AP psyc unit 1

unit 1

Eugenics

human population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics

Nervous system

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

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord; body's decision maker

peripheral nervous system

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

Nerves

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

Sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors 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 that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles

automatic nervous system

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

Sympathetic nervous system

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

parasympathetic nervous system

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

reflexes

simple, automatic responses to sensory stimuli, such as the knee-jerk response

reflex arc

A relatively direct connection between a sensory neuron and a motor neuron that allows an extremely rapid response to a stimulus, often without conscious brain involvement.

neurons

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

dendrite

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

myelin sheath

A layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.

glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

axon

the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

refractory period

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

all or none response

a neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing.

resting potential

The difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a neuron's cell membrane

synapse

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

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

Acetylcholine

enables muscle action, learning, and memory

Dopamine

influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion

serotonin

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

Norepinephrine

helps control mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal; undersupply can depress mood

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

a major inhibitory neurotransmitter

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

Endorphins

natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

substance P

A neurotransmitter that is involved in the transmission of pain (perception and immune response) messages to the brain.

reuptake inhibitors

Drugs that interfere with the reuptake of neurotransmitters in the synapse so that a greater amount remains in the synapse

opiods

opiod binds to receptors in areas linked with mood and pain sensation

agonist

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response; may be similar enough to neurotransmitter to bind to its receptor

Antagonist

a molecule that inhibit or blocks a neurotransmitter's action

endocrine system

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

adrenaline (epinephrine)

secreted by the adrenal medulla; increases heart rate and blood pressure

pituitary gland

Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

oxytocin

a hormone released by the pituitary gland that causes increased contraction of the uterus during labor and stimulates the ejection of milk into the ducts of the breasts.

neural transmission

electrochemical communication within and between neurons and the final destination

depolarization

The process during the action potential when sodium is rushing into the cell causing the interior to become more positive.

neural impulse

action potential, electrical signal traveling down the axon

psychoactive drugs

a chemical substance that alters the brain which changes perceptions and moods

substance use disorder

continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk

depressants

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

alcohol

slows sympathetic nervous system which can cause speech and performance to deteriorate

opiods

depress neural activity temporarily reducing pain and anxiety

Barbituates

drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement

stimiulants

drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions

Stimulants examples

caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, cocaine

Nicotine

a stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco

cocaine

a powerful and addictive stimulant, derived from the coca plant, producing temporarily increased alertness and euphoria

Methanephetamine

(meth) triggers the sustained release of dopamine, sometimes leading to euphoria and energy

ecstacy

stimulant and hallucinogen. Produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short-term health risks and longer-term harm to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition.

Hallucinogens

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

Marijuana

a drug, often smoked, whose effects include euphoria, impairment of judgment and concentration and occasionally hallucinations; rarely reported as addictive

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

neuroplasticity

the ability within the brain to constantly change both the structure and function of many cells in response to experience or trauma

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.

MEG (magnetoencephalography)

a brain imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain's natural electrical activity

CT scan

a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body

PET

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

MRI

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain

FMRI

A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans.

Medula

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

Thalamus

the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

reticular formation

a nerve network in the brainstem that filters information and plays an important role in controlling arousal

cerebellum

A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills, and non verbal learning

hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

Hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

cerebral cortex

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.

frontal lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments

parietal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

occipital lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

Temporal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

Motor cortex

at the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

somatosensory cortex

an area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

cerebrum

two cerebral hemesheres that contribute 85% of the brains weight; enables our percieving, thinking, and speaking

Corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

split brains

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them

consciousness

a person's subjective experience of the world and the mind

dual processing

the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks

blind sight

a condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it

parallel processing

the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously

sequential processing

the processing of one aspect of a problem at a time; used when we focus attention on new or complex tasks

sleep

periodic, natural loss of consciousness--as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation

circadian rhythm

the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle

REM sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep, a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active.

stage 1 sleep

The state of transition between wakefulness and sleep, characterized by relatively rapid, low-amplitude brain waves.

stage 2 sleep

A sleep characterized by a slow, more regular wave pattern, along with momentary interruptions of "sleep spindles."

stage 3 sleep

third stage of sleep; deep sleep characterized by low frequency, high amplitude delta waves

NREM sleep

non-rapid eye movement sleep; encompasses all sleep stages except for REM sleep

Hypogogic sensations

Bizarre (strange) experiences such as jerking or a feeling of falling or floating weightlessly, while transitioning to sleep.

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