AP Psych - Unit 3 (A and B) Vocab

Biological Psychology

a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior. (Some _____ psychologists call themselves behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psychologists, or biopsychologists)

Neuron

nerve cell, basic building block of nervous system

Sensory Neurons

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

Motor Neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information 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

Dendrite

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

Axon

the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons, muscles, and glands

Myelin Sheath

a layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulses hop from one node to the next

Action Potential

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

Threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

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 the junction is called the synaptic gap or cleft

Neurotransmitters

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

Reuptake

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

Endorphins

“morphine within” — natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.

Nervous System

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

Central Nervous System (CNS)

brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

Nerves

bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

Somatic Nervous System

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal system (skeletal nervous system)

Autonomic Nervous System

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs (heart). Sympathetic division arouses, parasympathetic division calms

Sympathetic Nervous System

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

Parasympathetic Nervous System

division of the autonomic 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 blood stream

Hormones

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

Adrenal glands

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

endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the ______ regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

CT Scan (computed tomography)

a series of X-Ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by a computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body. (Also called a CAT Scan)

PET Scan (positron emission tomography)

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

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. (MRI scans show brain anatomy)

fMRI (functional MRI)

technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. (fMRI scans show brain function)

Brainstem

oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the ___ is responsible for autonomic survival functions

Medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

Reticular formation

a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.

Thalamus

the brain’s sensory switchboard, located on the top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

Cerebellum

the “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance

Limbic System

doughnut-shaped neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

Amygdala

two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion

Hypothalamus

a neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; 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

Cerebral cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center

Glial Cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

Frontal Lobes

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

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

Occipital Lobes

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

Temporal Lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

Motor cortex

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

Sensory cortex

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

Associated 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

Aphasia

impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke’s area (impairing understanding)

Broca’s Area

controls language expression — an area, usually in the left frontal lobe, that directs muscle movements involved in speech

Wernicke’s Area

controls language reception — an area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe

Plasticity

the brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

Neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons

Corpus calossum

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

Split brain

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them (mainly those of the corpus callosum)

Consciousness

our awareness of ourselves and our environment

Cognitive neuroscience

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

Dual Processing

the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks