AP_Psych_Unit1_Complete_Flashcards

AP Psychology Unit 1 Vocabulary Flashcards

Heredity

Passing of traits from parents to offspring. Example: Hair color passed from parent to child.

Nature

Biological/genetic factors influencing behavior. Example: Born with high intelligence.

Nurture

Environmental influences on development. Example: Language learned through family interaction.

Genetic predisposition

Inherited tendency to develop a trait or disorder. Example: Family history of depression.

Evolutionary perspective

Focus on how natural selection shapes behavior. Example: Fear of heights protects survival.

Natural selection

Traits aiding survival are passed to offspring. Example: Thicker fur helps animals in cold climates.

Eugenics

Discredited movement to control genetics via breeding. Example: Forced sterilization of certain groups.

Twin studies

Comparing identical vs. fraternal twins to study heredity. Example: Identical twins show more similar IQs.

Family studies

Examining traits across family members. Example: Schizophrenia more common in relatives.

Adoption studies

Compare adopted kids to biological vs. adoptive parents. Example: IQ closer to biological parents' IQ.

Central nervous system

Brain and spinal cord. Example: Controls reflexes and thoughts.

Peripheral nervous system

Nerves outside brain and spinal cord. Example: Sends signals to limbs.

Autonomic nervous system

Controls involuntary body functions. Example: Heartbeat, digestion.

Sympathetic nervous system

Activates fight or flight. Example: Increased heart rate in danger.

Parasympathetic nervous system

Calms the body after stress. Example: Slows heartbeat after panic.

Somatic nervous system

Controls voluntary movements. Example: Raising your hand.

Neurons

Nerve cells that transmit signals. Example: Sensory neurons send pain messages.

Glial cells

Support and protect neurons. Example: Form myelin and clean debris.

Reflex arc

Simple neural path for reflexes. Example: Pulling hand from hot stove.

Sensory neurons

Carry info to brain/spinal cord. Example: Feel the heat from a flame.

Motor neurons

Send commands to muscles. Example: Telling leg to kick.

Interneurons

Connect neurons within CNS. Example: Process reflex response.

Neural transmission

Signal sent through a neuron. Example: Neurons firing when you see something.

Action potential

Electrical impulse down axon. Example: Neurons firing after threshold met.

All-or-nothing principle

Neuron fires completely or not at all. Example: Like flipping a switch.

Depolarization

Neuron becomes positively charged inside. Example: Triggers action potential.

Refractory period

Neuron resets after firing. Example: Brief pause before firing again.

Resting potential

Negative state of neuron at rest. Example: Ready to fire.

Reuptake

Neurotransmitters reabsorbed by sender neuron. Example: Serotonin taken back after message.

Threshold

Minimum needed to fire neuron. Example: Enough input makes neuron fire.

Multiple sclerosis

Disease damaging myelin. Example: Slows down nerve signals.

Myasthenia gravis

Autoimmune neuromuscular disease. Example: Weakness in face and limbs.

Excitatory neurotransmitters

Increase chance neuron will fire. Example: Glutamate.

Inhibitory neurotransmitters

Reduce chance neuron will fire. Example: GABA.

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter for reward and movement. Example: Low in Parkinson’s, high in schizophrenia.

Serotonin

Affects mood, sleep, appetite. Example: Low levels linked to depression.

Norepinephrine

Involved in alertness and arousal. Example: Increases heart rate.

Glutamate

Main excitatory neurotransmitter. Example: Too much = seizures.

GABA

Main inhibitory neurotransmitter. Example: Helps reduce anxiety.

Endorphins

Natural painkillers. Example: Released during exercise.

Substance P

Involved in pain perception. Example: Tells brain you’re in pain.

Acetylcholine

Involved in muscle movement and memory. Example: Low in Alzheimer’s.

Hormones

Chemical messengers in bloodstream. Example: Affect mood and metabolism.

Adrenaline

Prepares body for fight or flight. Example: Boosts energy in danger.

Leptin

Regulates hunger by suppressing appetite. Example: Produced by fat cells.

Ghrelin

Stimulates hunger. Example: Increases before meals.

Melatonin

Regulates sleep-wake cycle. Example: Released at night.

Oxytocin

Linked to bonding and trust. Example: Released during hugs.

Psychoactive drugs

Affect mood and perception. Example: Includes stimulants and depressants.

Agonists

Mimic neurotransmitters. Example: Morphine mimics endorphins.

Antagonists

Block neurotransmitters. Example: Naloxone blocks opioids.

Reuptake inhibitors

Block reabsorption of neurotransmitters. Example: SSRIs increase serotonin.

Stimulants

Increase brain activity. Example: Caffeine, cocaine.

Caffeine

Stimulant that blocks adenosine. Example: In coffee.

Cocaine

Powerful stimulant increasing dopamine. Example: Highly addictive.

Depressants

Slow brain activity. Example: Alcohol.

Alcohol

Depressant affecting judgment and motor skills. Example: Slurred speech.

Hallucinogens

Cause sensory distortions. Example: LSD, marijuana.

Marijuana

Mild hallucinogen, affects memory. Example: THC is active compound.

Opioids

Relieve pain and cause euphoria. Example: Morphine, heroin.

Heroin

Highly addictive opioid. Example: Causes intense euphoria.

Tolerance

Need more drug to get same effect. Example: Leads to higher doses.

Addiction

Compulsive drug craving and use. Example: Can’t stop using.

Withdrawal

Discomfort from stopping drug use. Example: Nausea, anxiety.

Brain stem

Controls vital functions. Example: Heartbeat, breathing.

Medulla

Regulates heart and lungs. Example: Involuntary breathing.

Reticular activating system

Controls alertness and arousal. Example: Keeps you awake.

Reward center

Brain areas associated with pleasure. Example: Dopamine pathways.

Cerebellum

Coordinates movement and balance. Example: Helps with walking.

Cerebral cortex

Outer brain layer for thinking and planning. Example: Solving math problems.

Limbic system

Controls emotion and memory. Example: Includes amygdala and hippocampus.

Thalamus

Relay station for sensory info. Example: Directs messages to the cortex.

Hypothalamus

Regulates hunger, thirst, temperature. Example: Tells you when to eat.

Pituitary gland

Master gland that controls other endocrine glands. Example: Releases growth hormone.

Hippocampus

Processes memories. Example: Helps store new facts and events.

Amygdala

Processes emotions, especially fear and aggression. Example: Activated when scared.

Corpus callosum

Connects left and right hemispheres. Example: Allows both sides to communicate.

Occipital lobes

Processes visual information. Example: Damage causes vision loss.

Temporal lobes

Processes hearing and language. Example: Active when listening to music.

Parietal lobes

Processes touch and spatial info. Example: Helps detect temperature.

Association areas

Regions involved in higher thinking and integration. Example: Link sensory input with memories.

Somatosensory cortex

Processes touch sensations. Example: Activated when someone touches you.

Frontal lobes

Controls planning, movement, and judgment. Example: Involved in decision making.

Linguistic processing

Understanding and producing language. Example: Wernicke’s area helps with comprehension.

Higher-order thinking

Complex thinking like reasoning and problem-solving. Example: Planning a strategy for a game.

Executive functioning

Managing attention, memory, and behavior. Example: Staying focused during class.

Prefrontal cortex

Part of frontal lobe involved in planning and personality. Example: Inhibits impulsive behavior.

Motor cortex

Controls voluntary muscle movement. Example: Used when waving your hand.

Split brain research

Studying people with severed corpus callosum. Example: Shows each hemisphere processes differently.

Hemispheric specialization

Different brain sides control different tasks. Example: Left = language, right = spatial.

Broca’s area

Controls speech production. Example: Damage = trouble speaking.

Wernicke’s area

Controls language comprehension. Example: Damage = nonsensical speech.

Aphasia

Language impairment from brain damage. Example: Broca’s = trouble speaking; Wernicke’s = trouble understanding.

Contralateral hemispheric organization

Left brain controls right body and vice versa. Example: Right hand controlled by left brain.

Plasticity

Brain's ability to adapt after damage. Example: Children recover language better than adults.

EEG

Measures brain’s electrical activity. Example: Used in sleep studies.

fMRI

Shows brain activity by tracking blood flow. Example: Identifies active brain areas.

Lesioning

Destroying part of the brain to study function. Example: Used in animal brain research.

Consciousness

Awareness of self and environment. Example: Daydreaming or focusing in class.

Circadian rhythm

Biological 24-hour sleep/wake cycle. Example: Feeling tired at night.