AP Psychology Unit 1: Biological Basis of Behavior Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering heredity, nervous system subsystems, neural transmission, neurotransmitters, brain anatomy, sleep, and sensation.

Heredity

The passing on of physical or mental characteristics genetically from one generation to another.

Nature

Pre-wiring influenced by genetic inheritance and other biological factors.

Nurture

The influence of external factors after conception, such as the product of exposure, life experiences, and learning on an individual.

Genetic Predisposition

An increased chance or likelihood of developing a particular disease based on the presence of one or more genetic variants and/or a family history suggestive of an increased risk of the disease.

Evolutionary Psychology

The branch of psychology that studies the mental adaptations of humans to a changing environment.

Natural Selection

The process by which certain behaviors and genes best for survival (survival of the fittest) are passed down, such as stranger anxiety, parental love, and phobias.

Identical Twins

Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms with similar personality and intelligence levels.

Fraternal Twins

Twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs; genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but sharing a fetal environment.

Schizophrenia Risk in Twins

Research data showing the risk percentage of schizophrenia for twins of those diagnosed, comparing fraternal twins to identical twins across various country studies.

Eugenics

The study of how to arrange reproduction within a human population to increase the occurrence of heritable characteristics regarded as desirable.

Epigenetics

The study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change.

Twin Studies

Studies conducted on identical or fraternal twins aimed at revealing the importance of environmental and genetic influences for traits, phenotypes, and disorders.

Adoption Studies

Studies comparing pairs of persons (e.g., adopted child and adoptive mother or biological mother) to assess genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

Family Studies

Studies providing a way for professionals to examine the relationship between genetics and mental disorders.

Behavioral Genetics

A field focused on discovering how genes and experiences interact and lead to specific behaviors and mental abilities.

Genes

Segments of DNA that contain instructions to make proteins, which are the building blocks of life.

Genome

The entirety of an individual's hereditary information.

Mutations

A permanent change in an organism's genetic material.

Nervous System

The body's electrochemical communications network.

Central Nervous System

The brain and spinal cord, which distribute and process messages.

Peripheral Nervous System

A branch of the human nervous system that includes all components except the brain and spinal cord.

Somatic Nervous System

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movements.

Autonomic Nervous System

A part of the peripheral nervous system that regulates bodily processes such as breathing, heart rate, and digestion.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Branch of the autonomic nervous system that excites the body by preparing it for action (fight or flight responses like increased heartbeat and dilated pupils).

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Branch of the autonomic nervous system that restores the body's energy sources once depleted (rest and digest responses like constricted pupils and slowed heartbeat).

Nerves

Bundles of fibers that transmit impulses between different areas within our bodies.

Reflex

An involuntary response to a stimulus that happens without conscious thought.

Neurons

Individual nerve cells that make up our entire nervous system.

Neuron Anatomy

Structural components of a nerve cell including dendrite, nucleus, soma, axon, Schwann cell, myelin sheath, node of Ranvier, and axon terminal.

Glial Cells

Cells that provide nutrition and protection for the neurons.

Sensory Neurons

Neurons that take information from the senses to the brain.

Motor Neurons

Neurons that take information from the brain to the rest of the body.

Interneurons

Neurons in the brain or spinal cord that take messages and send them elsewhere in the brain or spinal cord.

Spinal Reflex

An immediate response to external stimuli directed at the level of the spinal cord.

Mirror Neurons

Neurons that play a role in action understanding, imitation learning, and language processing, enabling us to recreate and embody the intentions of others.

Action Potential

An impulse or brief electric charge that travels down the axon.

Threshold

The level of stimulation needed to trigger a neural impulse.

All or None Response

The principle that a neuron either sends an impulse fully or it does not send one at all.

Resting Potential

The state when a neuron does not have an action potential.

Polarized

The state of a resting neuron where the outside of the membrane is positively charged while the inside is negatively charged.

Depolarization

Describes an axon that is firing; positive ions enter the axon causing other positive ions to move down the axon in the form of a neural impulse.

Refractory Period

A resting pause where neurons pump positively charged sodium ions back outside of the cell.

Reuptake

The reabsorption of neurotransmitters by the sending neuron.

Excitatory Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters that send signals that stimulate the brain.

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters that send signals to calm the brain down and create balance.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

The loss of muscle control resulting from a deterioration of the myelin sheath.

Myasthenia Gravis (MG)

A relatively rare acquired, autoimmune disorder caused by an antibody-mediated blockade of neuromuscular transmission resulting in skeletal muscle weakness and rapid fatigue due to a blockage of acetylcholine.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons to generate the next neural impulse.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A neurotransmitter enabling muscle action, learning, and memory; deterioration of ACh-producing neurons is linked to Alzheimer's disease.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter influencing movement, learning, attention, and emotion; oversupply is linked to schizophrenia and undersupply to Parkinson's disease.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter affecting mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal; undersupply is linked to depression.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter helping control alertness and arousal; undersupply can depress mood.

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter; undersupply is linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia.

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory; oversupply can overstimulate the brain causing migraines or seizures.

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters influencing perception of pain or pleasure; oversupply with opioid drugs can suppress natural supply.

Substance P

A neurotransmitter involved in pain perception and immune response; oversupply can lead to chronic pain.

Hormone

A chemical messenger produced in the body and released into the bloodstream that controls and regulates the activity of certain cells or organs.

Adrenaline

A hormone that activates the sympathetic nervous system and triggers fight or flight responses like increased heart rate and blood flow to skeletal muscle.

Melatonin

A hormone known to regulate sleep and wake cycles.

Ghrelin

A hormone secreted by an empty stomach that increases hunger.

Leptin

A protein hormone secreted by fat cells that decreases hunger.

Oxytocin

A hormone produced by the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland playing a role in social bonding, sexual reproduction, childbirth, and nursing.

Psychoactive Drugs

Chemical substances that alter perceptions, mood, or behavior.

Addiction

Craving for a chemical substance despite its adverse effects.

Tolerance

A state where after long-term use the brain produces less of a specific neurotransmitter, creating a need for increasing amounts to produce the same effect.

Withdrawal

A set of symptoms associated with discontinuing a drug as neuroadaptation reverses.

Substance Abuse Disorder

Continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk.

Depressants

Drugs that lower neural activity and slow body functioning, such as alcohol, opiates, and barbiturates.

Stimulants

Drugs that speed up body functions, including caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, meth, and amphetamines.

Hallucinogens

Psychedelic drugs that distort perceptions of reality, such as LSD and marijuana.

Agonists

Chemicals that activate neurotransmitter receptors and make the effects of neurotransmitters stronger.

Antagonists

Chemicals that inhibit the actions of neurotransmitters.

Reuptake Inhibitors

Drugs that prevent axon terminals from engaging in the reuptake of neurotransmitters (e.g., cocaine for dopamine).

Brainstem

The oldest part and central core of the brain, starting where the spinal cord swells entering the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions.

Medulla

Part of the brainstem that controls heartbeat, blood circulation, breathing, muscle maintenance, and reflex regulation.

Reticular Activating System

Structure regulating behavioral arousal, consciousness, motivation, voluntary movement, eye movement, learning, cognition, and emotion.

Cerebellum

The 'little brain' at the rear of the brainstem responsible for sensory processing, movement coordination, balance, and nonverbal learning and memory.

Thalamus

The brain's sensory control center located on top of the brainstem; directs messages to sensory receiving areas in the cortex and replies to cerebellum and medulla.

Limbic System

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

Hippocampus

Limbic system structure vital to our memory system.

Amygdala

Limbic system center of emotion responsible for fear and aggressive responses.

Hypothalamus

Limbic structure that regulates the autonomic nervous system (fight or flight), body temperature, hunger, and sex.

Pituitary Gland

The 'master control gland' that controls other glands and releases growth-triggering hormones.

Corpus Callosum

Large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and transmitting messages between them.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of tissue of the brain hemispheres and smaller subcortical structures.

Frontal Lobe

Portion of cerebral cortex behind the forehead involved in speaking, muscle movements, and making plans and judgements.

Prefrontal Cortex

Front region of frontal lobe controlling executive functions like attention, inhibition, working memory, problem-solving, and planning.

Broca's Area

Region in the left frontal lobe responsible for speech production and language comprehension.

Parietal Lobe

Portion of cerebral cortex at top/rear of head that receives sensory input for touch and body position.

Occipital Lobe

Portion of cerebral cortex at back of head containing visual cortex for processing visual field information.

Temporal Lobe

Portion of cerebral cortex above ears containing auditory areas that help with hearing and meaningful speech.

Wernicke's Area

Region in back of left temporal lobe involved in understanding written and spoken language.

Motor Cortex

Area at rear of frontal lobes controlling voluntary movements.

Sensory Cortex

Area at front of parietal lobes registering and processing body touch and movement sensations.

Association Areas

Areas in cerebral cortex involved in higher mental functions.

Contralateral Hemispheric Organization

Arrangement where motor cortex of each hemisphere mainly controls movement of the opposite side of the body.

Split Brain

Condition resulting from surgery that isolates brain hemispheres by severing connecting fibers of the corpus callosum.

Neuroplasticity

Reorganization of neural pathways as a result of experience or brain injury.

Brain Lesion

Destroyed brain tissue caused by disease, traumatic injury, or drug abuse that can be analyzed to determine function loss.

EEG (Electroencephalogram)

An amplified recording of waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface measured by scalp electrodes.