Psych Unit One Vocab

Action potential

is a brief electrical charge that travels down a neuron's axon, allowing brain cells to communicate.

fundamental mechanism for how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are transmitted through the nervous system

Resting Potential

is the state of a neuron when it is not actively sending a signal, characterized by a negative electrical charge inside the cell compared to the outside.

Refractory Potential

is the period after an action potential during which a neuron is unable to fire another action potential or is less likely to do so. This phase helps to ensure that impulses only travel in one direction along the neuron.

Corpus Callosum

is a thick band of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, facilitating interhemispheric communication.

Wernike’s Area

is a region in the left temporal lobe of the brain that is essential for understanding and comprehending spoken and written language. brain's primary center for receptive language

Broca’s Area

is a region in the lower part of the frontal lobe—usually in the left hemisphere of the brain—that coordinates the muscle movements and mental planning needed for speech production and language processing

Hippocampus

is a major component of the brain's limbic system, located deep within the temporal lobe, that is essential for processing long-term memory and spatial navigation

frontal lobe

largest region of the cerebral cortex. the brain's control center for higher-level cognitive processes, voluntary movement, and emotional regulation

Parietal Lobe

located near the top and back of the head, that processes sensory input and spatial awareness. It is the primary processing center for somatosensory information—including touch, temperature, and pain—and the integration of sensory data to build a coherent map of the body and surrounding space

Occipital Lobe

serves as the body's primary visual processing center

temporal lobe

manages several critical cognitive and sensory functions. It houses the primary auditory cortex, which interprets sounds, tones, and music, turning raw noise into meaningful information.spoken and written language, converting words into meaning

thalamus

acts as the primary relay station and information filter for sensory and motor signals moving between the body and the cerebral cortex

medulla

It regulates vital life processes like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure without you having to think about them. It triggers involuntary actions like swallowing, coughing, sneezing, and vomiting

Cerebellum

coordinates voluntary muscle movements, balance, posture, and motor learning

Reticular activating system

a network of neurons located in the brainstem that acts as the brain's primary sensory filter and regulator of wakefulness

Split-brain patients

stops communication between the left and right halves of the brain. the corpus callosum is cut or missing.

left brain

Controls speech, reading, writing, math, and logical thinking

right brain

Excels at spatial tasks, face recognition, music, and emotional processing

Plasticity or neuralplasticity

the brain's lifelong ability to modify, change, and reorganize its structure, functions, and neural connections in response to learning, experiences, or injury

Hemispherectomy

one cerebral hemisphere (half of the brain) is either physically removed or surgically disconnected from the rest of the brain

Withdrawal

the mental and emotional response that happens when a person suddenly stops or cuts back on an addictive substance or routine after becoming dependent on it

Dependance

an emotional and mental reliance on a substance or behavior to cope with daily life, stress, or emotions

Tolerance

drug tolerance (a biological reduction in response to a substance), social tolerance (accepting diverse beliefs or behaviors), and emotional/distress tolerance (the capacity to endure negative emotional states).

Multiples chlorosis (MS)

a chronic, unpredictable neurological disease that functions as a "biopsychosocial" condition. This means it affects not only a person's physical body, but also alters their brain chemistry, cognitive function, and emotional well-being

Depressants

category of drugs that slow down the activity of the central nervous system (CNS) and decrease messaging between the brain and the body

Stimulants / Caffeine 

psychoactive drugs that excite and speed up the activity of the central nervous system (CNS) and the brain

Opioids

a class of natural or synthetic drugs that bind to receptors in the brain and nervous system to block pain signals and trigger a powerful sense of euphoria

Hallucinogens

a class of psychoactive drugs that cause profound distortions in a person’s perception of reality, awareness of their surroundings, thoughts, and feelings

Central Nervous System CNS

primary command center of the body, consisting of the brain and spinal cord. Gathers sensory input from your eyes, ears, skin, and internal organs.Interprets signals in the brain to shape your thoughts, memories, emotions, and consciousness.Sends motor instructions back through the spinal cord to control your muscles, movements, and bodily responses.

Sympathetic Nervous System 

a branch of the autonomic nervous system that acts like a body's gas pedal to trigger the involuntary "fight-or-flight" response during stress or danger

Parasympathetic Nervous System

defined as the calming half of the autonomic nervous system. It acts in direct contrast to the sympathetic nervous system's "fight-or-flight" response. Psychologists view it as critical for emotional regulation, stress recovery, and maintaining bodily equilibrium—known as homeostasis-—after an emotional or physical crisis

Autonomic Nervous System 

controls involuntary, unconscious body functions like heart rate, digestion, and blood pressure

Somatic Nervous System

controls voluntary muscle movements and processes conscious sensory information

Twin studies - research methods

to measure the relative contributions of genetics ("nature") versus environment ("nurture") on human traits, behaviors, and medical conditions

Amygdala

processes emotions, survival instincts, and emotional memories

Acetylcholine

an organic chemical compound that functions as a primary neurotransmitter—a messenger chemical that neurons use to communicate with other cells across synapses. its critical role in cognitive functions like learning, memory, and attention. It also acts as the chief chemical messenger of the parasympathetic nervous system, controlling bodily functions like heart rate and smooth muscle contraction.

Dopamine

a chemical messenger and neurotransmitter in the brain that helps nerve cells communicate and drives the body's reward and motivation system

Oxytocin

drives social bonding, sexual reproduction, and childbirth

Deception

the intentional act of misleading others or withholding facts to make them believe information that is not true

Informed Consent 

a voluntary agreement to take part in a study, assessment, or therapy after fully understanding its procedures, risks, benefits, and rights

Confidentiality 

an ethical and legal principle requiring mental health providers to keep a client's identity, private disclosures, and treatment records secret

Experiment

a branch of psychology that uses scientific methods and controlled tests to study the human mind and behavior

Naturalistic observation

a research method where psychologists and other scientists study humans or animals in their real, everyday environments without interfering, changing, or controlling any variables

Case study

an in-depth, detailed examination of a single person, small group, or specific event within its natural environment

Correlational

a non-experimental method that measures two or more variables to assess the statistical relationship between them without manipulating any factors

Operational definition

a precise, measurable description of an abstract concept or variable so it can be observed and tested in a study

Genetic Makeup

the complete set of inherited DNA instructions and variations passed down from biological parents that influence how the brain and mind develop

Aggression

any intentional behavior aimed at causing physical, emotional, or social harm to another person or target who is motivated to avoid that harm. equires deliberate intent

Nature

Refers to your biological blueprint, innate predispositions, and the genes inherited from your biological parents. This includes physical traits, eye color, baseline temperament, intelligence tendencies, and vulnerability to certain health conditions

Nurture

Refers to all the external, environmental factors that impact you after conception. This includes parenting styles, family dynamics, socioeconomic status, culture, education, peer groups, and traumatic life experiences

Natural Selection

an evolutionary process where organisms with inherited traits best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce

Lesion 

any area of damaged or abnormal brain tissue caused by trauma, disease, or intentional surgical disruption.

MRI

a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed three-dimensional images of the brain's structure and function

fMRI

a non-invasive brain-scanning technique that measures active brain regions by tracking changes in blood flow and oxygen levels

PET

it is a brain-scanning method that uses radioactive glucose to measure and map brain activity

CT

focuses on how unhelpful patterns of thinking influence emotions and behavior

EEG

a safe, non-invasive test that measures and records the electrical activity of the brain using small sensors (electrodes) attached to the scalp

Ethics

the moral principles and codes of conduct that guide professional behavior, clinical treatment, and scientific research

Reuptake Inhibitors

block the reabsorption of neurotransmitters by the presynaptic neuron that released them, increasing their availability in the synaptic cleft

Limbic system

serves as the primary emotional and memory center of the brain

Independent Variable

the factor that a researcher intentionally changes or manipulates in an experiment to see what effect it has on another factor

Dependent Variable

the factor that a researcher measures in an experiment to see how it changes in response