AP Psychology

biological psychology

the scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes.

neuron

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

dendrites

a neuron bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses towards the cell body

axon

the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

myeline sheath

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neutral impulses hop from one sausage-like node to the next

action potential

a neutral impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

refractory period

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neutral impulse

all or none response

a neurons reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing

synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron the tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synpatic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptors sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether the neuron will generate a neutral impulse

reuptake

a neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron

endorphins

“morphine within” - the natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

agonist

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response

antagonist

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response

nervous system

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

central nervous system (NCS)

the brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

nerves

bunded axons that form neutral “cables” connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs

sensory (afferent) neurons

neurons that carry incoming info from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

motor (efferent) neurons

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

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

somatic nervous system

the division of the PNS that controls the body's skeletal muscles. also called skeletal nervous system

automatic nervous system (ANS)

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs. its sympathic division arouses; its parasympathic division calms

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the automatic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

reflex

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee jerk response

endocrine system

the body's slow chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues

adrenal glands

a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress

pituitary gland

the endocrine systems most influential gland. under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

lesion

tissue destruction. a brain lesions is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

electroencephalogram (EEG)

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brains surface. these waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp

CT (computed tomography) scan

a series of x-ray photographs taken from diff angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brains structure

PET scan

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive for of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

MRI

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated pages of soft tissue. shows brain anatomy

fMRI

a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as its structure

brainstem

oldest part and central core of the brain, begginging where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull.: the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

medulla

the base of the brain stem; controls heartbeat and breathing

thalamus

the brains sensory control center, located on top of the brain stem; it 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 brain stem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal

cerebellum

the “little bran” at the rear of the brain stem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory

limbic system

neural sysem (hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

amygdala

two Lima bean sized neutral clusters in the limbic system linked to emotion

hypothalamus

a neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs several maintenance activites (eating),, helps govern the endocrine system via the pititary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward

Cerebral cortex

intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and info processing center

glial cells

cells in the verous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking

frontal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments

parietal lobes

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

occipital lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes area that receive info from the visual fields

termporal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears: incldudes auditory areas, each receiving info primarily from opposite ear

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

somatosensory cortex

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

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary Motor or sensory functions; rather they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

plasticitiy

brains ability to change, especially during childhood by rerganizing after damage or bu building new pathways based on experience

neurogenesis

formation of new neurons

corpus callosum

the large band of neutral fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

split brain

condition resulting from surgery that islates the brains two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them

cognitive neuroscience

the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, language)

dual processing

the principle that information is often stimultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tacks

genome

complete instruction for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organisms chromosomes

identical twnis

twins who developed from a single ferto;oozed egg that splits in two

molecular genetics

the subfield of bio that studies the molecular structure and function of genes

epigenetics

the study of enviornmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

evolutionary psychology

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

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

mutation

random error in gene replication that leads to a change

hypothalamus = hypo the llamaas

cool them off = body temp

aunt amy (amygdala)

fear

hippocampus (hippos camping)

remember hippos camping

freddy plan our thoughts

frontal, parietal, occitpal, temporal

HAT hippo

hypothalamus, amydala, thalamus, hippocampus

front door

frontal lobe = decisions ENTER

PIErital lobe

kitchen - taste (pie)