AP Psych Unit 2

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154 Terms

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Neurons
Individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate, and transmit information.
Individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate, and transmit information.
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Soma/Cell Body
contains the cell nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells
contains the cell nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells
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Dendrites
Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.
Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.
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Axon
Long fiber that carries impulses away from the cell body of a neuron and transmits signals to other neurons
Long fiber that carries impulses away from the cell body of a neuron and transmits signals to other neurons
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Myelin Sheath
insulating material that encases some axons
insulating material that encases some axons
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Terminal Button
small knobs that secrete neurotransmitters
small knobs that secrete neurotransmitters
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Neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons and activate other neurons
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons and activate other neurons
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Resting Potential
the state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse/inactive, a stable negative charge (-70mV)
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Action Potential
A brief shift in a neuron's electrical charge positively that travels along an axon.
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Absolute Refectory Period
minimum length of time before another action potential can begin (1-2 milliseconds)
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All or None Law
neurons must fire or not fire, all action potentials are equal in strength (but not rate)
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Presynaptic Neuron
neuron that sends the signal (neural impulse) to another neurons
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Postsynaptic Neuron
neuron that receives the signal (neural impulse)
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Postsynaptic Potential (PSP)
a voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane, does not follow All or None Law (varies in charge/strength)
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Inhibitory PSP
a negative voltage shift that decreases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials
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Excitatory PSP
a positive voltage shift that increases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials
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Reuptake
the reabsorption of inactive neurotransmitters by a presynaptic neuron's terminal button
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Synaptic Pruning
the elimination of old or less-active synapses
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Acetylcholine (ACh)
neurotransmitter
-involved in motor neurons
-contributes to attention, arousal, memory, learning, movement and sleep
-excess: depression
-deficit: dementia
-agonist: nicotine
neurotransmitter
-involved in motor neurons
-contributes to attention, arousal, memory, learning, movement and sleep
-excess: depression
-deficit: dementia
-agonist: nicotine
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Dopamine (DA)
neurotransmitter
- involved in voluntary movement, attention, alertness
- known as the reward pathway
-excess: schizophrenia
-deficit: parkinson's disease
-cocaine increase dopamine synapse activity
neurotransmitter
- involved in voluntary movement, attention, alertness
- known as the reward pathway
-excess: schizophrenia
-deficit: parkinson's disease 
-cocaine increase dopamine synapse activity
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Norepinephrine(NE) / Epinephrine
neurotransmitter
- contributes to change in mood, arousal, fight or flight response
- cocaine elevates synapse activity
- excess: high blood pressure, schizophrenia
- deficit: depression
neurotransmitter
- contributes to change in mood, arousal, fight or flight response
- cocaine elevates synapse activity
- excess: high blood pressure, schizophrenia
- deficit: depression
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Serotonin
neurotransmitter
- regulates sleep, wakefulness, eating, aggression, mood regulation
-deficit: depression, anxiety disorders, OCD
- antagonist: LSD
- Prozac & SSRIS stop serotonin reuptake
neurotransmitter
- regulates sleep, wakefulness, eating, aggression, mood regulation
-deficit: depression, anxiety disorders, OCD
- antagonist: LSD
- Prozac & SSRIS stop serotonin reuptake
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GABA
neurotransmitter
- tends to work as an inhibitor
- regulates anxiety, sleep and arousal
- agonist: valium, anti-anxiety drugs, alcohol
- excess: seizures, insomnia
- deficit: anxiety disorders
neurotransmitter
- tends to work as an inhibitor
- regulates anxiety, sleep and arousal
- agonist: valium, anti-anxiety drugs, alcohol
- excess: seizures, insomnia
- deficit: anxiety disorders
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Endorphins
neurotransmitter
- contributes to pain relief, stress response and eating
- agonist: opiates (heroin & morphine)
- deficit: addiction
neurotransmitter
- contributes to pain relief, stress response and eating
- agonist: opiates (heroin & morphine)
- deficit: addiction
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Agonist
A chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter.
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Antagonist
chemical that blocks receptor sites
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Central Nervous System (CNS)
brain and spinal cord
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Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
all nerves outside of brain and spinal cord
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Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
nerves that connect to the heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles and glands (automatic, involuntary functions)
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Somatic Nervous System
nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and to sensory receptors (movement and senses)
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Sympathetic Division
branch of Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) that uses the body's resources for emergencies, division in flight or flight
branch of Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) that uses the body's resources for emergencies, division in flight or flight
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Parasympathetic Division
branch of Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) that conserves the body's resources
branch of Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) that conserves the body's resources
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Fight or Flight Response
autonomic, bodily and emotional response to either fight or flee a threat
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Afferent Nerve Fibers
axons carry info from the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) to Central Nervous System (CNS)
axons carry info from the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) to Central Nervous System (CNS)
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Efferent Nerve Fibers
axons carry info from the Central Nervous System (CNS) to Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
axons carry info from the Central Nervous System (CNS) to Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
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Spinal Cord
connects brain to the rest of the body through the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
connects brain to the rest of the body through the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
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Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
fluid that cushions and protects the brain
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Lesioning
destroying a piece of the brain
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Electrical Stimulation of the Brain (ESB)
Sending a weak electric current into a brain structure to stimulate (activate) it.
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James Olds' research on pleasure centers
rats would press a lever (hundreds of thousands of times) to stimulate the pleasure center of the brain (aka dopamine)
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Computerized Tomography scan (CT)
computer enhanced x-ray of brain structure
computer enhanced x-ray of brain structure
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magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI)
use of magnetic fields, radio waves and computerized enhancements to map the brain, better at mapping the brain than CTs
use of magnetic fields, radio waves and computerized enhancements to map the brain, better at mapping the brain than CTs
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Position Emission Tomography scans (PET)
use of radioactive markers to map the chemical activity in the brain
use of radioactive markers to map the chemical activity in the brain
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functional magnetic resonance imaging scans (fMRI)
new variations of MRI scans that monitor oxygen & blood consumption in the brain, and activity over time
new variations of MRI scans that monitor oxygen & blood consumption in the brain, and activity over time
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brainstem
responsible for automatic survival functions, connects the spinal cord to the brain
responsible for automatic survival functions, connects the spinal cord to the brain
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Hindbrain
-lowest part of the brainstem
-medulla, pons, cerebellum
-lowest part of the brainstem
-medulla, pons, cerebellum
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Medulla
-part of hindbrain
-attached to spinal cord
-controls unconscious essential functions, breathing, heartbeat, etc.
-part of hindbrain
-attached to spinal cord
-controls unconscious essential functions, breathing, heartbeat, etc.
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Pons
-part of hindbrain
-fibers that connect brainstem to the cerebellum
-part of hindbrain
-fibers that connect brainstem to the cerebellum
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Cerebellum
-part of hindbrain
-largest structure next to the back of the brain stem
-controls movement coordination, physical balance and fine motor skills
-part of hindbrain
-largest structure next to the back of the brain stem
-controls movement coordination, physical balance and fine motor skills
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Reticular Formation
-between hindbrain and midbrain
-contributes to controlling muscle reflexes, breathing and pain perception
-between hindbrain and midbrain
-contributes to controlling muscle reflexes, breathing and pain perception
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Forebrain
-largest, most complex region of the brain
-cerebrum, cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system
-largest, most complex region of the brain
-cerebrum, cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system
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Midbrain
-between hindbrain and forebrain
-helps with sensory processes, voluntary movement and releasing dopamine
-between hindbrain and forebrain
-helps with sensory processes, voluntary movement and releasing dopamine
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Cerebrum
-helps with complex thought
-part of forebrain
-helps with complex thought
-part of forebrain
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Cerebral Cortex
-wrinkled surface of the cerebrum
-part of forebrain
-wrinkled surface of the cerebrum
-part of forebrain
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Thalamus
-part of forebrain
-cluster of cells/axons
-help pass sensory info (besides smell) to the cerebral cortex, integrates info from senses
-part of forebrain
-cluster of cells/axons
-help pass sensory info (besides smell) to the cerebral cortex, integrates info from senses
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Hypothalamus
-part of forebrain
-cluster of cells
-regulate basic biological needs and controls the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
-supports endocrine system
- four Fs: fight, flee, feed, fornicate
-part of forebrain
-cluster of cells
-regulate basic biological needs and controls the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
-supports endocrine system
- four Fs: fight, flee, feed, fornicate
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Limbic System
-part of forebrain
-loosely connected network of structures, including parts of the thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygalda, etc.
-helps memory processes, experience emotion, contains pleasure centers
-part of forebrain
-loosely connected network of structures, including parts of the thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygalda, etc.
-helps memory processes, experience emotion, contains pleasure centers
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Hippocampus
-helps in transferring short term to long term memory
-forebrain
-helps in transferring short term to long term memory
-forebrain
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Amygalda
-helps in basic emotional responses
-forebrain
-helps in basic emotional responses
-forebrain
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cerbral hemispheres
right and left halves/hemispheres of the cerebrum
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corpus callosum
connects the two cerebral hemispheres
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Lobes
the different regions into which the cerebrum is divided
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Occipital Lobe
- includes visual cortex, which helps with visual signals and visual processing
- includes visual processing
- includes visual cortex, which helps with visual signals and visual processing
- includes visual processing
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Parietal Lobe
- includes somatosensory cortex, which helps with sense of touch
- registers touch, integrating input and monitoring the body's position
- includes sense of touch, feeling of temperature and pain, causing phantom limb syndrome, processing info from body
- includes somatosensory cortex, which helps with sense of touch
- registers touch, integrating input and monitoring the body's position
- includes sense of touch, feeling of temperature and pain, causing phantom limb syndrome, processing info from body
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Temporal Lobe
- includes auditory cortex, which helps with auditory processing
- helps with speech and language, hearing, speaking, verbal language
- includes wernicke's area, which helps with understanding language
- includes auditory cortex, which helps with auditory processing
- helps with speech and language, hearing, speaking, verbal language
- includes wernicke's area, which helps with understanding language
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Frontal Lobe
-largest lobe
- includes motor cortex, which helps with controlling muscle movement
- includes prefontal cortex, which helps with reasoning, planning, paying attention, decision making, etc.
- includes broca's area
-largest lobe
- includes motor cortex, which helps with controlling muscle movement
- includes prefontal cortex, which helps with reasoning, planning, paying attention, decision making, etc.
- includes broca's area
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Mirror Neurons
neurons that are activated by performing an action or by seeing another monkey or person perform the same action
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Prefrontal Cortex
very large, contributes to decision making and self control, reasoning, planning, decision making, impulse control
very large, contributes to decision making and self control, reasoning, planning, decision making, impulse control
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Brain Plasticity
-parts of the brain are anatomically flexible
-aspects of experience changes brain structure
-damage of sensory pathways/brain tissue leads to neural reorganization
- adult brains can generate new neurons
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Neurogenesis
the formation of new neurons
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Right Brain
controls left side of body, non verbal expressions, spatial skills, creativity
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Left Brain
controls right side of body, language, math, logic, analytics
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Robert Sperry's and Michael Gazzaniga's Research
cut and removed the corpus callosum to try and find treatment for epilepsy, found that it reduced seizures, but transfer of information between the two brains is lost
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Wernicke's Area
- temporal lobe
- comprehension of language
- temporal lobe
- comprehension of language
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Broca's Area
- frontal lobe
- production of speech
- frontal lobe
- production of speech
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Homunculus Brain Map
a map of brain areas showing what parts of the brain control parts of the body
a map of brain areas showing what parts of the brain control parts of the body
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Electroencephalogram (EEG) scan
monitors electrical activity of the brain (brain waves)
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ventricles
cavities within the brain that store cerebrospinal fluid (csf)
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Motor Cortex
helps with precise, fine muscle movement
helps with precise, fine muscle movement
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Somatosensory Cortex
helps control sensory info
helps control sensory info
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Auditory Cortex
knowt flashcard image
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Visual Cortex
knowt flashcard image
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Endocrine System
the glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream that help control bodily functions, heavily supported by the hypothalamus
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Hormones
chemical substances released by the endocrine systems (last long term and through the bloodstream, unlike neurotransmitters)
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pituitary gland
pea sized, releases variety of hormones, stimulates actions of other endocrine glands (called the master gland), part of endocrine system and CNS
pea sized, releases variety of hormones, stimulates actions of other endocrine glands (called the master gland), part of endocrine system and CNS
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Oxytocin
released by pituitary gland, controls reproductive behavior
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Pineal Gland
part of endocrine system, secretes melatonin, helps circadian rhythm
part of endocrine system, secretes melatonin, helps circadian rhythm
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Thyroid Gland
part of endocrine system, produces hormones that regulate metabolism, body heat, and bone growth
part of endocrine system, produces hormones that regulate metabolism, body heat, and bone growth
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Liver
supports endocrine system, helps with bloodwork
supports endocrine system, helps with bloodwork
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adrenal glands
glands that help the body recover from stress and respond to emergencies, secretes adrenaline
glands that help the body recover from stress and respond to emergencies, secretes adrenaline
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Pancreas
part of endocrine system, Regulates the level of sugar in the blood, secretes insulin, near the liver
part of endocrine system, Regulates the level of sugar in the blood, secretes insulin, near the liver
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Ovary (Gonads)
part of endocrine system, helps with reproductive health and fertility, secretes estrogen
part of endocrine system, helps with reproductive health and fertility, secretes estrogen
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Testis/Testicles (Gonads)
helps with reproductive health and fertility, secretes testosterone
helps with reproductive health and fertility, secretes testosterone
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Chromosones
threadlike strands of DNA molecules that carry genetic info 46 choromsones in cells, 23 from each parent
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Genes
DNA segments that pass on hereditary info
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Polygenic Traits
characteristics influenced by more than one part of genes
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Family studies
researchers assess hereditary influence by examining blood relatives to see how closely they all have one specific trait, correlative not causative, easily confounded
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Twin Studies
hereditary influence is assessed by comparing identical/fraternal twins on a specific trait, more accurate than family studies
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Monozygotic Twins
one egg splits, identical twins, 100% identical genes
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Dizygotic Twins
two eggs are fertilized at the same time, fraternal twins, 50% identical genes