AP Psychology Unit 2

0.0(0)
studied byStudied by 4 people
learnLearn
examPractice Test
spaced repetitionSpaced Repetition
heart puzzleMatch
flashcardsFlashcards
Card Sorting

1/134

Study Analytics
Name
Mastery
Learn
Test
Matching
Spaced

No study sessions yet.

135 Terms

1
New cards
Neurons
a nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system
2
New cards
Cell body/Soma
the cell's life support center
3
New cards
Dendrite
receives messages from other cells
4
New cards
Axon
the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands
5
New cards
terminal branches of axon
form junctions with other cells
6
New cards
myelin sheath
covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses
7
New cards
glial cells
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
8
New cards
action potential
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
9
New cards
threshold
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
10
New cards
all-or-none response
a neuron's reaction of either firing or not firing
11
New cards
excitatory signals
encourage action potential
12
New cards
inhibitory signals
depress action
13
New cards
Refractory period
a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired
14
New cards
neurotransmitter
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons
15
New cards
synapse/synaptic gap
the junction between on cell's axon tip and another's dendrite
16
New cards
reuptake
a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron
17
New cards
Acetylcholine
A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction. Malfunctions can cause paralysis.
18
New cards
Dopamine
A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's pleasure and reward system. Malfunctions can cause Parkinson's disease.
19
New cards
Serotonin
A neurotransmitter that affects hunger, sleep, arousal, and mood. Malfunctions can cause depression.
20
New cards
Norepinephrine
A neurotransmitter involved in arousal, as well as in learning and mood regulation. Malfunctions can cause depression.
21
New cards
GABA
A neurotransmitter that helps regulate the nervous system. Malfunctions can cause seizures, tremors, insomnia, and alcohol use disorder.
22
New cards
Glutamate
A neurotransmitter that deals with memory. Malfunctions can cause migraines and seizures.
23
New cards
Endorphins
A neurotransmitter that helps with pain control and pleasure. Malfunctions can suppress endorphins.
24
New cards
Agonist
Something that excites neuron firing
25
New cards
Antagonist
Something that inhibits neuron firing
26
New cards
central nervous system
Made up of the brain and spinal cord and is the body's decision maker.
27
New cards
periphreal nervous system
Gathers information and sends messages from the central nervous system
28
New cards
Nerves
bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
29
New cards
Sensory/Afferent Neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
30
New cards
Motor/Efferent Neurons
neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
31
New cards
Interneurons
Neurons in the brain where information from the other neurons are processed
32
New cards
somatic nervous system
Division of the PNS that controls the body's skeletal muscles.
33
New cards
autonomic nervous system
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs.
34
New cards
sympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
35
New cards
parasympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
36
New cards
reflexes
automatic responses to stimuli
37
New cards
Endocrine system
Works with the nervous system and produces hormones
38
New cards
Hormones
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues
39
New cards
Hypothalamus
brain region controlling the pituitary gland
40
New cards
Thyroid
regulates metabolism
41
New cards
Pituitary
Secretes many different hormones
42
New cards
parathyroid
helps regulate the level of calcium in the blood
43
New cards
pancreas
Regulates the level of sugar in the blood
44
New cards
adrenal glands
produces adrenaline
45
New cards
testes
produces male sex hormones
46
New cards
ovares
secretes female sex hormones
47
New cards
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.
48
New cards
MEG
measures magnetic fields from the brain's natural electrical activity
49
New cards
CT
x-ray of the brain
50
New cards
PET
a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
51
New cards
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
52
New cards
fMRI
a form of magnetic resonance imaging of the brain that registers blood flow to functioning areas of the brain
53
New cards
Brainstem
Begins where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull
54
New cards
Medulla
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
55
New cards
Pons
Part of the brainstem that coordinate movements and control sleep
56
New cards
Thalamus
part of the brainstem that relays messages between lower brain centers and cerebral cortex. Also controls all senses but smell.
57
New cards
reticular formation
a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal
58
New cards
cerebellum
Part of the brain that controls nonverbal learning, skill memory, judges time, manages emotions, and discriminates sounds and textures.
59
New cards
limbic system
neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives
60
New cards
Amygdala
A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression.
61
New cards
Hippocampus
A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.
62
New cards
cerebral cortex
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center
63
New cards
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
64
New cards
parietal lobe
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
65
New cards
occipital lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields
66
New cards
temporal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear
67
New cards
motor cortex
an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
68
New cards
somatosensory cortex
area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
69
New cards
auditory cortex
the area of the temporal lobe responsible for processing sound information
70
New cards
visual cortex
The visual processing areas of cortex in the occipital and temporal lobes.
71
New cards
association areas
areas of the cerebral cortex that are composed of neurons that help provide sense and meaning to information registered in the cortex
72
New cards
Broca's area
Controls language expression - an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.
73
New cards
Wernicke's area
controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe
74
New cards
Plasticity
the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
75
New cards
nuerogenesis
the formation of new neurons
76
New cards
corpus callosum
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
77
New cards
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
78
New cards
Sperry and Gazzaniga
known for their work with the split-brain
79
New cards
consciousness
our awareness of ourselves and our environment
80
New cards
cognitive neuroscience
the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language)
81
New cards
dual processing
principle that info is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks
82
New cards
blindsight
a condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it
83
New cards
parallel processing
the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously
84
New cards
sequential processing
best for solving new problems, which requires our focused attention
85
New cards
behavioral geneticists
study the role played by our genes and our environment in mental ability, emotional stability, temperament, personality, interests, etc.; they look at the causes of our individual differences
86
New cards
chromosome
a threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.
87
New cards
DNA
A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.
88
New cards
Genome
the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes
89
New cards
identical (monozygotic) twins
develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms
90
New cards
fraternal (dizygotic) twins
develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than ordinary brothers and sisters, but they share a prenatal environment
91
New cards
heritability
The proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied.
92
New cards
epigenetics
the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change
93
New cards
natural selection
the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations
94
New cards
mutation
a random error in gene replication that leads to a change
95
New cards
social scripts
culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations
96
New cards
circadian rhythm
the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle
97
New cards
Beta Waves
Brainwaves detected by an EEG that represent a state of fully alert wakefulness
98
New cards
Alpha Waves
brain waves that indicate a state of relaxation or light sleep
99
New cards
NREM1
light sleep, lasts a few minutes, slowing heart rate, alpha waves, hypnagogic hallucinations
100
New cards
NREM2
Relax more deeply; sleep spindles - bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain wave activity; 20 minutes