Unit 1 Ap psych

cerebral cortex

largest part of brain, responsible for high-level functions like conscious thought, memory, language, and motor control

limbic system

regulates emotions, memory, motivation, and arousal

brainstem (medulla)

life-saving functions, same for all mammals, heartbeat + breathing

Reticular Activating System (RAS)

neurons that connect the brain, controlling arousal/alertness, voluntary movement, sleep, and responds to changes in surroundings

cerebellum

back of the brain storing learned movements, balance, coordination

thalamus

relay station for motor and sensory information

hypothalamus

links nervous and endocrine systems. regulates the 5 F’s: fight, flight, feeding, Fahrenheit, fornication

pituitary gland

master gland releasing hormones that regulate endocrine glands and body systems

hippocampus

located in temporal lobe, spatial memory and navigation

amygdala

determines what are memories and where they are stored. ties to emotion/anger, fear, aggression

corpus callosum

connects brain hemispheres and enables communication and collaboration between both hemispheres

occipital lobes

located at the back of the brain, interprets visual info (visual cortex)

temporal lobes

located in lower portion of brain, language processing, auditory processing

parietal lobes

behind frontal lobe, processes sensory information and processes and organizes info

somatosensory cortex

in the parietal lobe, processes sensory info and body position & movement

Wernicke’s area

in the left temporal lobe, helps understand speech, damage causes aphasia

frontal lobes

behind forehead, responsible for complex thinking, lang processing, personality

motor cortex

in cerebral cortex, controls voluntary movements and motor learning. more space is dedicated when body is moved more

Broca’s area

in left frontal lobe, speaking abilty/production. damage causes aphasia

pons

links brain to spinal cord, deals with swallowing, bladder control, sleep, hearing, equillibrium, breathing, and posture. may influence dreams

left hemisphere

responsible for verbal memory, speech, rational thought, lang. comprehension, recognition of words/numbers/sequences

right hemisphere

responsible for memory for shapes, musical/creative ability, simple commands, facial recognition, spatial intepretation

split brain

corpus callosum is cut, severing connection between brain hemispheres. objects in left visual field can be identified while objects in right cannot

neuroplasticity

brain’s ability to change and adapt.

Structural: experiences/memories changes brain structure

Functional: brain’s functions move from one part of brain to another

Wernicke’s aphasia

fluent but meaningless speech

Broca’s aphasia

intact intelligence & comprehension, not fluent speech

prefrontal cortex

located in frontal lobe, responsible for core of personality (judgement, decision making, restraint)

Electroencephalography (EEG)

test that measures electrical activity of the brain

nature

the influence from genetics,inherited traits, and genetic predispositions which predict health, behavior, and development

nurture

the influence of environment, upbnringing, education, and social experiences

genetic predisposition

increased likelihood of developing a certain trait or disorder because of inherited genetic characteristics

evolutionary perspective

traits can enhance an individual’s chances of survival and reproduction over generations

natural selection

individuals with beneficial traits are likely to survive and reproduce

eugenics

selective breeding and sterilization, junk science

twin studies

identical and fraternal twins are compared

reared together: more similar environments

reared apart: common environment

family studies

genetic links for characteristics or outcomes, can be related to health or disease

adoption studies

comparing similarities of biological parent-child pairs with adoptive parent-child pairs. biological mother also contributes prenatal environment

Schwann cell

cells that provide support and form myelin sheaths around axons

nervous system

network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to coordinate bodily functions

synaptic transmission

neurons communicate to send signals to other neurons at a synapse

glial cells

supporting cells providing insulation for axons, regulates neurotransmitters, and helps maintain and develop nervous system

reflex arc

neural pathway bringing an involuntary, automatic response to a stimulus

hormones

chemical messengers from endocrine glands that travel and regulate the body’s processes

adrenaline

fight or flight response

leptin

released to give emotion of being full; hunger (suppressant)

ghrelin

released to give attention to hunger (stimulation)

melatonin

regulates body’s sleep/wake cycle (circadian rhythm)

oxytocin

labor, lactation, love hormone

reuptake

neurotransmitters are reabsorbed and neural signal is terminated

multiple sclerosis

body’s immune system attacks myelin sheath, causing scarring and disrupted communication between brain and body

myasthenia gravis

condition causes abnormal weakness of muscles, affecting PNS

psychoactive drugs

substances altering perceptions, mind, and behavior by affecting the central nervous system

agonist

substance binding to a neurotransmitter receptor, mocking the effect of a natural neurotransmitter

antagonist

substance blocking effects of a neurotransmitter

reuptake inhibitor

substance blocking reabsorption of neurotransmitters, making effects last longer

marijuana

psychoactive drug causing euphoria, altered perceptions, anxiety, impaired cognition, addiction, respiratory problems

heroin

opioid causid euphoria, cardiovascular disease, opioid use disorder, changing sleep habits, infection, depression, overdose, death

tolerance

more amounts of a substance are needed to achieve a desired effect

addiction

chronic dependency on a psychoactive substance, despite negative consequences

withdrawal

physical, mental, emotional symptoms when a person stops using a substance they psychologically and physically depend on

stimulants

causes increased brain activity and body functions, alertness, energy, anxiety, restlessness, risk of crash

depressants

causes slow brain activity and body functions, impaired judgment and memory, reduced self-control, relaxation

caffeine

stimulant that causes increased energy, alertness, restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, preventing drowsiness

cocaine

stimulant that causes overdose, bizarre beheavior, withdrawal, medical complications, and cocaine use disorder

alcohol

depressant that causes lowered inhibitions, impaired decision making and judgment, impaired memory, reduced self control, aggression, false sense of confidence

neuron

cells that transmits information throughout the body through electrical impulses and chemical signals

dendrite

receives incoming signals from other neurons, converts signals into electric activity

axon

carries electrical impulses away from soma, sends messages to next nerve cell

terminal buttons

ends of an axon where chemical synapses are formed, neurotransmitters are released into the synapse

resting potential

soma waits in transmission until it reaches action potential

myelin sheath

protective layer surrounding axon (increases impulse speed)

synapse

open space between neurons where a nerve impulse is transmitted from one neuron to the next

all-or-none law

nerve will fire if threshold is met

direction of impulse

specific path of a nerve impulse (or action potential) within a single neuron

refractory period

post-action potential, neuron is repolarized, membrane is impermeable, neuron cannot fire again for a while and needs time to recover

threshold

minimum level of stimulation required to trigger a response

action potential

firing of the neuron; electricity begins in soma, moves in terminals, finshes in bulbs

soma

central part of neuron, processes messages from dendrites, generates action potentials to travel down to the axon

nucleus

cellular organelle that controls neurons within the central nervous system that share a similar function

node of ranvier

small, periodic gaps in the myelin sheath that insulates a neuron's axon

terminal branch

branching ends of the axon containing neurotransmitters

neural transmission

passage of impulses from one neuron to another

depolarization

negative and positive ions are together in the same nerve cell

neurotransmitter

chemical messengers that transit signals between neurons in the brain and nervous system

somatic nervous system

system that controls voluntary movements, sensory neurons, motor neurons

autonomic nervous system

system controlling involuntary movements such as heart rate, digestion, breathing

parasympathetic nervous system

resting system controlling relaxation levels, energy conservation, slows heart rate, homeostasis

sympathetic nervous system

active system controlling fight or flight response, blood flow, sweating

neural firing

electrical impulse that travels down a neuron's axon, transmitting information throughout the nervous system

excitatory

type of neural firing that helps a neuron fire an active potential and stimulate neural activity

inhibitory

signals that decrease the likelihood of a neuron firing an action potential

Acetylcholine (ACh):

Involved in every movement you make and breath you take, it's essential for voluntary movement and functions in the autonomic nervous system.

Dopamine:

Plays a role in motor control, reward, motivation, and emotion. Imbalances are implicated in certain neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Serotonin:

A mood modulator affecting emotional well-being, sleep, appetite, and cognitive functions. Abnormal levels are linked to depression and anxiety.

Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline): S

imilar to adrenaline, it is involved in alertness, arousal, and focus.

GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid):

The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, it calms neural activity and reduces the likelihood of neuron firing.

Endorphins:

Peptide neurotransmitters that act as natural pain relievers and contribute to feelings of pleasure.

Substance P:

A peptide that serves as a neurotransmitter involved in signaling pain.

Glutamate:

The most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, crucial for learning and memory by promoting neuronal excitation. Excessive glutamate can lead to excitotoxicity and neuronal damage.

biopsychology

study of how genetics, brain functions, and neurotransmitters affect behavior