AP Psych Unit 1.1-1.4 Review

natural selection

the principle that the inherited traits enabling an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations. 

evolutionary psychology

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

behavior genetics

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

nurture, nature

__________ works on what __________ provides (fat baby angel)

genome

the complete instructions for making an organism

identical (monozygotic) twins

individuals who developed from a single fertilized egg that split in two, creating two egg that split in two, creating two gametically identical organisms.

fraternal (dizygotic) twins

individuals who developed from separate fertilized eggs.

genetic, experiences

Environments can trigger _______ expression, and genetically influenced traits can influence the _________ we seek and the responses we evoke from others. 

nervous system

the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the PNS and CNS

central nervous system (CNS)

the brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

sensory and motor neurons

nerves

bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the CNS with the muscles, glands, and sensory organs

sensory (afferect) neurons

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

motor (efferent) neurons

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

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

duramater

outermost layer of the covering that protects the brain

arachnoid mater

spider web middle layer of the covering that protects the brain

pia mater

the bottom layer of the covering that protects the brain

meninges

protects the spinal cord

somatic nervous system

the division of the PNS that controls skeletal muscles

autonomic nervous system

division of the PNS that controls automatic functions such as breathing and your heart

sympathetic nervous system

fight or flight; arouses the body, mobilizing its energy

parasympathetic nervous system

rest and digest; calms the body, conserving its energy

neuron

the basic unit in which the entire brain and nervous system are built.

cell body

the cells life support center; contains the nucleus

dendrites

branching extensions that recieve messages from other cells

axon

passes messages away from the cell body to other neuron muscles or glands

myelin sheath

a fatty tissue layer that covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses

glial cells

provide nutrition and help protect neurons

action potential

a neural impulse; a brief electrical change travels down an axon

threshold

a level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

all-or-none-response

a neurons’ reaction of either firing or not firing

refractory period

a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired

negative

the charge inside of a neuron

positive

the charge on the outside of the neuron

dedrites

what is structure A?

axon

what is structure B?

cell body

what is structure C?

node of ranvier

what is structure D?

myelin sheath

what is structure E?

terminal branches

what is structure F?

excitatory signal/neurotransmitter

pushes neuron’s “accelorator”, makes a neuron more likely to reach action potential

inhibitory signal/neurotransmitter

pushes neuron’s “brakes”, makes a neuron less likely to reach action potential

synapse

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

refractory period

where a neuron cannot fire. prevents one signal from combining with another

endorphins

natural pain relievers and mood enhancers

agonist

binds to receptor sites and mimics the effects of a specific neurotransmitter

antagonist

binds to dendrites of a neuron and prevents or blocks its response

Acetylcholine (Ach)

• enables muscle action, learning, and memory

• undersupply → Alzheimer’s

dopamine

• movement, learning, attention, and emotion

• oversupply → schizophrenia

• undersupply → parkinsons

serotonin

• mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

• 90% found in stomach

• undersupply → depression

epinephrine

• energy and memory formation

• fight or flight

• in adrenal gland

norepinephrine

• alertness and arousal

• releases glucose

• undersupply → depressed mood

• found in adrenal glands

GABA

• major inhibitory neurotransmitter

• calms the CNS

• natural tranquilizer

• undersupply→ seizures

Glutamate

• major excitatory neurotransmitter

• opposite of GABA

• oversupply → migraines

Substance P

• pain perception

• oversupply→ chronic pain

hypothalamus

controls the pituitary gland

hypothalamus

controls the pituitary gland

pituitary gland

controls growth and produces/releases oxytocin

thyroid gland

affects metabolism by secreting thyroxin

parathyroid

regulates the level of calcium in your blood

pancreas

regulates blood sugar

depressants

drugs that reduce neural activity

alcohol, sedatives, benzodiazepines, opiates

barbituates

drugs that suppress the CNS; reduce anxiety and impair memory and judgement

opioids

depress neural activity, temporarily reducing pain and anxiety

stimulants

drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions

caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines

hallucinogens

drugs that distort perception and evoke sensory images w/o sensory input

LSD & marijuana

neuroplasticity

the brains ability to change by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

hemispherectomy

the removal of one of the halves of your brain

psychosurgery

another name for brain surgery

lesioning

the destruction of selective parts of the brain to reduce a behavior

x-ray

shows bones and solid structures

EEG (electrocardiogram)

measures electrical activity of the brain

MEG (magnetoencephalography)

measure magnetic field from the brains natural electrical activity

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

uses magnetic fields and radio waves to generate images of the body made up of soft tissue

fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)

measures blood flow and oxygen metabolism

CT/CAT scan (computerized axial tomography)

2D —> 3D images created of a body part

PET scan (positron emission tomography)

visualize slices of the brain to examine deep brain/body structures

DSI (diffusion spectrum imaging)

images the spectra of water diffusion in tissues

hindbrain

contains the medulla, pons, and cerebellum

essential surviving functions as well as coordination and balance

midbrain

sits atop the brainstem

connects the hind and forebrain

controls some motor movement and transmits auditory and visual information

forebrain

contains the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and hypothalamus

manages complex cognitive activities sensory and associative functions and voluntary motor actions

brainstem

the central core of the brain

control autonomic surviving functions

medulla

hindbrain structure that is the brainstems base

controls heartbeat and breathing

thalamus

the forebrains sensory control center atop the brainstem

directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

reticular formation

a nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus; it filters information and plays an important role in controlling arousal

cerebellum

the hindbrain's "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem

processes sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory

limbic system

neural system located mostly in the forebrain below the central hemispheres, associated w/ emotions

amygdala

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

hypothalamus

 a limbic system neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature) helps govern the endocrine system, and is linked to emotion and reward 

hippocampus

neural center in the limbic system that helps process explicit (conscious) memories--of facts and events-- for storage

oxytocin & vasopressin

hormones associated with trust and bonding

released in the hippocampus

cerebral cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the forebrain's cerebral hemispheres

the body's ultimate control and information- processing center

frontal lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead.

They enable linguistic processing, muscle movements, higher-order thinking, and executive functioning (such as making plans and judgements)

parietal lobes

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

occipital lobes

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

temporal lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; it includes the auditory areas

They also enable language processing. 

motor cortex

a cerebral cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.

somatosensory

a cerebral cortex area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations