Unit 2 AP Psych

Mr. Hoffmann

Central Nervous System (CNS)

coordinates the actions and interactions of the brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

includes the sensory nerves outside the brain and spinal cord that connects the CNS to the rest of the body (basically sends the brains instructions all around the body and sends feelings to the brain)

Somatic Nervous System

The way we receive the info to have voluntary control of skeletal muscles

Automatic Nervous System

controls self regulated action

operates on its own without our awareness (autopilot) (Parasympathetic and Sympathetic)

Sympathetic Nervous System

intense reactions (fight or flight, fast heart rate, raised blood pressure, slowed digestion, alertness, uses energy)

Parasympathetic Nervous system

relaxed reactions (rest and digest, conserves energy, heart rate slows, lower blood pressure, calm)

Glial Cell

non neuronal cells that support, protect, and nourish neurons

Neurons

specialized cell in the nervous system that recieved and sends messages

Reflex Arc

the neural pathway that controls a rapid, involuntary and automatic response to stimulus.

Sensory Neurons

(Afferent)

messages from body’s tissues and sensory receptors to brain and spinal cord

Motor Neurons

(Efferent)

carry instructions from CNS to body muscles and glands

Interneurons

between sensory input and motor output, information is processed in the brains interneurons

Neural Transmission

process by which information travels through a neuron

All or nothing principle

for a transmission to happen it has to hit the threshold amount or else it wont move at all (no half transmissions)

Action Potential

the temporary change of voltage in a neuron that allows for the communication

Depolarization

The changing of the electric charge to positive or negative to be relative to the outside to cause action potential

Refractory Period

The period of time a neuron takes to reset after action potential

Resting Potential

the resting rate when the cell is not sending any signals

Reuptake

When the neuron reabsorbed the neurotransmitter after sending the signal out to then use it again

Firing Threshold

The threshold of voltage a neuron has to pass before anything happens

Multiple sclerosis

an autoimmune disease where the immune system accidentally attacks the myelin sheath

Myasthenia gravis

An autoimmune disease that cause weakness in voluntary skeletal muscles

Excitatory Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that increase the chances that a receiving neuron will fire

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that calm the brain and decrease the chance that receiving neuron will fire

Dopamine

helps control movement, motivation, and the want to do something based off of the feeling of reward. makes you feel good.

Serotonin

Helps regulate mood, digestion, and sleep

Norepinephrine

sharpens attention and reaction time/powers the fight or flight reaction

Glutamate

Helps you remember things (memory)

GABA

slows down nerve activity (causes you to relax)

Endorphins

natural painkiller / lowers stress

Substance P

Tells your body you are in Pain

Acetylcholine

controls muscle movement. attention, and memory

Adrenaline

triggers your fight or flight response

Leptin

regulates hunger, energy balance, and body weight

Ghrelin

Signals your brain when its time to eat

Melatonin

regulates your body’s sleep cycle/rhythm

Oxytocin

drives childbirth and breastfeeding as well as promoting things like wanting to cuddle and empathy

Agonist vs Antagonist drugs

Agonist drugs bind to the receptor to create a response

Antagonist drugs bind to the receptor to stop the response

Reuptake Inhibitors

Stops nerve cells from reabsorbing chemical messengers so that way the levels of them increase

Psychoactive Drugs

acts on the CNS and affects mood, awareness, thoughts, feelings and behavior

Stimulants (caffeine)

they increase the activity of the CNS

Depressants (Alcohol)

Slows down the activity of the CNS

Hallucinogens (marijuana)

disrupts normal neutral communication and causes changes in perception

Opioids (heroin)

blocks pain signals and floods the brain with dopamine

Tolerance

When the brain develops a lower desensitivity which in turn lowers the neurotransmitter production rate

Addiction/Dependence

When the brain is flooded with dopamine and rewires itself to need that same rewarding feeling

Withdrawal Symptoms

Nausea

Agitation

Anxiety

Insomnia

Brainstem

coordinates the body and send signals

Medulla

controls the most basic functions such as heart beat and breathing

Reticular Activating System

The reticular formation inside the brain stem that enables alertness/filters all sensory information

Reward Center

The group of neurons in the mid brain that produces dopamine and sends it to other areas

Cerebellum

helps coordinate voluntary movement (balance) also memories that u cant physically remember but know how to do things based off of them.

Cerebral Cortex

The part of the brain that integrates the information it is shown

Hemispheres

there are two halves of the brain and they can work together even though they have separated abilities.

Limbic system

The network of structures deep in the brain that regulates memory’s, emotions, and basic drives

Thalamus

all sensory messages except smell are routed through this and then are sent on the way to the correct part of the brain

Hypothalamus

The 4 F’s (fighting,fleeing,feeding,fornication*reproducing)

recognizes the need and tells your brain when you need one of these ^^^^^^^^

Pituitary Gland

the gland that controls all other glands

regulates growth stress and reproduction

Amygdala

controls primal emotions (fear and anger)

Hippocampus

processes memories and holds them so you can remember them and bring them back up

Corpus Callosum

The bundle of nerves in between the two hemispheres that allow for them to talk to each other

Occipital Lobe

Responsible for vision and receiving input for the brain from your visual fields

Frontal Lobe

responsible for decision making and personality

Parietal lobe

responsible for perception, arithmetic, and overall learning in general