AP Psyc unit 1 (updated for 2025)

0.0(0)
studied byStudied by 0 people
learnLearn
examPractice Test
spaced repetitionSpaced Repetition
heart puzzleMatch
flashcardsFlashcards
Card Sorting

1/98

Study Analytics
Name
Mastery
Learn
Test
Matching
Spaced

No study sessions yet.

99 Terms

1
New cards

LTP

Long term potentiation- the ability of our neurons to activate when we recall info that we have already learned.

2
New cards

Epigenetics

The study of how environmental factors can influence gene expression without altering the DNA sequence itself.

3
New cards

Heritability

the amount of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genetics.

4
New cards

Central Nervous System

Brain and spinal cord

5
New cards

Peripheral NS

Brings info to central Nervous system

6
New cards

Somatic NS

The part of the peripheral nervous system responsible for voluntary muscle movements and conveying sensory information to the central nervous system.

7
New cards

Autonomic NS

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions, such as heart rate and digestion.

8
New cards

Sympathetic NS

A division of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for stressful or emergency situations, often referred to as the "fight or flight" response. Dialates pupils, decreases digestion

9
New cards

Parasympathetic NS

Calms your body down after a fight or flight response. Does the opposite of sympathetic NS.

10
New cards

Motor Neurons

Nerve cells that transmit signals from the central nervous system to muscles, enabling movement. Motor neurons recieve efferent signals from the brain

11
New cards

Sensory Neurons

Nerve cells that transmit sensory information from the body to the central nervous system, allowing perception of stimuli such as touch, pain, and temperature.

12
New cards

Glial Cells

Support and protect neurons, playing a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis in the nervous system. They also communicate, along with sending and receiving signals from the brain.

13
New cards

Cell Firing Pattern

Dentrite, soma, axon, terminal button, synapse

14
New cards

Synapse

The junction between two neurons where neurotransmitters are released, allowing communication between nerve cells. They are at the end of each terminal button

15
New cards

Myelin Sheath

A protective layer that surrounds the axon of a neuron, facilitating faster transmission of electrical signals.

16
New cards

Excitatory Neurotransmitter

A chemical messenger that increases the likelihood of a neuron firing an action potential, promoting the transmission of signals between neurons.

17
New cards

Inhibitory Neurotransmitter

A chemical messenger that decreases the likelihood of a neuron firing an action potential, inhibiting the transmission of signals between neurons.

18
New cards

Glutamate

The most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter. enhances learning and memory by strengthing synaptic connections.

19
New cards

GABA

Most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, it plays a crucial role in reducing neuronal excitability and promoting relaxation. Associated with various anxiety disorders, and is the breaks of the CNS

20
New cards

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters that act as natural painkillers and are involved in pleasure and reward.

21
New cards

Seratonin

A neurotransmitter that regulates mood, appetite, and sleep. It is often linked to feelings of well-being and happiness. Low levels are linked to depression

22
New cards

Action Potential

An electrical impulse that travels down the axon.

23
New cards

Reuptake

The sending neurons recollects neurotransmitters

24
New cards

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses between neurons, playing a crucial role in communication within the brain and throughout the nervous system. Different from hormones.

25
New cards

Acetylcholine (Ach)

Found in CNS and PNS. Involved in memory, learning, and movement. All movements involve Ach. Diminished Ach is associated with alzheimers.

26
New cards

Dopamine

Linked to the anticipation of pleasureable experiences. Also involved in movement, attention, and learning. Not enough = Parkinsons, too much= Schizophrenia

27
New cards

Ephinephrine (Adrenaline)

Neurotransmitter and hormone. Boosts energy. Primary chemical in the fight or flight response.

28
New cards

Norephinephrine

Arousal, alertness, vigilance. Highened sensitivity to surroundings. Heavily involved in sleep cycle.

29
New cards

Agonists

Drugs or toxins that lock into brain receptors and likely makes that neuron fire. They enhance actions of neurotransmitters

30
New cards

Antagonist

Drugs that block or inhibit some of the neuronal communication taking place. They often bind to receptors but do not inhibit it

31
New cards

Blood brain barrier

A barrier that allows some chemicals to pass from the blood into the brain but prevent other chemical structures from entering

32
New cards

Herion

Against for endorphins

33
New cards

Nicotine

Agonist for Ach- stimulate muscles and causes an increase in heart rate

34
New cards

Prozac

Reuptake inhibitor- inhibits the reuptake of serotonin which causes serotonin to flood the synapse

35
New cards

Cocaine

Inhibits the reuptake of dopamine- Agonist

36
New cards

Botox

Antagonist for Ach. Blocks it from reaching receptors and affected muscles can’t move

37
New cards

Depressants

Depress CNS

38
New cards

Opioids

Agonist for endorphins. Very Addictive. Herion, fentanyl

39
New cards

Stimulants

Psychoactive drug. Activate sympathetic nervous system. Increase brain activity

40
New cards

Hallucinogens

Psychoactive drug. Sensory and perceptive distortions

41
New cards

Medulla

Part of the hindbrain. Basic autonomic functions. Heart rate, breathing, blood pressure. Reflexes include swallowing, sneezing, and vomiting

42
New cards

Pons

Connects the brain stem and cerebellum. Helps coordinate and integrate movements on each side of the body. Also plays a role in sleep function

43
New cards

Reticular activating system (RAS)

A network in nerve fibers involved in attention, arousal, and alertness.

44
New cards

Cerebellum

Helps with balance and equilibrium, coordinated movement sequences, and implicit memory

45
New cards

Midbrain

Nerve system connecting higher and lower portions of the brain.

46
New cards

Limbic system

Consists of the thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus

47
New cards

Thalamus

The sensory switchboard. It receives and sorts sensory info then sends it to the cortex for further interpretation. Smell is the only exception.

48
New cards

Hypothalamus

Fight or flight response. Regulates sympathetic and parasympathetic NS. Initiates motivation to eat and lets you know when you’re full. Also contributes to sexual motivation.

49
New cards

Amygdala

Anger, aggression. Involved in fear response and memory, but usually only emotional ones.

50
New cards

Hippocampus

Converts short term memory to long term. Involved in processing and retrieving declarative (facts and events) memory.

51
New cards

Frontal lobe

Prefrontal cortex, motor cortex, Broca’s area

52
New cards

Broca’s area

involved in expressive speech

53
New cards

Motor cortex

involved in initiating involuntary movement. Contralateral (left hemisphere controls right side of the body). Body areas that make diverse and precise movements get more tissue on this strip of the brain.

54
New cards

Prefrontal cortex

Involved in the highest level cognitive functions. Thinking, planning, decision making, and impulse control.

55
New cards

Parietal lobe

Somatosensory cortex. Located near to back and top of the head.

56
New cards

Somatosensory cortex

Strip of tissue that represents your sense of touch. Contralateral.

57
New cards

Temporal lobe

Primary auditory cortex, audio association cortex, werenicke’s area. Located behind the ear.

58
New cards

Primary auditory cortex

main place for audio perception ot occur

59
New cards

Audio association cortex

figures out and names what you are hearing

60
New cards

Werenickes area

Involved in understanding/ comprehending language.

61
New cards

Occipital lobe

Primary visual cortex. Located at the back of the head (Eyes in the back of your head).

62
New cards

Primary visual cortex

main area for vision processing and perception.

63
New cards

Double blind procedure

where neither the proctor or the participants know if they were given the actual drug.

64
New cards

Case Study

Examines one individual or group in depth in the hope of reeling things true to us all.

Ex- brain damage, animal intelligence

65
New cards

Naturalistic observation

A descriptive technique of observing and recording natural behavior and naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate or control the situation

66
New cards

Survey

A descriptive technique for obtaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group.

67
New cards

Experiment

An investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental processes by random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors

68
New cards

Corpus callosum

A massive bundle of nerves, connecting the two hemispheres and allows communication between the two

69
New cards

EEG

Brain scan technology that measures the electrical activity coming off the brain (wires on head). Can be used to find epilepsy or sleep disorders

70
New cards

fMRI

Shows structure and brain function of brain. Measures changes in oxygen labels as brain areas activate or deactivate.

<p>Shows structure and brain function of brain. Measures changes in oxygen labels as brain areas activate or deactivate.</p>
71
New cards

CT scan

medical imaging technique that uses X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body, allowing for visualization of internal structures like the brain, providing information about the physical structure of the brain rather than its activity levels

72
New cards

REM sleep

Sleep stage consisting of rapid eye movement. It increases in length as night of sleep, progresses. Vivid dreaming, paralyzed body, and is an essential part of sleep for the mind.

73
New cards

NREM sleep

Non-rapid eye movement stages of sleep. Decreases length as night of sleep, progresses. Vague, partial images and stories. Night terrors, sleepwalking, and sleep talking in NREM 3. Essential part of sleep for the body

74
New cards

Restoration theory of sleep

Our bodies wear out during the day and we use up hormones, neurotransmitters, and energy. Sleep is necessary to restore these resources, and energize the body. Sleep helps restore and repair muscle and brain tissue. Sleep supports growth.

75
New cards

Memory consolidation theory of sleep

Sleep helps, restore and rebuild our memories of the days experiences. Memory consolidation occurs during REM. Sleep deprived, individuals struggle, both physically and cognitively.

76
New cards

Energy conservation theory of sleep

Based on evolutionary approach. Sleep protects us. As animals involved, sleep emerged to preserve energy and protect us during the part of the day when movement and activity are less likely to yield value and I’m more likely to expose it to danger.

77
New cards

Sigmund Freud

Proposed that dreams are the road to the unconscious mind, filled of content that we cannot face in conscious waking life.

78
New cards

Sclera

White part of your eye

79
New cards

Cornea

Front of the eye. Protects.

80
New cards

Lens

(Eyes) Clear, flexible. Bends, depending on what you were looking at.

81
New cards

Iris

Color part of the eye

82
New cards

Rods

Handles black-and-white vision, along with peripheral vision.

83
New cards

Trichromatic

Proposed by Herman Von Helmholtz. Focuses on the eyes. Sensation, objectively, observed and measured. Three types of cones in the retina that each perceive a different hue.

84
New cards

Opponent processing (eyes)

Proposed by Ewald Herring. Focuses on the brain. Perception, no one can independently measure what another person perceives. Does my brain process certain frequencies the same way as other people‘s brains.

85
New cards

Outer Ear

Has the Pinna

86
New cards

Pinna

Thing you put the back of your sunglasses on. It acts like a satellite dish or concert shell to help focus the signal into the ear.

87
New cards

Middle Ear

Has the ear drum

88
New cards

Ear drum

Tympanic membrane. Basically, a drum, air vibrations are carried to it from the air canal. Consists of three bones. The hammer, the anvil, and the stirrup.

89
New cards

Inner ear

Has the cochlea

90
New cards

Cochlea

About the size of a pea. Snail shaped and filled with fluid.

91
New cards

Place theory

The size of the wave depends on how hard stirrup hits the oval window. Where a wave crashes, on the organ of quartile is one way the brain perceives pitch.

92
New cards

Frequency theory

Frequency of signals tells the brain which pitch to interpret

93
New cards

Papilla

your taste buds are on it. Each one has hundreds of taste buds. Each taste has receptors that look for tastant molecules.

94
New cards

Taste receptors

Salty, sour, sweet, bitter, umami

95
New cards

Embodied cognition

The broad idea that the body isn’t just a dumb collector of information. The body works with the brain to help process and digest the amount of data that is happening in your nervous system every second.

96
New cards

Feedback loop

Your body gives your brain info and then your brain tells your body and it adjusts according to the info from the brain

97
New cards

Kinesthetic awareness

Awareness of how your body moves

98
New cards

Independent variable

The thing that you change in an experiment

99
New cards

Dependent variable

The thing that you measure in an experiment