AP Psych Unit 1

Psychology

The science of behavior and mental processes

Nature v. Nurture

Debate over how much behavior is influenced by genes (nature) versus environment (nurture)

Continuity v. Stages

Debate over how people develop over time; gradual continuity versus distinct stages

Stability v. Change

Debate over whether personality traits, intelligence, and behavior remain consistent or change over time

Natural Selection

Organisms that are best suited to survive pass their traits down

Behavior Genetics

The intersection between genetics and the behavior sciences

Evolutionary Psychology

The study of evolution, behavior, and the mind through the lens of natural selection

Charles Darwin

Argued that natural selection shapes behaviors as well as bodies

Dmitry Belyaev and Fox Study

Selective breeding of foxes for tameness led to friendlier behavior and physical changes

Mutations

An alteration in genetic material that causes a change

Environment

Every non-genetic influence on our behavior, health, development, etc.

Heredity

The genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

DNA

The molecule that contains genetic instructions for growth, development, and functioning

Genes

Segments of DNA that code for specific traits and are passed from parents to offspring

Genome

The complete set of an organism's genes, including all its genetic information

Monozygotic Twins

Identical twins coming from one egg

Fraternal / Dizygotic Twins

Non-identical twins coming from two eggs

Twin Studies

Research that compares the similarities and differences between twins

Interaction

The interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another factor

Epigenetics

The impact of the environment on our genes after birth

Nervous system

The body's speedy, electrochemical communication network

Central nervous system (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

Nerves

Bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sensory organs

Sensory (afferent) neurons

Neurons that carry incoming information from the body's tissues and sensory receptors to the CNS

Motor (efferent) neurons

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the CNS to the muscles and glands

Interneurons

Neurons within the CNS that communicate internally and process information

Somatic nervous system

The division of the PNS that controls the body's skeletal muscles

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

The part of the PNS that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs

Sympathetic nervous system

The division of the ANS that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy

Parasympathetic nervous system

The division of the ANS that calms the body, conserving its energy

Reflex

A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus

Neuron

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

Cell body

The part of the neuron that contains the nucleus

Dendrites

A neuron's often bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages

Axon

The segmented neuron extension that passes messages through its branches

Myelin sheath

A fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons

Glial cells

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

Action potential

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

Threshold

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

Refractory Period

The short time after a neuron fires when it cannot fire again

All-Or-None response

A neuron's reaction of either firing or not firing

Synapse

The place where the axon and dendrite connect to send a message

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons

Reuptake

A neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

Endorphins

"Morphine within"; natural, opioid-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure

Agonist

A molecule that increases a neurotransmitter's action

Antagonist

A molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's action

Endocrine system

The body's "slow" chemical communication system

Hormones

Chemical messengers manufactured by the endocrine glands

Psychoactive drug

A chemical substance that alters the brain, causing changes in perceptions and moods

Substance use disorder

A disorder characterized by continued substance use despite resulting life disruption

Depressants

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

Tolerance

Body builds up tolerance to medication, caffeine, etc. So the body needs more to get the same impact.

Addiction

An everyday term for compulsive substance use that continues despite harmful consequences.

Withdrawal

The discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior.

Barbiturates

Drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement.

Opioids

Opium and its derivatives; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety.

Stimulants

Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

Hallucinogens

Psychedelic drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.

Near-death experience

An altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death.

Biological Psychology

The scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes.

Phineas Gage

A railroad worker whose brain injury damaged his frontal lobes, showing that the frontal lobes control personality, decision making, and self control.

The Biopsychosocial Approach

An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and socio-cultural levels of analysis.

Biological influence

Physical factors like genes, brain structures, hormones, and neurotransmitters that affect behavior and mental processes.

Psychological influence

Thoughts, emotions, beliefs, personality, and learned experiences that shape how a person thinks and behaves.

Social and Cultural Influence

Social environments, cultural norms, family, peers, and societal expectations that influence behavior and mental processes.

Levels of analysis

The differing complementary views for analyzing any given phenomenon.

Neural Plasticity

The brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.

Lesions

Tissue destruction that may occur naturally, during surgery, or experimentally.

Lobotomy

A surgical procedure that cut connections in the frontal lobes to treat mental illness.

EEG (electroencephalogram)

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface.

MEG (magnetoencephalography)

A brain-imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain's natural electrical activity.

CT (computed tomography scan)

A series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain's structure.

PET (position emission tomography)

A technique for detecting brain activity that displays where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue.

fMRI (functional MRI)

A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans.

The Brainstem

The central core of the brain responsible for automatic survival functions.

Hindbrain

Consists of the medulla, pons, and cerebellum; directs essential survival functions.

Midbrain

Found atop the brainstem; connects the hindbrain with the forebrain.

Forebrain

Consists of the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and hypothalamus; manages complex cognitive activities.

Medulla

The hindbrain structure that controls heartbeat and breathing.

Pons

Believed to have a major role in dreaming and links the Medulla and the Thalamus.

Reticular Formation

A nerve network that filters information and plays an important role in controlling arousal.

The Thalamus

The forebrain's sensory control center that directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex.

The Cerebellum

Coordinates voluntary movement, modulates emotions, and processes sensory input.

The Limbic System

The neural system associated with emotions and drives.

Amygdala

Processes emotion and controls the fight or flight response.

Hypothalamus

Deals with eating, drinking, body temperature, and sexual urges.

Hippocampus

A neural center in the limbic system that helps process explicit (conscious) memories - of facts and events - for storage.

Pituitary Gland

Master Gland - Controlled by the Hypothalamus.

Cerebral Cortex

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the forebrain's cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information processing center.

Frontal Lobe

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; they enable linguistic processing, muscle movements, higher order thinking, and executive functioning (such as making plans and judgments).

Parietal Lobe

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; it includes areas that receive information from the visual fields.

Occipital Lobe

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; it includes areas that receive information from the visual fields.

Temporal Lobe

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; it includes the auditory areas, each of which receives information primarily from the opposite ear.

Motor Cortex

A cerebral cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.

Somatosensory Cortex

A cerebral cortex area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.

Association Areas

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

Broca's Area

Controls the production of speech - muscle movements required for speech.