Unit 2 AP Psych Test

Neuron

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system. Each has a cell body and it's branching fibers. Example: You get tapped on the shoulder, neurons communicate to your body to turn around.

Sensory Neuron

A neuron that brings in for from senses to the Central Nervous System (brain).

Interneurons

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that let the brain know what's going on and help the brain carry out decisions.

Motor Neurons

Neurons that deal with movement.

Nerves

Bundles axons that connect the CNS to muscles, glands, and organs. Sensitive.

Action Potential

A brief electrical charge that travels down the axon.

Axon

The neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands. Could be up to several feet.

Myelin Sheath

Covers and protects the axon.

Terminal Branches of Axon (Terminal Buttons)

End of axon that fits into dendrites.

Dendrite

The bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.

Excitatory Signals

Pushing the neurons accelerator (starting actions).

Inhibitory Signals

Pushing the neurons brake (stopping actions).

NEURONS REACTION IS AN ALL OR NOTHING RESPONSE. IT EITHER FIRES OR IT DOESN'T.

Synapse

The space between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.

Synaptic Gap/Cleft

The tiny gap between the two neurons at the synapse.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap. When released, they travel across gal and bind to the receptor site of the new neuron, completing the message.

Reuptake

Excess neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the neuron.

Refractory Period

The brief time right after a neuron fires where it can't create an action potential.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body. Brings information to and from the brain. Made up on the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.

Somatic Nervous System (Skeletal)

Enables control of skeletal muscles.

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls our glands and muscles of internal organs , such as heartbeat and digestion. Can be consciously overridden but mostly operates on autopilot. Made up of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Arouses and expands energy. Hypes your body up.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Calms your body and conserves energy.

The Endocrine System

The body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

Hormones

Chemicals that travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues and our brain. Influence our interest in sex, food, and aggression.

Endocrine Vs. Nervous System

Endocrine is slower but lasts longer.

The Pituitary Gland

Pea size structure located in the core of the brain. Also known as the "Master Gland", it controls the release of hormones that promote growth of the human body.

Adrenal Glands

A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's pleasure and reward system.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that affects hunger,sleep, arousal, and mood.

Epinephrine

Neurotransmitter secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress. Also known as adrenaline.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter involved in arousal, as well as in learning and mood regulation.

Endorphin

A neurotransmitter produced in the brain and anterior pituitary that inhibits pain perception .

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory.

GABA

An inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

Lesion

Brain tissue destruction that could be experimental or natural.

Brainstem

The oldest and innermost region of the brain, begins where the spinal cord meets the skull. It is responsible for automatic survival functions.

Medulla

The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.

Pons

Links the medulla and thalamus and coordinates movement.

Thalamus

Located at the top of the brain stem, it takes all senses (besides smell) and routes then into the brain. The sensory switchboard.

Reticular Formation

A nerve network in the brain that controls arousal. It travels through the brain stem. By stimulating it, a person would instantly wake up, while by depressing it the person would never wake up.

Cerebellum

The little brain located at the rear of the brainstem. Functions include nonverbal learning, modulating emotions, processing sensory input, coordinating movement, and controlling voluntary movements and actions.

The Limbic System

A system up of 3 components that are associated with human emotions and drives. The Amygdala, Hypothalamus, and the Hippocampus

Amygdala

Controls fear and aggression.

Hypothalamus

Controls human drives (sex, thirst, hunger) and homeostasis. Regulates body temperature.

Hippocampus

Converts short term memories into long term memories.

Right Brain

Creative and spatial.

Left Brain

Language and logic.

Lobes of the brain:

Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, Temporal.

Frontal Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement.

Parietal Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch.

Occipital Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information.

Temporal Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.

Aphasia

Impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (impairing understanding).

Broca's Area

Area of the left brain that controls language expression. Located within the frontal lobe, it directs muscle movements that help us speak.

Wernicke's Area

Area of the left brain that controls language reception in the brain. Located in the temporal lobe, it is involved in language comprehension.

Angular Gyrus

Transforms visual representations and words into an auditory code.

Brain Plasticity

The brain's ability to adapt and change. Works best during childhood, it can recognize the brain and make up for damage. Example: For blind and deaf individuals their brain uses those unused areas of the brain for other uses, such as Braille and touch.

Neurogenesis

The formation of new neurons. The talk of stem-cell research.

Corpus Callosum

The large band of neural fibers that connect the two brain hemispheres. It also shares information across the brain.

Split Brain

A condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) between them.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

A technique that can quantitatively measure the strength of activity in various regions of the brain at millisecond resolution.

Computed Tomography (CT)

A scanning technique using multiple X-rays to construct three-dimensional images.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

A method of brain imaging that assesses metabolic activity by using a radioactive substance injected into the bloodstream.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A technique that uses magnetic fields to indirectly visualize brain structure.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

A noninvasive imaging technique that uses magnetic fields to map brain activity by measuring changes in the brain's blood flow and oxygen levels.

Drugs

Chemicals that affect the central nervous system and alter activity in the brain. They change perceptions and moods through their actions at the neural synapses, and manipulate hormones.

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 the use of an addictive drug.

Physical Dependence

A type of addiction in which the body itself feels a direct need for a drug.

Psychological Dependence

The feeling that a drug is needed to continue a feeling of emotional or psychological well-being.

Addiction

Compulsive drug craving and use, despite adverse consequences.

Depressants

Drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

Stimulants

Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, and Ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

Hallucinogens

Drugs (such as LSD, Marijuana, Shrooms) that alter moods, thoughts, and sense perceptions including vision, hearing, smell, and touch.

Agonist

A chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter. Example: Heroin

Antagonist

A chemical that opposes the action of a neurotransmitter. Example: Cocaine.

Circadian Rhythm

Our bodies 24 hour biological cycle.

Sleep Cycle

A period of sleep lasting about 90 minutes and including one or more stages of NREM sleep, followed by REM sleep.

Hypnagogic Sensations

Life-like hallucinations that occur shortly after falling asleep; usually sensation of falling or floating.

Alpha Waves

Brain waves that indicate a state of relaxation or light sleep.

Spindles

Bursts of rapid brain activity.

Delta Waves

The large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep.

REM

Rapid Eye Movement

Paradoxical Sleep

The type of sleep encountered during REM when internally, the brain and body are active; while externally, the body appears calm and inactive.

REM Rebound

A condition of increased REM sleep caused by REM-sleep deprivation.

Insomnia

Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.

Sleep Apnea

A sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings.

Parasomnia

A sleep disorder characterized by abnormal movements or behaviors during sleep.

Night Terrors

Abrupt awakenings with panic and intense emotional arousal.

Sleep Paralysis

A temporary condition in which a person is unable to move upon awakening in the morning or during the night.

Carl Wernickle

an area of the brain (in the left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension and expression was named for him because he discovered it

Paul Broca

discovered area in the brain (named for him) in the left frontal lobe responsible for language production

Cerebral Cortex

the outer layer that lies on top of your cerebrum. Your cerebrum is the largest area of your brain. Your cerebrum divides your brain into two halves called hemispheres.

Association Areas

a region of the cortex of the brain which connects sensory and motor areas, and which is thought to be concerned with higher mental activities.