Unit 1A Notecards

Set 2- Inemesit AP Psych

Excitatory vs. Inhibitory

stimulate the next neuron to fire; BLANK chemicals decrease the likelihood that the next neuron will fire.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Enables muscle contraction, learning, and memory.

Norepinephrine

Controls alertness, arousal, and the "fight-or-flight" response.

Glutamate

The primary excitatory neurotransmitter; crucial for memory and learning.

Dopamine

Influences movement, motivation, pleasure, and the reward system.

Serotonin

Regulates mood, hunger, sleep, and emotional arousal.

GABA

The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter; calms neural activity and reduces anxiety.

Substance P

Transmits pain signals from sensory nerves to the CNS

Endorphines

Natural pain relievers and mood elevators released during stress or exercise.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

An autoimmune disease that damages the myelin sheath around neurons, slowing or blocking signal transmission.

Myasthenia Gravis

An autoimmune disorder where antibodies block acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction, causing muscle weakness.

Depressants

Drugs that slow down central nervous system activity and neural firing.

Alcohol

Depressant that enhances GABA and suppresses glutamate, impairing judgment, motor coordination, and reaction time.

Stimulants

Drugs that speed up central nervous system activity and increase alertness.

Caffeine

Mild stimulant that blocks adenosine receptors to reduce drowsiness.

Cocaine

Powerful stimulant that blocks the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, producing intense euphoria.

Hallucinogens

Drugs that distort sensory perception and evoke sensory images without sensory input.

Marijuana (THC)

Mild hallucinogen that binds to cannabinoid receptors, altering perception, relaxation, and memory.

Opioids

Drugs that depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety.

Heroin

Highly addictive opioid that mimics endorphins to relieve pain and induce euphoria.

Tolerance

The diminishing effect of a drug after regular use, requiring larger doses to experience the same effect.

Addiction

Compulsive craving and use of a substance despite adverse consequences.

Physical Dependence

A bodily need for a drug marked by physical withdrawal symptoms when use stops.

Psychological Dependence

An emotional or mental need to use a drug to relieve negative emotions or cope with stress.

Withdrawal

Discomfort and distress that follow stopping the use of an addictive drug.

Brainstem

The oldest part and central core of the brain; controls basic survival functions.

Medulla

Controls heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, and basic reflexes (coughing, swallowing).

Pons

Relays signals between the forebrain and cerebellum; coordinates movement and regulates sleep cycles.

Cerebellum

Coordinates voluntary movement, balance, posture, and procedural (muscle) memory.

Reticular Activating System (RAS)

A nerve network in the brainstem that controls arousal, alertness, and attention.

Reward Center

A dopamine-rich neural circuit that reinforces behaviors essential for survival.

Hippocampus

Integrates memories of rewarding experiences.

Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA)

Produces dopamine and sends it along reward pathways.

Nucleus Accumbens

Processes reward, pleasure, and reinforcement.

Prefrontal Cortex

Evaluates rewards and makes decisions regarding goal-directed behavior.

Limbic System

the brain’s emotion-and-motivation system.

Thalamus

The brain's sensory switchboard relays all sensory signals (except smell) to the cerebral cortex.

Hypothalamus

Regulates homeostasis and controls the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.

Pituitary Gland

The endocrine "master gland"; releases hormones that trigger other endocrine glands.

Hippocampus

Processes and consolidates conscious, long-term memories for storage.

Amygdala

Processes emotional reactions, particularly fear, anger, and aggression.

Corpus Callosum

The large band of neural fibers connecting the left and right brain hemispheres, enabling communication between them.

Lobes

major sections of the cerebral cortex.

Frontal Lobes

Involved in speaking, muscle movements, planning, and judgment.

Prefrontal Cortex

Manages executive functions like decision-making, planning, and impulse control.

Motor Cortex:

Controls voluntary muscle movements.

Parietal Lobes

Receives and processes sensory input for touch and body position.

Somatosensory Cortex

Registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.

Association Areas

Areas that integrate sensory information with stored memories for higher-level thinking.

Occipital Lobes

Primary visual processing center at the back of the brain.

Temporal Lobes

Primary auditory processing center; also contributes to language comprehension and face recognition.

Contralaterality

The anatomical principle that each brain hemisphere controls and receives sensory input from the opposite side of the body.

Brain Lateralization

The tendency for certain cognitive functions or neural processes to be specialized in one hemisphere

Split Brain / Hemispherectomy

- Surgical severing of the corpus callosum to treat severe epilepsy, isolating the two hemispheres.

-Surgical removal of an entire cerebral hemisphere to control intractable seizures.

Broca’s Area

Area in the left frontal lobe that controls language expression and directs muscle movements involved in speech.

Wernicke’s Area

Area in the left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension and expression.

Aphasia

Impairment of language, usually caused by damage to Broca's area or Wernicke's area

Brain Plasticity (Neuroplasticity)

The brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural pathways in response to learning, experience, or damage.

CAT / CT Scan (Computed Tomography)

Uses rotating X-ray cameras to create detailed, cross-sectional 2D/3D images of brain structures.

MRI Scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to generate high-resolution computer images of soft tissue and brain structure.

PET Scan (Positron Emission Tomography)

Tracks radioactive glucose consumption to display active brain areas during tasks.

fMRI (Functional MRI)

Measures blood flow and oxygen levels to reveal both brain structure and brain activity simultaneously.

EEG (Electroencephalogram)

Records electrical brain wave activity using electrodes placed on the scalp.

Lesioning

Deliberate surgical or experimental destruction of brain tissue to study the resulting behavioural changes.