AP Psychology QUIZ Review Unit 1.1-1.3 (Nature vs. Nurture, Nervous System, and Neurons)

acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter involved in muscle activation, memory, and learning.

action potential

A brief electrical charge that travels down the axon of a neuron, generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the neuron's membrane.

Alcohol

A depressant that slows down the central nervous system, impairing cognitive and motor functions.

autonomic nervous system

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary functions like heart rate, digestion, and glandular secretion.

axon

The extension of a neuron through which neural impulses are sent.

behavior genetics

The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

Caffeine

A stimulant found in coffee, tea, and many soft drinks that increases alertness and reduces fatigue.

central nervous system

The brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing and coordinating information.

Charles Darwin

An English naturalist who proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection.

Cocaine

A powerful stimulant drug that increases levels of dopamine in the brain, leading to intense euphoria and increased energy.

cognitive neuroscience

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language).

dendrites

Branchlike extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.

depressants

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in reward, motivation, and motor control.

dream

A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person's mind.

endorphins

Neurotransmitters that are natural painkillers produced by the brain.

environment

Every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us.

epigenetics

The study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change.

eugenics

A controversial and unethical movement aimed at improving the genetic quality of the human population.

evolutionary psychology

The study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.

Excitatory Neurotransmitter

A neurotransmitter that promotes the firing of neurons.

fraternal (dizygotic) twins

Twins who develop from separate eggs and are no more similar genetically than non-twin siblings.

GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)

The main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

genes

The biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein.

genome

The complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes.

glial cells

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons, and play a role in learning and thinking.

Glutamate

The main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain.

hallucinogens

Drugs that alter perception and cause hallucinations or profound distortions in a person's perceptions of reality.

heredity

The genetic transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring.

Heroin

An opioid drug that produces intense euphoria and pain relief, highly addictive.

hormones

Chemical messengers produced by the endocrine glands and circulated in the bloodstream, regulating the activity of target cells or organs.

identical (monozygotic) twins

Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms.

Inhibitory Neurotransmitter

A neurotransmitter that inhibits the firing of neurons.

interneurons

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.

Marijuana

A drug containing THC that alters mood, perception, and cognitive function.

motor (efferent) neurons

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

mutation

A random error in gene replication that leads to a change.

myelin

A fatty tissue layer that encases the axons of some neurons, speeding up the neural impulses.

natural selection

The principle that heritable traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

nature-nurture issue

The debate over the relative contributions of genetic inheritance and environmental factors to human development.

nervous system

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

neuron

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across the synaptic gap between neurons.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter and hormone involved in arousal and alertness.

opioids

A class of drugs that act on opioid receptors to produce morphine-like effects, including pain relief and feelings of euphoria.

parasympathetic nervous system

The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy and promoting rest and digestion.

peripheral nervous system

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body, transmitting information to and from the brain and spinal cord.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that affects mood, appetite, and sleep.

somatic nervous system

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles and transmits sensory information to the central nervous system.

Spinal Cord

The part of the central nervous system that transmits signals between the brain and the rest of the body.

stimulants

Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions, such as caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine.

Substance P

A neurotransmitter involved in the transmission of pain signals.

sympathetic nervous system

The division of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body's resources during stress and emergencies, preparing the body for 'fight or flight' responses.

synapse

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron, where neurotransmitters are released.

withdrawal

The discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug or behavior.

behavior genetics

The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

biological psychology

A branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior.

psychoactive drug

A chemical substance that alters perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior.