Unit 1 AP Psychology 2025: Biological Bases of Behavior

Vocabulary terms I collected for Unit 1 of AP Psych!

Genetic Predisposition

refers to the increased chance of developing a specific trait or condition due to our genetic code

Neurons

individual nerve cells. Make up the entire nervous system, from the brain to the neurons that fire when you stub your toe.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

• brain and spinal cord

• sends out orders to the body

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

• consist of different nerves that branch off of the brain and spine

• connects CNS to all of the body’s organs and muscles

Afferent neurons (sensory neurons)

• delivers information

• send signals from the sensory receptors to the CNS

Efferent neurons (motor neurons)

• delivers information

• sends signals from the CNS to the PNS

Somatic Nervous System (Skeletal Nervous System)

• controls voluntary muscle movements

• motor cortex of the brain sends impulses to the somatic nervous system, which controls the muscles that allow us to move

Autonomic Nervous System

• controls involuntary (automatic) functions of our body

• heart, lungs, internal organs, glands, and so on

Sympathetic System

• subdivision of the autonomic Nervous system