AP Psychology Unit 1: Biological Basis of Behavior Key Terms

Heredity

the predisposed characteristics that influence an individual’s physical, behavioral and mental traits and processes

Nature

the biological and genetic factors passed down from parents that affect one’s physical traits, brain structure and behavior

Nurture

the environment surrounded in that refines one’s personality

Genetic predisposition

an increased likelihood of developing a health condition based on inherited DNA

Evolutionary perspective

focuses on natural selection, the passing down of genes and how many of behavioral traits and mental processes stem from our ancestors

Natural selection

humans and animals pass down select traits that assist survival

Eugenics

improving the genetic quality of the human population by promoting the reproduction of individuals with desirable traits and discouraging reproduction among those with traits deemed undesirable

Twin studies

a scientific study that compare identical and fraternal twins to determine the influence of nature versus nurture

Family studies

an examination of how family dynamics influence one’s behavior and personality

Adoption studies

a research method that compares adopted children to their biological parents

(additional) Epigenetics

examines how the environment and a person’s behaviors affect a person’s genes and how they work

Central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)

integrates information from different body systems, where the brain is responsible for processing sensory information with the spine connecting the brain to the rest of the body

Peripheral nervous system

the communication network that connects the CNS to the rest of the body

Autonomic nervous system

a peripheral nervous system branch that controls involuntary activity

Sympathetic nervous system

a division of the autonomic nervous system; fight or flight response, what gets your body mobilized and ready for action

Parasympathetic nervous system

A bundle of neurons that controls rest and digest

Somatic nervous system

An interconnected network of neurons that controls voluntary movements

Neurons

a specialized nerve cell that is the basic functional unit of the nervous system

Glial cells

cells provide help for the nervous system that help insulate neurons to speed up signal transmission and facilitate communication

Reflex arc

when a sensory organ directs the message to the spinal cord instead of the brain

Sensory neurons

nerve cells that carry electrical signals from your sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

Motor neurons

nerve cells that carry transmits signals from the central nervous system to the muscles and organs

Interneurons

Relay neurons that allow for information to pass between neurons and between the spinal cord and brain

Neural transmission

a chemical process by which nerve cells send messages to control our thoughts and actions

Action potential

a rapid electrical and chemical change in a neuron’s membrane that allows it to send messages down the axon

All-or-nothing principle

The idea that a neuron will only fire if the threshold is reached.

Depolarization

when positive sodium ions flood into the neuron, making the inside of the cell more positively allows for an electrical charge to move along the axon into the next neuron

Refractory period

a brief period where a neuron cannot charge again

Resting potential

the neuron’s stable, negative electrical charge when it is not sending a nerve impulse

Reuptake

when the sending neuron reabsorbs the extra neurotransmitters

Threshold

The minimum amount of stimulation required for a neuron to fire and send an action potential

Multiple sclerosis

when the myelin sheath is damaged, which disrupts the transmission of electrical signals

Myasthenia gravis

an autoimmune disorder that affects the communication between nerves and muscle

Excitatory neurotransmitters

neurotransmitter that will cause connecting neurons to fire

Inhibitory neurotransmitters

neurotransmitters that will prevent the next neurons from firing

Dopamine

a neurotransmitter that is involved in movement and pleasure

Serotonin

a neurotransmitter that impacts an individual’s hunger, sleep and mood

Norepinephrine

a neurotransmitter that increases your blood pressure, heart rate, alertness and helps with the body’s fight or flight response

Glutamate

a neurotransmitter that helps with long term memory and learning

GABA

a neurotransmitter that helps with sleep and calms down your nervous system

Endorphins

a neurotransmitter that helps with pain control and impact on an individual’s pain tolerance

Substance p

neurotransmitter that is involved in pain modulation

Acetylcholine

a neurotransmitter that enables muscle action, learning and helps with memory

Hormones

chemical messengers released by glands in the endocrine system

Adrenaline

a hormone that helps the body's response to high emotional situations and helps form memories

Leptin

a hormone that helps regulate by inhibiting hunger by signaling to the brain that the body has enough stored fat

Ghrelin

The hunger hormone, signals to the brain that we are hungry and helps promote the release of growth hormone

Melatonin

a hormone produced by the pineal gland that helps regulate sleep-wake cycles

Oxytocin

A hormone produced in the hypothalamus and is associated with social bonding and childbirth

Psychoactive drugs

substances that purposefully alter an individual’s perception, consciousness or mood

Agonists

A chemical or drug that enhances the effects of a neurotransmitter

Antagonists

A chemical or drug that prevents the effects of a neurotransmitter

Reuptake inhibitors

a drug that stops nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing chemical messengers

Stimulants

drugs that excite and promote neural activity

Caffeine

a natural stimulant found in coffee, tea, cacao and a common legal psychoactive substance

Cocaine

A powerful, highly addictive stimulant drug made from the leaves of the coca plant

Depressants

drugs that reduce neural activity

Alcohol

a fermented or distilled intoxicating beverage

Hallucinogens

Drugs that let individuals sense things that aren’t actually there

Marijuana

a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant which alters sensory perception and cognition

Opioids

a drug that functions as a depressant but have their own category due to their addictive nature, provides individual pain relief

Heroin

a highly addictive depressant drug that slows down the brain and nervous system

Tolerance

a reduced response to a drug after repeated use

Addiction

A chronic, relapsing behavior characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences

Withdrawal

the physical and psychological symptoms that happen when a person stops or reduces heavy drug use