AP Psych Unit 2 Vocabulary

Corpus Callosum

Corpus Callosum

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

Dual Processing

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

Nature vs. Nurture

Nature: DNA, Genes, Chromosomes Nurture: Morals, family, friends, affiliations, politics, religion

Hereditary

the genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

Chromosomes

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes.

Genes

the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins.

DNA stands for

deoxyribonucleic acid

DNA

a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.

Brainstem

central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

Medulla

base of the brainstem, controls heartbeat and breathing

Thalamus

the brain’s sensory control center, 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 that travel through the brainstem into the thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal; think multitasking

Cerebellum

the “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.

Hypothalamus

a neural structure lying below (hypo) 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.

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 (CNS)

the brain and the spinal cord

Charles Darwin

Known for his principle of natural selection and his other contributions to evolution. He established the idea that all species of life come from the same ancestor.

Nerves

bundles of fibers that convey impulses of sensation, motion, etc. between the brain or spinal cord and other parts of the body

• the super highways of the nervous system

Interneurons

nerve cells in the CNS that connect neurons to neurons (not glial cells)

Neuron's Threshold

he level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

Synapse

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

Agonists

mimic a neurotransmitter at the receptor site and strengthen its effects

Antagonist

block the normal activity of the neurotransmitter at the receptor

amygdala

two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion

mutation

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change

hippocampus

a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process for storage explicit (conscious) memories of facts and events

limbic system

EMOTION; a system of functionally related neural structures in the brain that are involved in emotional behavior; includes amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus

endocrine system

the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

pituitary gland

the endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

hormones

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

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

EEG stands for

electroencephalogram

EEG definition

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp

CT stands for

computed tomography

CT scan definition

a series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain’s structure. (Also called CAT scan.)

PET scan stands for

positron emission tomography

PET scan definition

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

MRI stands for

magnetic resonance imaging

MRI definition

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. scans show brain anatomy

fMRI stands for

functional MRI

fMRI definition

a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as structure

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.

epigenetics

“above” or “in addition to” (epi) genetics; the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

natural selection

the principle that inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will (in competition with other trait variations) most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

evolutionary psychology

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

human genome

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

cognitive neuroscience

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

Temporal Lobes

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

association area

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

Occipital Lobes

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

Lobes

the major identifiable zones of the cerebral cortex, and they comprise the surface of each hemisphere of the cerebrum

agonists

a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action

antagonists

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action

Dendrite

a neuron’s often bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body

axon

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

myelin sheath

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next

Glial Cells

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

action potential

the local voltage change across the cell wall as a nerve impulse is transmitted

refractory period

the time after a neuron fires or a muscle fiber contracts during which a stimulus will not evoke a response

endorphins

“morphine within”—natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.

somatic nervous system

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

autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Two divisions: 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

parasympathetic nervous system

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

Reflex

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

motor neurons

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

motor neurons are also called

efferent neurons

sensory neurons are also called

afferent neurons

sensory neurons

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

cerebral cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center; outer layer that lies on top of your cerebrum

parietal lobes

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

neuron

a specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell.

neuron cell body

the part of a neuron (nerve cell) that contains the nucleus and most organelles

Pineal Gland

Helps with sleep, located in the center of the brain; easier to fall asleep in the dark than the light because of this

somatosensory cortex

located behind the frontal lobe, a region of the brain which is responsible for receiving and processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch, temperature, and pain

brain lateralization

the two sides of the brain are specialized to different information, to process sensory input in different ways and to control different types of motor behavior

Paul Broca's Contribution

discovered the speech production center of the brain

Broca's Area

motor production of speech

Thyroid gland

Releases hormones that control metabolism, hormones regulate the body’s functions, a butterfly-shaped organ located in the base of your neck

parathyroid hormone

produced by the thyroid glands helps maintain the right balance of calcium in the bloodstream and in tissues that depend on calcium for proper functioning. This is especially important for nerve and muscle function, as well as bone health

Drugs

a medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body

Genetics

the scientific study of genes and heredity

Carl Wernicke's Contributions

studied nerve disease and parts of the brain, discovered area which is essential in understanding language and speech

wernicke's area

comprehension of speech

neuroscience

the scientific study of the nervous system

cortical area

any of various regions of the cerebral cortex

biopsychosocial

emphasizes the interconnection between biological, psychological and socio-environmental factors

Adaptive value of traits and behavior

Genetic variety contributes to a species’ adaptation to its environment

zygote

a fertilized egg

monozygotic

derived from a single fertilized egg AKA identical twins

dizygotic

derived from two separately fertilized eggs AKA fraternal twins

molecular genetics

the branch of biology that is concerned with the structure and processes of genetic material at the molecular level

biological psychology

the study of the biology of behavior

Pancreas

makes insulin, regulates blood sugar levels

Testis and Ovaries

the primary reproductive organs, are the testes in the male and the ovaries in the female

neurotransmitter

a neurochemical that transmits nerve impulses across a synapse; chemicals released from the sending neuron that travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing it to generate an action potential

2 types of signals (neurotransmitters)

excitatory and inhibitory

reuptake

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron, reabsorbed back into the cell that released it

What are the three types of drugs?

stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens