AP Psych: Unit 1 Part 2 Test

Neuron

 Specialized cells that transmit electrical signals; the communication lines of the brain

Synapse

The small gap between neurons where communication occurs that transfers signals using neurotransmitters between neurons

Myelin Sheath

A fatty layer that wraps around nerve cells, providing insulation and allowing electrical impulses to travel quickly and efficiently

What does degeneration of the myelin sheath cause?

Multiple Sclerosis

Action Potential

A brief electrical charge that travels down the axon and is triggered when the neuron reaches a threshold

Order of an action potential

Resting potential, reaches threshold, depolarization(action potential), refractory period, reuptake

Glial Cells

The brain's "support staff.";  Protect, nourish, and clean up after neurons; allows neurons to function properly

Sensory Neurons

Transmit signals to and from the CNS; carry signals from sensory receptors in the body towards the central nervous system

Motor Neurons

Transmit signals to and from the CNS; carry signals from the CNS to muscles and glands, causing movement

Interneurons

Neurons that connect sensory and motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord

Resting Potential(Polarized)

The state of a neuron when it’s ready to fire but hasn’t yet.

Threshold

The minimum level of stimulation needed to make it "fire" a signal

Action Potential(Depolarized)

When a neuron’s charge becomes less negative, leading to firing

Refractory period

After firing, the neuron needs time to reset before firing again

Reuptake

Drugs that prevent the reabsorption of neurotransmitters, increasing their activity

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across the synapse

Importance of neurotransmitters

Transmit signals between neurons, allowing for communication within the brain and body, regulate many functions, including mood, sleep, appetite, and memory, involved in processes like learning, emotions, and decision-making, affecting behavior and mental health, maintain the balance of excitatory and inhibitory signals, which is essential for proper brain function

Acetylcholine

Involved in muscle activation (involuntary), attention, memory, and learning

Acetylcholine Surplus Consequences

Muscle spasms, overstimulation, and headaches

Acetylcholine Deficit Consequences

Memory loss, muscle weakness, Alzheimer's disease

Endorphins

Inhibits pain perception (naturally) and creates feelings of euphoria

Endorphins Surplus Consequences

Euphoria, reduced pain sensitivity, can be addictive

Endorphins Deficit Consequences

Increased pain sensitivity, low mood, depression

Serotonin

Regulates mood, sleep, appetite, and digestion

Serotonin Surplus Consequences

Agitation, hallucinations, rapid heart rate

Serotonin Deficit Consequences

Depression, sleep disorders, anxiety

Dopamine

Regulates mood, reward, motivation, and motor control(voluntary)

Dopamine Surplus Consequences

Schizophrenia, psychosis, excessive pleasure-seeking behavior

Dopamine Deficit Consequences

Parkinson's disease, depression, lack of motivation

Antagonists/Agonists

Mimic the actions of a neurotransmitter or hormone to produce a response

Antagonists/Agonists Surplus Consequences

Abnormal heartbeat, including rapid or slow heartbeat

Antagonists/Agonists Deficit Consequences

Can disrupt how the brain works

Peripheral Nervous System

All the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; Connects the CNS to the rest of the body—like the highways and backroads that connect cities

Somatic Nervous System

Controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls involuntary actions like heartbeat, digestion, and breathing

Sympathetic Nervous System

Prepares your body for action in stressful situations

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Calms the body down after a stressful event

  Central Nervous System

The brain and spinal cord; Acts as the command center—processing information and sending instructions throughout the body

Medulla

Manages vital functions like breathing and heart rate

What happens when your medulla is damaged?

You wouldn’t survive

Reticular Formation

A network of neurons and nuclei in the brainstem that coordinates and integrates many vital brain systems

What happens when your Reticular Formation is damaged?

Disruptions in consciousness and arousal(causing coma)

Cerebellum

The part of your brain that lets you ride a bike or type without thinking about every movement.(important for motor learning and coordinating movements)

What happens if your cerebellum is damaged?

Poor-coordination, slowed speech

Pons

Control breathing and wake cycle, muscle control, coordination

What happens if your pons are damaged?

Paralysis, loss of sensation, breathing issues

Thalamus

Sends sensory information to the right areas of the brain for processing

What happens if your thalamus is damaged?

Memory loss, coma, sleep disorders

Hypothalamus

Regulates basic drives like hunger, thirst, and body temperature

Amygdala

Processes emotions, especially fear and aggression

Hippocampus

Plays a major role in forming new memories

Cerebral Cortex

Responsible for higher-level thinking and complex tasks

Broca’s area

Responsible for speech production. Damage here makes it difficult to speak

Wernicke’s area

Responsible for speech comprehension. Damage here can cause aphasia, making it hard to understand language

Sensory Cortex

helps you feel textures and temperatures

Motor Cortex

controls muscle movement

Auditory Cortex

a part of the temporal lobe of the brain that processes auditory information

Visual Cortex

At the rear of your head, they specialize in visual processing—everything you see is handled here

Corpus Callosum

Connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, allowing them to communicate with each other

What is split brain? How does it affect the Hemispheres?

When the corpus callosum is severed, each hemisphere specializes in different functions. The right hemisphere often handles spatial tasks, while the left handles verbal tasks. This leaves the hemispheres independent and unable to communicate with each other

Which hemisphere is responsible for facial recognition?

Right hemisphere

Which hemisphere is responsible for speaking fluently?

Left hemisphere

fMRI

Tracks blood flow in the brain, showing which areas are active during specific tasks

EEG

Measures electrical activity in the brain, helping scientists study brainwaves

How does the endocrine system work?

Controls many bodily functions by releasing hormones into the bloodstream, which then travel to cells throughout the body

Pituitary gland

The brain’s master gland, it releases hormones that regulate growth and other essential processes

Naturalistic observation

Non-experimental technique of observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

Case Study

Non-experimental technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

Experiment

Allows researchers to determine cause and effect relationships

Survey

A non-experimental technique for obtaining the self reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group usually by questioning a representative; random sample of the group

Correlation

To identify potential relationships between two variables

Meta-analysis

A statistical procedure for analyzing the results of multiple studies to reach an overall conclusion

Operational Definition

Describes the actions or operations that will be used to measure or control a variable, makes the variable more specific

Mean

Average Score

Median

Score that divides a frequency distribution exactly in half, so that the same number of scores lie on each side (middle)

Mode

Most frequently occurring score

Ethical guidelines

The moral principles and guidelines that shape how researchers conduct their studies that prioritize the well-being, dignity, and rights of all participants, whether they are humans or animals

Generalizable

The extension of research findings and conclusions from a study conducted on a sample population to the population at large

Parietal lobes

Lobe of sensory cortex

Back of frontal lobes

Lobes of motor cortex

Temporal lobe

Lobes of auditory cortex

Occipital Lobe

Lobe of visual cortex

Hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus

Which structures are in the limbic system?