body’s muscles and glands (motor neurons)

Efferent neurons

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

Neuron

Contains the nucleus, the cell’s life support center

Cell body/ Soma

The branching fibers of a cell body, they receive messages from other cells

Dendrite

Carry impulses away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands

Axon

Form junctions with other cells

Axon terminals

A layer of fatty tissue that insulates axons and speeds their impulses

Myelin Sheath

The glial cells that form the myelin sheath on axons

Schwann Cells

Support, nourish, and protect neurons

Glial cells

1. Dendrites

2. Cell body

3. Axon

4. Axon terminal

How does information pass through the neuron?

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

Threshold

A brief electrical charge that occurs when a nerve cell or muscle fiber is activated by a stimulus

Action potential

The difference in electrical charge between the inside and outside of a neuron’s cell membrane

Resting potential

A brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has been fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to resting state

Refractory period

A neuron’s reaction of either firing with a full strength response or not firing

All-or-none response

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap between neurons

Neurotransmitters

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

Synapse/Synaptic cleft

A neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

Reuptake

Enables muscle action, learning, and memory

Acetylcholine

Influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion; rewarding sensation

Dopamine

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

Serotonin

Helps control alertness and arousal

Norepinephrine

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter

GABA

A major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory

Glutamate

Neurotransmitters that influence the perception of pain or pleasure

Endorphins

Involved in pain perception and immune response

Substance P

Drugs affect brain chemistry by exciting or inhibiting neurons’ firing

How do drugs and other chemicals alter neurotransmitters?

A molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action, ie: Morphine

Agonist

A molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action, ie: Botox

Antagonists

The endocrine system transmits information via hormones which travel through the bloodstream and interact with the brain

How does the endocrine system transmit information and interact with the nervous system?

The proportion of variation among individuals in a group that we can attribute to genes

Heritability

Released by adrenal glands on top of kidneys; it increases heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar. Provides a surge of energy to power fight or flight response

Adrenaline

Released by pituitary gland; it enables orgasm, labor contractions, and milk flow

Oxytocin

Released by adrenal glands; it is a stress hormone that increases blood sugar

Cortisol

Chemicals that alter the brain by producing changes in perceptions and mood

Psychoactive drugs

A disorder characterized by continued substance use despite resulting life disruption

Substance Use Disorder

Depressant; slows brain activity that controls judgement and inhibitions, effects memory

Alcohol

Depressant; Drugs that mimic the effects of alcohol- depress CNS activity and can lead to impaired memory and judgement

Barbiturates

Depressant; Opium and its derivatives (morphine and heroin) depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

Opiates

Depressant; provides a short-lived feeling of blissful pleasure, followed by craving for another fix

Heroin

Often used when trying to combat a heroin addiction; enough to reduce intense physical cravings but you can still become addicted to this

Methadone

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions; lowers inhibitions; decrease sympathetic nervous system activation

Depressants

Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions, increase sympathetic nervous system activation; increases pulse, energy, and breathing rates

Stimulants

Stimulant; causes mind-wandering cravings and withdrawal symptoms (cravings, insomnia, anxiety, crankiness)

Nictotine

Stimulant; increases attentiveness and improves mood; it is physically addictive

Caffeine

Stimulant; pills prescribed for people with adhd and previously used for weight loss

Amphetamines

Stimulant; stimulates the release of dopamine; causes a crash of fatigue, deep sleep, mental depression, and decreased appetite

Methamphetamines

Stimulant; when inhaled/snorted it reaches the brain in minutes- producing intense euphoria, mental alertness and self confidence; results in a crash

Cocaine

Stimulant and mild hallucinogen; makes a person feel calm or relaxed while seeming to have an endless energy supply; popular club drug that causes severe dehydration

Ecstasy

Psychedelic drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images

Hallucinogens

Hallucinogen; “Acid”, one of the most powerful drugs known, trips can last from 6-14 hours

LSD

Hallucinogen; produces feeling of elation, promotes relaxation, relieves inhibitions; chronic use associated with loss of motivation and general apathy

Marijuana

A border of blood vessels in the brain that don’t allow the blood of the peripheral nervous system to have an impact on the central nervous system

Blood-brain barrier

Repeated exposure to a psychoactive drug produces tolerance; the drug’s effects lessen as exposure is repeated

Tolerance

The adaption of the body to the repeated use of a drug (meaning it no longer produces the naturally existing neurotransmitter that is being replaced by the drug)

Drug dependence

Physical conditions caused by chronic use of a tolerance-forming drug in which abrupt or gradual drug withdrawal causes unpleasant physical symptoms

Physical dependence

A state that involves emotional-motivational withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of drug use

Psychological Dependence

Focus their research on the scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes

Biological psychologists

The process of creating new neurons in the brain

Neurogenesis

The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experiences

Neuroplasticity

Tissue destruction

Lesion

Measures subtle changes in the brain’s electrical activity through electrodes placed on the head

EEG

A brain-imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain’s natural electrical activity

MEG

Scan a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

PET

Uses extremely powerful electromagnets and radio waves to get structural information from the brain. Shows brain anatomy and structures

MRI

A technique for revealing blood flow and therefore brain activity

Functional MRI

Cross-sectional images of the brain using a series of x-ray pictures taken from different angles

CT Scans

Contains brainstem structures that direct essential survival functions such as breathing, sleeping, arousal, coordination, and balance

Hindbrain

Connects the hindbrain with the forebrain; controls some movement and transmits information that enables our seeing and hearing

Midbrain

Manages complex cognitive activities, sensory and associative functions, and voluntary motor activities

Forebrain

Responsible for automatic survival functions such as heartbeat, breathing, etc

Brainstem

Relay station for all sensory info except smell

Thalamus

Responsible for general level of arousal, or attention

Reticular Formation

Controls heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure

Medulla

Bridge between midbrain and stem; responsible for sleep and arousal

Pons

Controls basic movements, balance, and coordination; learning new skills

Cerebellum

Regulates hunger, thirst, body temperature, and sexual arousal

Hypothalamus

Master gland of the endocrine system

Pituitary Gland