AP Psychology Unit 1 - Part 1

neuron

a nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system

cell body (soma)

the part of the neuron that contains the nucleus

dendrites

bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body

axon

attached to soma, passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

myelin sheath

fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing axons of neurons; increases transmission speed and provides insulation

terminal branches

ends of axon containing terminal buttons which hold synaptic vesicles that store transmitters

neural impulse

chemical signals exceed threshold, neuron fires, transmitting an electrical impulse (action potential) down its axon by means of chemistry-to-electricity process

glial cells

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

threshold

level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

all-or-none response

neural firing happens at full response or not at all

excitatory signal

signals trigger action

inhibitory signal

signals depress action

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neutron

substance p

influences the brain's response to pain and inflammation

acetylcholine (ACh)

enables muscle action

dopamine

influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion

serotonin

affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

norepinephrine

helps control alertness and arousal

GABA (gama-aminobutyric acid)

a major inhibitory neurotransmitter

glutamate

a major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

endorphins

neurotransmitters that influence the perception of pain or pleasure

agonists

drug molecules that increases a neurotransmitter's actions

antagonists

drug molecules that inhibits a neurotransmitter's actions

reuptake inhibitors

blocks reabsorption of neurotransmitters back into neuron

psychoactive drugs

chemicals that change perception and moods

depressant

slow down neural activity

stimulants

excites neural activity

hallucinogens

distort perceptions and sensory images

opioids

type of depressant that reduces pain by acting an an endorphin

nervous system

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

nerves

bundles axons of many neurons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

central nervous system

decision maker; it is responsible for coordinating incoming sensory messages and outgoing motor messages

peripheral nervous system

made up of sensory and motor neurons

somatic nervous system

controls body's skeletal muscles also called the skeletal nervous system

autonomic nervous system

controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs

sympathetic nervous system

arouses the body, mobilizing its energy

parasympathetic nervous system

calms body, conserving its energy

endocrine system

secretes hormones into the bloodstream

adrenaline

fight or flight response

leptin

fullness hormone

ghrelin

appetite and energy balance

melatonin

sleepiness

oxytocin

love hormone

lesion

brain tissue is destroyed and researchers study the impact on functioning

stimulation

brain regions are stimulated electronically, chemically, or magnetically and researchers study impact on functioning

fMRI

continuously measures blood flow to parts of brain using magnetic imaging

EEG

electrodes placed on scalp measure electrical activity of neurons

pituitary gland

regulates growth and control of other endocrine glands

frontal lobe

associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement, emotions, and problem solving

motor-cortex

controls voluntary movements

sensory-cortex

registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

parietal lobe

receives sensory input for touch and body position

wernicke's area

language comprehension (hearing)

occipital lobe

vision

cerebellum

Balance and coordination

temporal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.

brocas area

speech production

hypothalamus

directs several maintenance activities such as eating, drinking, and body temperature; helps govern the endocrine system

amygdala

agression and fear

hippocampus

memory

thalamus

brain's sensory control center

reticular formation

arousal and multitasking

brainstem

automatic survival function

pons

coordinate movements and control sleep

medulla

heartbeat and breathing

plasticity

the brain's ability to change by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons

corpus callosum

wide band of axon fibers connecting two hemispheres of the brain

split brain

results when fibers of the corpus callous are severed isolating each hemisphere from the other