AP Pysch unit 1 cards
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81 Terms
biological psychology
the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.
app: how our bodies connect to our brain
neuron
a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.
app: communication
dendrites
a neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.
app: receptionists
axon
the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands.
app: action potential
myelin sheath
a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one sausage-like node to the next.
app: faster
action potential
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.
app: a message
refractory period
a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired.
app: reboot
threshold
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.
app: like activation energy in bio
all-or-none response
a neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a fullstrength response) or not firing.
app: yes or no, no maybe
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 .
app: space
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, they travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.
app: messengers
reuptake
a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron.
app: clean up crew
endorphins
“morphine within”—natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.
app: a happy hormone
agonist
a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response.
app: unlock, bind + activate
antagonist
a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response.
app: lock, bind, NO activation
nervous system
the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.
app: how we receive info
central nervous system (CNS)
the brain and spinal cord.
app: super important parts
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.
app: the EP of the nervous system
nerves
bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.
app: allows for our senses to work
sensory (afferent) neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.
app: receiving a stimulus
motor (efferent) neurons
neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.
app: sending reaction to stimulus
interneurons
neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.
app: the middle man
somatic nervous system
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system.
app: voluntary movements
autonomic nervous system
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.
app: involuntary movements
sympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.
app: fight or flight
parasympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.
app: relaxation
reflex
a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.
app: not a conscious action
endocrine system
the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
app: hormones
hormones
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues.
app: messengers that affect everything through the bloodstream
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.
app: gut feeling
pituitary gland
the endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
app: head of endocrine glands
lesion
tissue destruction. a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.
app: an injury
electroencephalogram (EEG)
an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
app: video of electrical waves
CT (computed tomography) scan
a series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain’s structure.
app: photo of structure
PET (positron emission tomography) scan
a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.
app: video of sugar activity
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. this scan show brain anatomy.
app: photo of structure using magnets
fMRI (functional MRI)
a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. these scans show brain function as well as its structure.
app: video of bloodflow
brainstem
the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions.
app: connects brain to spinal chord
medulla
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.
app: bottom = closest to important functions
thalamus
the brain’s sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.
app: top = closest to brain for delivering messages
reticular formation
a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal.
app: alertness, arousal
cerebellum
the “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.
app: ___bottom - at rear, so you don’t end up at a ceremony
limbic system
neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.
app: emotion system
amygdala
two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.
app: fear, emotion beans
hypothalamus
a neural structure; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.
app: maintenance + emotions
cerebral cortex
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center.
app: basically the noodley parts
glial cells (glia)
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking.
app: neuron guardians
frontal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments.
app: ednas is gargantuan
parietal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.
app: physical stuff and position (both start with p’s)
occipital lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields.
app: visual/eyes, eyes are circles, (letter) for ____
temporal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear.
app: audio, ____ lobes
motor cortex
an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.
app: motor = movement, go vroom
somatosensory cortex
area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.
app: processing of physical 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.
app: COMPLEX REASONING, putting two and two together, memory
plasticity
the brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.
app: how i can live laugh love in these conditions
neurogenesis
the formation of new neurons.
app: IN DA BANINGING (this helps me I promise)
corpus callosum
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.
app: bridge
split brain
a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them.
‘
app: independent hemispheres
consciousness
our awareness of ourselves and our environment.
app: do u know whats going on
cognitive neuroscience
the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language).
app: what does the brain do when we do stuff
dual processing
the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks.
app: two minds in one brain
behavioral genetics
the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.
app: nature
environment
every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us.
app: trauma
chromosomes
threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes.
app: what DNA makes
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.
app: MAP FOR PROTEIN
genes
the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins.
app: things we inherit
genome
the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes.
app: an organisms blueprint
identical (monozygotic) twins
twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms.
app: the real ones
fraternal (dizygotic) twins
twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment.
app: why are you even twins
molecular genetics
the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes.
app: the breaking down of genes and how they work
heritability
the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The amount of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied.
app: how different are people due to genetics?
interaction
the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity).
app: causation
epigenetics
the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change.
app: how nurture can effect expression of nature
evolutionary psychology
the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.
app: all lasting traits are/were necessary for survival
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.
app: survival of the fittest
mutation
a random error in gene replication that leads to a change.
app: albinoism
Paul Broca
French physician whose research led to the discovery of specialized language brain areas
app: ____’s area controls language formation
Carl Wernicke
German investigator whose research led to the discovery of specialized language brain areas.
app: _____’s area controls language comprehension
Roger Sperry
Psychologist that divided the brain of cats, monkeys, and humans by severing the corpus callosum
app: the split-brain cat experiment
Michael Gazzaniga
Psychologist that divided the brain of cats, monkeys, and humans by severing the corpus callosum
app: the split-brain cat experiment
Charles Darwin
Voyager that proposed natural selection
app: natural selection = root of behavior