AP Psychology - Unit 1: Biological Bases of Behavior; Modules 1.1-1.4

Flashcards based on impotant vocab for Unit 1 (Modules 1.1-1.4) of AP Psychology

Heredity

Passing traits from parents to children.

Genes

DNA units that carry traits.

Epigenetics

How environment affects gene activity.

Environment

External factors that influence development.

Twin Studies

Research comparing twins to study genetics vs. environment.

Nature vs. Nurture

Debate over genes vs. environment shaping behavior.

Evolutionary Psychology

Study of how behavior evolved for survival.

Individualism

Focus on self and independence.

Collectivism

Focus on group and harmony.

Endocrine System

Sends hormones to control body functions.

Pituitary Gland

Controls other glands.

Adrenal Glands

Release stress hormones.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Nerves outside the CNS.

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls automatic body functions.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Calms the body.

Somatic Nervous System

Controls voluntary movements.

Sensory Neurons

Carry info from senses to brain.

Motor Neurons

Carry commands from brain to muscles.

Neuron

Nerve cell that sends signals.

Cell Body

Main part of the neuron.

Dendrite

Receives signals.

Axon

Sends signals.

Myelin Sheath

Speeds up signals.

Glial Cells

Support neurons.

Resting Potential

Neuron is inactive but ready.

Action Potential

Neuron fires a signal.

Threshold

Minimum stimulation to fire.

Direction of Impulse

Dendrite → Cell Body → Axon.

All-or-None Principle

Neuron fires completely or not at all.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that send messages between neurons.

Acetylcholine → Ace the test with memory and movement!

Movement and memory.

Dopamine → Dope rewards make you move and feel good

Pleasure and motivation.

Serotonin→ Serene tone = happy mood

Mood and sleep.

GABA→ GABA chills the brain—Good And Balanced Attitude

Calms the brain.

Glutamate→ Glue-mate excites the brain and sticks info

Excites the brain.

Norepinephrine→ No rest = alert and ready

Alertness.

Endorphins→ End pain with happy dolphins!

Natural pain relief.

SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor)→ Saves Serotonin, Relieves Irritability

Keeps serotonin active longer.

Psychoactive Drugs

Change mood or perception.

Depressants→ Downers = slow and sleepy

Slow brain activity.

Stimulants→ Speedy stimulants start your system

Speed up brain activity.

Hallucinogens→ Hallucinate = see things that aren’t there

Cause sensory distortions.

Agonists→ Activate like a go-button

Mimic neurotransmitters.

Antagonists→ Anti-activation = block the signal

Block neurotransmitters.

Impact of Drugs on Neurotransmitters→ Drugs Dance with Brain Chemicals

Drugs can boost, block, or mimic them.

Brainstem→ Basic Survival Stem

Controls basic life functions.

Medulla→ Medulla = My breathing and heartbeat

Breathing and heartbeat.

Pons→ Pons = Pause and sleep

Movement and sleep.

Thalamus→ ThalaBUS directs sensory traffic

Sends sensory info to the brain.

Reticular Formation→ Reticular = Rise and shine alertness

Controls alertness.

Cerebellum→ CereBalance for movement

Balance and coordination.

Amygdala→ Amy gets angry—emotion center

Emotion (especially fear).

Hypothalamus→ Hypo = Hungry, Hot, Hormones

Regulates hunger, hormones, and body temp.

Hippocampus→ Hippo on campus = memory student

Memory formation.

Cerebral Cortex→ Complex Cortex = thinking cap

Thinking and sensing.

Occipital Lobes→ Oh! I see—vision center

Vision.

Parietal Lobes→ Pat your head—touch and space

Touch and body position.

Frontal Lobes→ Front = future plans and personality

Planning and personality.

Temporal Lobes→ Tempo = tunes and talking

Hearing and language.

Motor Cortex→ Motor = move your muscles

Controls movement.

Somatosensory Cortex→ Sensation map of the body

Processes touch.

Auditory Cortex→ Audio = hear it here

Processes sound.

Association Areas & Prefrontal Cortex→ Prefrontal = personality and planning

Higher thinking and judgment.

Brain Lateralization→ Left = Logic, Right = Rhythm

Left and right brain have different roles.

Corpus Callosum→ Call across the hemispheres

Connects brain hemispheres.

Phineas Gage→ Gage = Grit and personality change

Case showing brain injury affects personality.

Hemispheric Specialization→ Half-brain heroes

Left speaks, Right paints

Neuroplasticity→ Plastic brain = reshape and recover

Brain’s ability to change and adapt.