Advanced Placement Psychology Unit 1 Vocabulary Flashcards

Heredity/Nature

Genetic or predisposed characteristics that influence physical, behavioral, and mental traits and processes

Nurture

External factors that one experiences, such as family interactions or education

Evolutionary Perspective

Studies how individual humans are similar to each other due to common biology and evolutionary history

Natural Selection

Among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on

Eugenics

The search for "optimal" human traits and encouraging their propagation, while discouraging less desirable traits

Twin Studies

Research conducted among twins (both fraternal and identical) to see whether nature or nurture is more prevalent in determining their personalities

Family Studies

Research conducted among siblings, parents, or children to assess evidence for genetic links for characteristics or outcomes

Adoption Studies

Research that investigates the relationships between environmental factors in the development of personality, behavior, or disorder by comparing the similarities of biological parent-child pairs with those of adoptive parent-child pairs.

Central Nervous System

The brain and spinal cord/the body's "decision maker"

Peripheral Nervous System

Sensory/motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body (gathers info, transmits CNS decisions to the rest of the body). 2 Sub-components: Somatic and Autonomic

Nerves

bundles of neurons that form cables, connecting CNS with muscles, glands, and sensory organs

Spinal Cord

connects nerve bundles of the peripheral NS to the brain. Governs our reflexes, which do not involve the brain

Somatic Nervous System

Enables voluntary control of skeletal muscles/skeletal nervous system

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls glands/internal organ muscles (heartbeat, digestion, etc.). 2 subcategories: Sympathetic and Parasympathetic

Sympathetic Nervous System

arouses/expends energy (fight-or-flight) - acceleration of heartbeat and breath rate, rise in blood pressure, sweating, pupils dilating, etc.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Conserves energy - calms you down, constricts pupils, normal breathing and heart rate, stimulation of tear glands, etc.

Neurons

Transmit information

Glial Cells

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

Reflex Arc

Pathway of stimulus -> sensory neurons -> interneurons -> motor neurons -> muscle

Sensory Neurons

carry messages from the body's tissues/sensory receptors inward to the spinal cord/brain for processing

Motor Neurons

Carry instructions from the CNS to the body's muscles/glands

Interneurons

Reside within the brain/spinal cord, communicate internally and intervene between sensory inputs/motor outputs

Neural Transmission

The process where neurons transmit electrical signals to communicate with each other

Action Potential

The firing state of the neuron

All-or-Nothing Principle

Neurons are either firing or not firing

Depolarization

When the increase in sodium due to the axon's surface opening up makes the inside of the neuron more positively charged

Refractory Period

The short time period after action potential when the neuron is inactive and cannot re-fire

Resting Potential

The non-firing state of the neuron

Reuptake

When excess neurotransmitters in the synapse are reabsorbed by the sending neuron for later use

Threshold

When enough sodium moves in and a neural impulse is triggered

Multiple Sclerosis

A disease that results in degeneration of myelin, inaccurate delivery of signals, and diminished muscle control

Myasthenia Gravis

A disease that interrupts nerve signals from communicating effectively within the skeletal frame. Results in weakened skeletal muscles

Excitatory Neurotransmitters

Excites neighboring neurons and trigger/amplify the firing process

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

Prevent the firing process

Dopamine

Excitatory NT that influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion. Linked to schizophrenia and Parkinson's Disease

Serotonin

Inhibitory NT that affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal. Linked to depression

Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline)

Excitatory NT that helps control alertness and arousal. Undersupply can depress mood

Glutamate

Main excitatory NT that's involved in memory. Oversupply can produce migraines or seizures

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

Main inhibitory NT that's linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia

Endorphins

Inhibitory NT that influences the perception of pain and pleasure. Oversupply with opioids can suppress the body's natural endorphin supply

Substance P

Excitatory NT in the CNS involved in pain perception and immune response. Oversupply linked to chronic pain

Acetylcholine

Excitatory NT that enables muscle action, learning, and memory. Linked to Alzheimer's Disease

Hormones

Chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues

Adrenaline

Released by the adrenal gland - increases blood pressure, dilates eyes, etc. in response to acute stress

Leptin

Secreted by fat cells - send "I'm full" signal to the brain, increases metabolism/decreases hunger

Ghrelin

Secreted by empty stomach - sends "I'm hungry" signal to the brain

Melatonin

Secreted by the pineal gland - regulates sleep/wake cycles

Oxytocin

Secreted by pituitary gland - enables contractions during birthing, nursing milk flow, promotes pair bonding, group cohesion, called the "love hormone"

Psychoactive Drugs

Chemicals that alter the brain causing changes in sensory perceptions/moods

Agonists

Molecules that increase the effect of the NT, making it stronger

Antagonists

Molecules that inhibit or block the actions of the NTs by blocking their production or release

Reuptake Inhibitors

Prevent unused NTs from being reabsorbed by the sending neuron, leaving more NTs in the synapse for a longer time

Stimulants

Excite neural activity and speed up body functions, triggering mood/energy changes. Highly addictive

Caffeine

A stimulant that increases alertness and wakefulness, but causes anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia

Cocaine

A stimulant that causes a fast high and a fast crash. Causes cardiovascular stress, heightened aggressiveness, and paranoia/suspiciousness

Depressants

Diminish neural activity and slow NS/bodily function

Alcohol

Depressant that acts as a disinhibitor - makes us more likely to act on impulse, reduces self-awareness/control, disrupts memory, suppresses REM sleep.

Hallucinogens

Drugs that alter perception, thought, and mood

Marijuana

Hallucinogen that enhances sensation, relieves pain, distorts pain, and relaxes. Causes impaired learning and memory, increased risk of psychological disorders, impairs motor coordination, and increases depression/anxiety

Opioids

Depressant that relieves pain, causes euphoria and relaxation. Severe withdrawal symptoms

Heroin

Derivative of opioids

Tolerance

Requiring larger doses to achieve the desired effect

Addiction

A state of psychological and/or physical dependence on the use of drugs or other substances, or activities/behaviors

Withdrawal

Significant physical/mental discomfort when trying to quit

Brain Stem

The oldest and innermost region of the brain - contains the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain

Medulla

Controls heartbeat and breathing

Reticular Activation System

Regulates the sleep-wake cycle and turns off processing of sensory stimuli

Reward Center

Releases dopamine when we do pleasurable activities

Cerebellum

Processes sensory input, coordinates muscle movement and balance, enables non-verbal learning/memory, helps us judge passing of time, modulates emotions, discriminates sounds/textures

Cerebral Cortex

Thin layer of interconnected neural cells that acts as our body's control and information processing center

Limbic System

Neural system associated with emotion, behavior, motivation, and memory formation that contains the thalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus

Thalamus

Brain's sensory control center that receives info from all senses except for smell

Hypothalamus

Governs bodily "maintenance" activities. Lateral regulates hunger, Ventromedial regulates satiety/fullness

Pituitary Gland

Releases hormones by controlling all endocrine glands, controlled by the hypothalamus

Hippocampus

Processes conscious, explicit memories and involved in spatial perception

Amygdala

Neural clusters linked to aggression and fear

Corpus Callosum

Band of axons that connects the 2 hemispheres of the brain

Occipital Lobes

Visual - receives information from the visual field of opposite eyes for visual processing

Temporal Lobes

Processes auditory information, assists with memory.

Parietal Lobes

Receives sensory input for touch sensations (pain, pressure, temperature) and body position

Association Areas

Cerebral cortical areas dedicated to thinking, speaking, learning, and memory

Somatosensory Cortex

Area of the parietal lobe that takes in sensory input from corresponding body parts

Frontal Lobes

Largest lobe, behind your forehead

Linguistic Processing

The ability to analyze and interpret language

Higher-order Thinking

Critical thinking skills

Executive Functioning

Planning, focusing attention, remembering, and juggling multiple tasks

Prefrontal Cortex

Critical region of the brain located at the front part of the frontal lobes, involved in complex behaviors and executive functions

Motor Cortex

Sends signals to our body controlling skeletal muscle movements

Split Brain Research

Experiments that showed visual information gets stuck in one hemisphere

Hemispheric Specialization

Each hemisphere typically performs/assists with its own set of functions

Broca's Area

Disrupts speaking ability, can still comprehend normally

Wernicke's Area

Disrupts both language comprehension and expression

Contralateral Hemispheric Organization

Right hemisphere controls the left side of your body and vice versa

Plasticity

The brain's ability to change/modify itself

EEG

electroencephalogram, measures electrical waves

fMRI

Functional magnetic resonance imaging - measures blood flow

Lesioning

Intentionally damaging tissue that causes problems/disorders

Consciousness

Our awareness of ourselves and our surrounding environment

Wakefulness

A state of consciousness characterized by high levels of awareness, behavior, and thought

Sleep

A state of consciousness characterized by lower levels of physical activity and sensory awareness