VCE Psychology Unit 3 AOS 1

Autonomic nervous system

a self-regulating sub-division of the peripheral nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the body's internal organs and glands, providing feedback to the brain about their activities

Axon

a single, tubelike, extension that carries neural information away from the neuron

Axon terminal

the end part of an axon collateral where terminal buttons that store and secrete neurotransmitter are located

Central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord; processes information received from internal and external environments and activates responses

Conscious response

a reaction to a sensory stimulus that involves awareness; compare with unconscious response

Dendrite

an extension of a neuron that detects and receives information from other neurons

Excitatory effect

when a neurotransmitter stimulates or activates a postsynaptic neuron to perform its functions; compare with inhibitory effect

Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)

the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system

Glutamate (Glu)

the primary excitatory neurotransmitter for information transmission throughout the brain; plays crucial roles in the growth and strengthening of synaptic connections during learning and memory formation

Inhibitory effect

when a neurotransmitter blocks or prevents a postsynaptic neuron from firing and therefore performing its functions; compare with excitatory effect

Interneuron

carries messages between sensory and motor neurons within the central nervous system

Lock-and-key-process

describes chemical neurotransmission as involving neurotransmitter with a distinctive shape that precisely matches the shape of the receptor site on the postsynaptic neuron where it will bind or attach to its receptors

Motor neuron

carries messages from the central nervous system to cells in skeletal muscles, organs and glands to stimulate activity

Myelin

white, fatty substance covering and insulating an axon

Neural pathway

one or more circuits of interconnected neurons that forms a communication network; also called a tract

Neurodegenerative disease

a disorder characterised by a progressive decline in the structure, activity and function of brain tissue

Neuron

individual nerve cell

Neurotransmitter

a chemical substance produced by

a neuron that carries a message to other neurons or cells in muscles, organs or other tissue

Parasympathetic nervous system

a sub-division of the autonomic nervous system that helps to maintain the internal body environment in a steady, balanced state of normal functioning; calms or restores the body to its normal state of functioning after an extreme emotion subsides or a threat has passed

Parkinson's disease

a CNS neurodegenerative disorder characterised by both motor and non- motor symptoms, such as tremor, muscle rigidity, postural instability and problems with cognitive function

Peripheral nervous system

carries information to and from the central nervous system

Sensory neuron

receives and carries sensory information from both the external and internal environments and transmits to the central nervous system

Somatic nervous system

a sub-division of the peripheral nervous system that carries sensory information to the central nervous system and motor information from the central nervous system

Spinal cord

the long, thin bundle of nerve tissue that extends from the base of the brain to the lower back; links the brain and the parts of the body below the neck

Spinal reflex

an unconscious, involuntary and automatically occurring response to certain stimuli, sourced within the spinal cord and without any involvement of the brain; also called reflex arc

Sympathetic nervous system

a sub-division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body for vigorous activity or to deal with a stressful or threatening situation

Synapse

the site of communication between adjacent neurons

Synaptic gap

the tiny space between the axon terminal of a presynaptic neuron and the dendrite of a postsynaptic neuron

Terminal button

structure at an axon terminal that stores and secretes neurotransmitter; also called synaptic knob or synaptic button

Unconscious response

a reaction to a sensory stimulus that does not involve awareness; compare with conscious response

Acculturative stress

the stress people experience in trying to adapt to a new culture when living in it for a considerable period of time

Adrenaline

a hormone produced within the adrenal gland that is secreted during stress and may also affect memory consolidation of emotionally arousing experiences; also called epinephrine

Alarm reaction

the first stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome in which the body goes into

a temporary state of shock, then rebounds (counter shock), following initial exposure to a stressor

Approach coping strategy

an effort to confront a stressor and deal directly with it and its effects; compare with avoidant coping strategy

Avoidant coping strategy

an effort that evades a stressor and which indirectly deals with the stressor and its effects; compare with approach coping strategy

Catastrophe

an unpredictable event that causes widespread damage or suffering. As a stressor, the event is one that the majority of people involved would interpret as being stressful

Context-specific effectiveness

in relation to coping with stress, when there is a match or 'good fit' between the coping strategy that is used and the stressful situation

Coping

in relation to stress management, attempting to manage the demands of a stressor in some effective way

Coping flexibility

the ability to effectively modify or adjust one's coping strategies according to the demands of different stressful situations

Coping strategy

a specific method, behavioural or psychological, that people use to manage or reduce the stress produced by a stressor

Cortisol

a hormone secreted from the adrenal cortex to primarily energise the body in response to a stressor

Daily pressure

a type of stressor involving little problems of everyday living that are irritants; also called hassles

Distress

a negative psychological response to a stressor, indicated by negative psychological states such as anger, anxiety, nervousness, irritability or tension; compare with eustress

Eustress

a positive psychological response to a stressor, as indicated by the presence of positive states such as feeling enthusiastic, excited, active and alert; compare with distress

Exercise

physical activity that is usually planned and performed to improve or maintain one's physical condition, and which may also be useful for stress management or as a relaxation technique

Exhaustion stage

the third stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome when the body can no longer sustain resistance and the effects of a stressor can no longer be dealt with, resulting in the organism becoming weak and more vulnerable to physical and mental disorders

Fight-flight-freeze response

an involuntary, physical response to a sudden and immediate threat (or stressor) in readiness to confront, escape or avoid detection

Fight-flight reactions

reactions initiated by the sympathetic nervous system that prepare the body to fight off a threat or escape from it

Freeze reaction

reaction that results in an organism being in a physiological state involving high

arousal of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, resulting in a condition characterised by both energy conservation and a mobilised state ready for action

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

a three-stage physiological response to a stressor involving alarm reaction (shock/countershock), resistance and exhaustion

Life event

in relation to stress, a type of stressor in everyday life involving change that forces an individual to adapt to new circumstances

Major stressor

a type of stressor involving an event that is extraordinarily stressful or disturbing for almost everyone who experiences it

Primary appraisal

in the transactional model of stress and coping, an evaluation of the significance of a potential stressor resulting in a decision that it is either irrelevant, benign-positive or stressful

Resistance stage

the second stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, when the body's resistance to the particular stressor develops and rises above its normal levels

Secondary appraisal

in the transactional model of stress and coping, an evaluation of coping options and resources that may be available for dealing with a stressor

Stress

a state of physiological and psychological arousal produced by internal or external stressors that are perceived by the individual as challenging or exceeding their ability or resources to cope

Stressors

a stimulus that causes or produces stress; may be internal or external

Transactional Model of Stress and Coping

proposes that stress involves an encounter between an individual and their environment, and that a stress response depends upon both the appraisal of the stressor and the ability to cope with it