AP Psychology: Neurotransmitters & Hormones Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering chemical messengers, neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and hormones from AP Psychology Unit 1.3.

Neurotransmitter

Fast acting chemical messengers that travel between neurons.

Hormone

Slower chemical messengers that go through blood streams and influence emotion.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter responsible for motivation, reward, pleasure, motor control, attention, and learning. Neurotransmitter

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter responsible for mood regulation, sleep, appetite, digestion, and pain perception. Neurotransmitters

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter responsible for alertness, arousal, stress response, attention, and mood. Neurotransmitter

Glutamate

A neurotransmitter that serves as the main excitatory signal in the brain, involved in learning, memory, and synaptic plasticity. Neurotransmitter

GABA

A neurotransmitter that serves as the main inhibitory signal, providing a calming effect, reducing anxiety, and regulating muscle tone. Neurotransmitter

Endorphins

Neuropeptides that act as natural painkillers, providing euphoria, stress relief, and exercise-induced pleasure. Neuropeptides

Substance P

A neuropeptide involved in pain transmission, inflammation, and mood regulation. Neuropeptide

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter responsible for muscle contraction, memory, attention, and parasympathetic nervous system activation.

Neurotransmitter

Adrenaline (Epinephrine)

A hormone & neurotransmitter that triggers the fight-or-flight response, increasing heart rate, blood flow, and energy availability.

Leptin

A hormone that acts as a satiety signal, regulating energy balance and inhibiting hunger.

Ghrelin

A hormone that acts as a hunger signal, stimulating appetite and food intake.

Melatonin

A hormone produced in response to darkness that regulates sleep-wake cycles.

Oxytocin

A hormone & neuropeptide involved in social bonding, trust, empathy, childbirth, and lactation.