AP Psych Unit 1

Nature-nurture issue

longstanding controversy over the contribution that genes and experience develop psychological traits and behaviors

Mutations

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change

Genes

Biological units of hereditary

Genome

the complete instructions for making an organism

Identical (monozygotic) twins

individuals who developed from a single fertilized egg that split in two, creating two genetically identical organisms

Fraternal (dizygotic) twins

individuals who developed from separate fertilized eggs that are no closer than ordinary siblings, but share a prenatal environment

epigenetics

the study of the molecular mechanisms by which environment can influence genetic expression (w/o DNA change)

Nervous System

the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system

Central nervous system (CNS)

brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

sensory and motor neurons that connect central nervous system to the rest of the body

Nerves

bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sensory organs

Sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptions to the brain and spinal cord

Motor neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process information between sensory inputs and motor outputs

somatic nervous system

also known as skeletal nervous system. division of peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles.

autonomic nervous system

parts of peripheral nervous system that controls glands and muscles of internal organs (like the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms

sympathetic nervous system

division of autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy

para sympathetic nervous system

division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

reflexes

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

Natural Selection

survival of the fittest

hereditary

passing of traits, features, behavior from parents to offspring

environment

two-way relationship between human beings and physical surroudning

evolutionary psychology

human behavior through evolutionary life

behavior genetics

how genetic and environment affect behavior/personality (mind)

interaction

two factors working together to inflate behavior/mental process

neuron

nerve cell; basic building block of the nervous system

cell body

part of a neuron that contains the nucleus; cells life-support center

dendrites

a neurons busy, branching extension that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward cell body

axon

segmented neuron extension that passes messages through its branches and other glands, neurons, & muscles.

myelin sheath

fatty tissue layer that enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses go from one node to the next

glial cells (glia)

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; play a role in learning, memory, & thinking

action potential

neural impulse; brief electrical change that travels down an axon

threshold

level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

refactoring period

in neural processing. a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired

all-or-none response

neurons reaction of either firing (full-strength response) or not

synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and dendrite/cell body of receiving neuron

neurotransmitter

the body’s chemical messenger that transmit signals from nerve cells to target cells across the synapse

Reuptake

a neurotransmitters reabsorption by sending neuron

endorphins

“morphine within”; natural opioid-like neurotransmitter linked to pain control/pleasure

agonist

molecule that increases a neurotransmitters action

antagonist

molecule that inhibits a neurotransmitters action

endocrine system

the body’s “slow” chemical communication system. Set of glands and fat tissue that secrete hormones’ into the bloodstream

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

psychoactive drug

any chemical substance that acts on the central nervous system to change brain function and alter mood, awareness, thoughts, feelings, or behavior

substance use disorder

a disorder characterized by continues substance use despite life disruption resulting from it

depressants

drugs that reduce neural activity, and slow body functions

tolerance

the diminishing effect with regular use if the same dose of a drug = larger and larger doses for affect

addiction

an everyday term for compulsive substance use (disruption)

withdrawal

discomfort and distress from discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior

barbiturates

drugs that depress CNS activity, reducing anxiety but affecting memory and judgement

opioids

opium and its derivatives; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessoning pain and anxiety

stimulants

drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions

hallucinogens

psychedelic drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

near-death experience

an altered state of consciousness reported after a close call with death

biological psychology

the scientific study of the biological and phycological bases of behavior, thoughts, and emotion

biopsychological approach

a holistic framework that looks at health, illness, and human development by combining biological, psychological, and social factors

levels of analysis

biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels

brain plasticity (neuroplasticity)

brains ability to reorganize, change, and adapt its structure/function in response to learning, experience, or injury

EEG

test that measures electrical activity of the brain using small metal discs (electrodes) attached to the scalp

MEG

brain imaging technique that measures the tiny magnetic fields produced by electrical neuron activity

MRI

brain scanning technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create clear pictures of soft tissue

CT

brain-imaging method showing brain structure

Lesions

any area of damaged, injured, or abnormal tissue in the brain

brain stem

controls vital involutory functions and basic arousal