AP Pyschology - Units 0-5

Psychoactive Drugs

substances that affect the mind, altering consciousness, perception, or mood

Agonists

drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter

Antagonists

drugs that block the action of a neurotransmitter

Reuptake Inhibitors

drugs that block the reabsorption of neurotransmitters, increasing their levels

Stimulants

drugs that increase brain activity, such as caffeine and cocaine

Caffeine

a mild stimulant found in coffee, tea, and some sodas

Cocaine

a powerful stimulant that affects the central nervous system

Depressants

substances that reduce neural activity and slow body functions, like alcohol

Alcohol

a depressant that is commonly used and socially accepted but can impair reasoning and motor skills

Hallucinogens

drugs that cause perceptual distortions and heightened sensory experiences

Marijuana

a commonly used hallucinogen that also has some depressant and stimulant effects

Opioids

drugs that act on the nervous system to relieve pain, includes heroin

Heroin

an opioid drug that causes euphoria but is highly addictive and dangerous

Tolerance

a condition in which more of a drug is needed to achieve the same effect

Addiction

a psychological and physical instability to stop consuming a chemical, drug, activity, or substance

Withdrawal

symptoms that occur after stopping or reducing intake of a drug to which one has become addicted

Consciousness

the awareness of internal and external stimuli

Circadian Rhythm (Sleep/Wake Cycle)

the body's natural 24-hour cycle, affecting sleep and wakefulness

Jet Lag

fatigue caused by travel across different time zones, distrupting the circadian rhythm

Shift Work

employment with work hours scheduled at non-standard times

NREM Stage 1

the initial stage of sleep, characterized by light sleep and slow eye movement

Hypnagogic Sensations

feelings of falling or hearing strange noises as one falls asleep during NREM Stage 1

NREM Stage 2

the second stage of sleep, where body temperature drops and heart rate slows

NREM Stage 3

the deepest and most restorative sleep stage; includes slow-wave sleep (delta waves)

REM Sleep

a sleep stage marked by rapid eye movement and dreaming; brain waves are similar to wakefulness

REM Rebound

the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation

Activation Synthesis (Dreams)

a theory suggesting dreams are caused by the brain's attempt to make sense of neural activity during sleep

Consolidation Theory (Dreams)

the theory that dreams help to cement memories and learning

Memory Consolidation

the process by which temporary memories are converted into a stable form

Restoration of Resources

the theory that sleep helps to restore physical and mental resources depleted during wakefulness

Insomnia

difficulty falling or staying asleep

Narcolepsy

a disorder characterized by sudden and uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

a sleep disorder where individuals act out vivid dreams with physical movements

Sleep Apnea

a disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep

Somnambulism

sleepwalking, typically occuring during deep sleep

Heredity

the passing of traits from parents to offspring through genes

Nature

the influence of genetic factors on traits and behaviors

Nurture

the influence of environmental factors on traits and behaviors

Genetic Predisposition

the likelihood of developing certain traits or disorders based on genetics

Evolutionary Perspective

looks at how human behaviors helped our ancestors survive and reproduce

Natural Selection

process where traits that enhance survival and reproduction are passed on more frequently

Eugenics

a controversial and unethical movement aimed at improvising the genetic composition of humans through selective breeding

Twin Studies

research comparing the similarities between identical and fraternal twins to understand the influence of genetics versus environment

Family Studies

research looking at behavioral traits in families to determine how much is genetic versus environmental

Adoption Studies

studies that compare biologically related people, including those raised apart, to understand genetic influences

Central Nervous System

consists of brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System

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

Autonomic Nervous System

controls involuntary bodily functions

Sympathetic Nervous System

activates the body's resources during stress and emergencies

Parasympathetic Nervous System

conserves energy and restores body to a calm state

Somatic Nervous System

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movements

Neurons

nerve cells that transmit information throughout the body

Glial Cells

supports cells in the nervous system

Reflex Arc

the nerve pathway involved in a reflex action

Sensory Neurons

carry signals from body parts to the central nervous system

Motor Neurons

carry signals from the spinal cord to muscles to produce movement

Interneurons

connect sensory and motor neurons and carry impulses between them

Neural Transmission

the process by which neurons communicate with each other

Action Potential

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

All-or-Nothing Principle

the rule that neurons are either on or off

Depolarization

a decrease in the electrical charge across a cell membrane

Refractory Period

a period immediately following stimulation during which a nerve or muscle is unresponsive to further simulation

Resting Potential

the state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse

Reuptake

the absorption by a presynaptic nerve ending of a neurotransmitter that it has secreted

Threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

Multiple Sclerosis

A disease due to the degeneration of the myelin sheath in which communication to muscles and brain regions slow, resulting in diminished muscle control and sometimes impaired cognition

Myasthenia Gravis

A neuromuscular disease in which the muscles cannot contract, resulting in muscle weakness, difficulties with muscle control, or paralysis

Excitatory Neurotransmitters

chemicals released from the terminal buttons of a neuron that excite the next neuron into firing

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

chemicals released from the terminal buttons of a neuron that inhibit (hinder) the next neuron from firing

Dopamine

plays a crucial role in regulating mood, reward, motivation, and movement

Key in the brain’s reward system

Serotonin

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

Norepinephrine

helps control alertness and arousal

Glutamate

primary excitatory neurotransmitter

GABA

primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS; promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety

Endorphins

neurotransmitters produced by the brain and CNS that act as natural pain relievers and mood enhancers released in response to stress, pain, or intense physical activity

Substance P

neurotransmitter involved in transmitting pain signals in the nervous system

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction

Hormones

chemical messengers produced by glands in the endocrine system that travel through the bloodstream to target cells and organs

Pituitary Gland

The endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

Adrenaline

A hormone released into the bloodstream in response to physical or mental stress

“Fight or flight”

Leptin

regulates energy balance and appetite

Ghrelin

hormone produced in the stomach and small intestine that stimulates the appetite and promotes hunger

“Hungry hormone”

Melatonin

hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythms in the body

Oxytocin

key role in social bonding

“Love hormone” or “bonding hormone” due to its involvement in forming emotional connections, trust, and intimacy

Brainstem

supports basic life functions, including heart rate, breathing, and sleeping

Medulla

part of the brainstem that controls vital life-sustaining functions like heartbeat and breathing

Reticular Activating System

regulates wakefulness and sleep-wake transitions

Reward Center

brain area that regulate the experience of pleasure

Cerebellum

coordinates voluntary movements like posture, balance, and coordination

Cerebral Cortex

the outer layer of the brain, responsible for higher-level cognitive functions, including thinking perceiving, and decision-making

Limbic System

involved in emotion, motivation, and memory

Thalamus

relay motor and sensory signals to the cerebral cortex

Hypothalamus

regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and other homeostatic systems

Hippocampus

essential for learning and memory

Amygdala

involved in emotion processing, particularly fear and aggression

Corpus Callosum

thick band of nerve fibers that connects the two brain hemispheres

Occipital Lobes

responsible for vision

Temporal Lobes

involved in hearing, memory, and understanding languages

Parietal Lobes

processes sensory information like touch and spatial awareness

Association Areas

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