AP Psychology Unit 2, Lecture 1: Biological Psychology

This flashcard set covers the basic vocabulary regarding the nervous system, neuron anatomy, and the process of neuron firing as presented in Unit 2, Lecture 1 of AP Psychology.

Central Nervous System

The part of the nervous system made up of the brain and the spine that processes information and gives motor instructions.

Peripheral Nervous System

The part of the nervous system made up of nerve cells (neurons) that relay information from the body to the spine and from the spine to the body.

Interneurons

Cells within the Central Nervous System that allow sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent) neurons to communicate.

Afferent Neurons

Neurons that take in sensory information and carry it up to the spine.

Efferent Neurons

Neurons that take movement instructions from the spine to the rest of the body.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The body’s defense mechanism that arouses the body during stress or fear by flooding it with norepinephrine and adrenaline.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The body’s calming mechanism that brings the body down from fear or anger using acetylcholine and nitric oxide.

Neuron

A nerve cell that carries electrical impulses throughout the body; considered the basic building block of behavior.

Dendrite

The part of a neuron that receives electrical or chemical messages from the previous neuron.

Axon

The part of a neuron that carries electrical or chemical messages through the cell.

Myelin Sheath

A protective covering for the axon that ensures electrical or chemical messages are sent quickly.

Axon Terminal

The part of a neuron that sends electrical or chemical messages to the next neuron.

Neuron Firing

The process by which neurons send electrical or chemical messages, also known as impulses, to one another.

Resting Potential

The state of a neuron when it is not firing.

Action Potential

Also called an impulse, this is the state of a neuron when it is firing.

Neurotransmitter

A chemical that causes a particular reaction in the body.

Vesicle

A “pod” that carries neurotransmitters through the axon.

Synapse

The gap between neurons that neurotransmitters travel across.

Neurotransmitter Receptors

Structures at the end of a dendrite that take in neurotransmitters into the neuron.