Psych Vocab Quiz Part 1 1.1.-1.3

Adoption Studies

Studies comparing traits in adopted children to those of their adoptive and biological parents to disentangle genetic and environmental influences.

Environment

Every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to our experiences of the people and things around us.

eugenics

The belief and practice of improving the genetic quality of the human population through selective breeding and sterilization.

evolutionary psychology

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.

family studies

Research that focuses on the investigation of traits and behaviors within families to understand genetic and environmental influences.

genetic predisposition

An increased likelihood of developing a particular disease or condition based on an individual's genetic makeup.

Heredity

the genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring.

Nature–nurture issue

the longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today’s science views traits and behaviors as arising from the interaction of nature and nurture.

Natural selection

the principle that the inherited traits enabling an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will (in competition with other trait variations) most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

twin studies

Research comparing the similarities and differences in traits and behaviors between identical and fraternal twins to assess genetic and environmental influences.

central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord.

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.

autonomic nervous system (ANS

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). It is a part of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, and blood pressure.

sympathetic nervous system

Fight or Flight, it is the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy.

parasympathetic nervous system

Rest and Digest, the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles (Voluntary). Also called the skeletal nervous system.

nervous system

the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

Action potential

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

All-or-nothing principle

a neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing.

Axon

the segmented neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands.

Dendrites

a neuron’s often bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body.

Depolarization

The change in a neuron's membrane potential, making it less negative and more likely to fire an action potential.

Glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory.

Interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.

Motor neurons

Neurons that carry signals from the central nervous system to muscles, glands, and organs, controlling movement and bodily functions.

Multiple sclerosis

A chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, causing communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body.

Myasthenia gravis

An autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue due to a breakdown in communication between nerves and muscles.

Myelin sheath

The fatty substance that surrounds and insulates axons, speeding up the transmission of electrical signals along the neuron.

Nerves

bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sensory organs.

Neural transmission

The process by which information is communicated within the nervous system through electrical and chemical signals.

Neuron

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

Reflex

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk reflex.

Reflex arc

The neural pathway that controls a reflex action, involving sensory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons.

Refractory period

in neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state.

Resting potential

The stable, negative charge of a neuron's membrane when it is at rest and not transmitting signals.

Reuptake

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron.

Reuptake inhibitors

Substances that block the reuptake of neurotransmitters, increasing their concentration in the synapse and prolonging their effects.

Sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.

Synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.

Threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter that plays a key role in muscle movement, memory, and learning.

Adrenaline

It is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands (located above the kidneys) and certain neurons in the central nervous system. It plays a critical role in the body's "fight or flight" response to stress or danger by preparing the body to either confront the threat or flee from it.

Dopamine

It is a neurotransmitter and hormone that plays a key role in various brain functions, including reward, motivation, pleasure, and movement regulation.

Endocrine system

system the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands and fat tissue that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

Endorphins

“morphine within”; natural, opioid-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.

GABA

A neurotransmitter that Major inhibitory of brain activity, playing a key role in reducing neuronal excitability.

Ghrelin

A hormone that stimulates hunger and regulates energy balance.

Glutamate

The primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, involved in learning and memory, play a role in long-term potentiation

Hormones

Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues.

Leptin

A hormone that regulates energy balance by inhibiting hunger (let you know that you are full) and promoting energy expenditure.

Melatonin

A hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and is involved in the circadian rhythm.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter and hormone that mobilizes the brain and body for action, promoting alertness and arousal.(fight or flight)

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.

Oxytocin

A hormone and neurotransmitter involved in social bonding, trust, love and maternal behavior.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that regulates mood, appetite, and sleep, influencing emotional well-being and behavior.

Substance p

A neuropeptide involved in pain perception and inflammation in the nervous system.

Addiction

an everyday term for compulsive substance use (and sometimes for dysfunctional behavior patterns, such as out-of-control gambling) that continue despite harmful consequences. (See also substance use disorder.)

agonists

a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action.

Alcohol

A depressant drug that slows down brain function and impairs coordination and judgment.

antagonist

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action.

Caffeine

A stimulant drug that increases alertness and reduces fatigue by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain.

Cocaine

A stimulant drug that increases dopamine levels in the brain, leading to euphoria and heightened energy.

Depressants

drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

Hallucinogens

It distort perceptions and evokes sensory images in the absence of sensory input), some of which resemble the altered consciousness of near-death experiences.

Heroin

An opioid drug that produces euphoria and pain relief by binding to opioid receptors in the brain.

Marijuana

A psychoactive drug derived from the cannabis plant, known for its mind-altering effects and medicinal properties.

Opioids

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

Psychoactive drugs

Chemical substances that alter brain function and result in changes in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior.

Stimulants

Drugs that excite neural activity, increase alertness, attention, and energy, often by enhancing the activity of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine.

Tolerance

the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug’s effect.

withdrawal

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