AP Psychology Unit 2 Vocab

Absolute Refractory Period

The minimum length of time after an action potential during which another action potential cannot begin.

Acetylcholine (Ach)

A neurotransmitter involved in learning, memory and muscle movement

Action Potential

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

Adrenal Glands

A pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys. The adrenals secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which help to arouse the bode in times of stress.

Afferent Nerve Fibers

Axons that carry information inward to the central nervous system from the periphery of the body

Agonist

Excite neurons by mimicking natural neurotransmitters or blocking their reuptake to keep more in your system.

Alzheimer's Disease

An irreversible, progressive brain disorder, characterized by the deterioration of memory, language, and eventually, physical functioning.

Amygdala

Two almond-shaped neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emoption

Antagonist

Blocks neural impulses by blocking receptor sites or diminishing their release

Aphasia

Inability to use or understand language (spoken or written) because of a brain lesion.

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.

Autonomic Nervous System

The part of the nervous system of vertebrates that controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles and heart and glands

Axon

Long nerve fiber that conducts away from the cell body of the neuron

Biopsychology (Biological Psychology)

Specialty in psychology that studies the interaction of biology, behavior and mental processes

Behavioral Genetics

Study of hereditary influences and how it influences behavior and thinking

Brainstem

The part of the brain continuous with the spinal cord and comprising the medulla oblongata and pons and midbrain and parts of the hypothalamus.

Central Nervous System

The portion of the vertebrate nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord

Cerebellum

The "little brain" attached to the rear of the brainstem; it helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance

Cerebral Cortex

The layer of unmyelinated neurons (the gray matter) forming the cortex of the cerebrum

Cerebral Hemispheres

The right and left halves of the cerebrum

Cerebrospinal Fluid

Clear liquid produced in the ventricles of the brain

Computerized Tomography

A method of examining body organs by scanning them with X rays and using a computer to construct a series of cross-sectional scans along a single axis

Corpus Callosum

A broad transverse nerve tract connecting the two cerebral hemispheres

Dendrites

Branching extensions of neuron that receives messages from neighboring neurons

Efferent Nerve Fibers

Axons that carry information outward from the central nervous system to the periphery of the body

Electroencephalogram

A graphical record of electrical activity of the brain

Endocrine System

The system of glands that produce endocrine secretions that help to control bodily metabolic activity

Endorphins

Natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasures

Exitatory PSP

An electric potential that increases the likelihood that a postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials

Forebrain

The top of the brain which includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, and cerebral cortex; responsible for emotional regulation, complex thought, memory aspect of personality

Glial Cell

A type of cell that surrounds neurons, influences the communication among neurons, and generally helps in the "care and feeding" of neurons

Hindbrain

Division which includes the cerebellum, pons, and medulla; responsible for involuntary processes; blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, breathing, sleep cycles

Hormones

Chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another

Hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs eating, drinking, body temperature; helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion

Interneuron

Nerve cell located entirely in the central nervous system that integrates sensory information and sends motor commands

Inhibitory PSP

An electric potential that decreases the likelihood that a postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials

Lesioning

Destroying a piece of the brain

Limbic System

A system of functionally related neural structures in the brain that are involved in emotional behavior

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The use of nuclear magnetic resonance of protons to produce proton density images

Medulla

The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

Functional MRI

Allows researchers to scan areas of the brain while a participant performs a physical or cognitive task

Midbrain

The middle division of brain responsible for hearing and sight; location where pain is registered; includes temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and most of the parietal lobe

Myelin Sheath

A layer of myelin encasing (and insulating) the axons of medullated nerve fibers

Nerves

Neural "cables" containing many axons. These bundled axons, which are part of the peripheral nervous system, connect the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

Neural Networks

Interconnected neural cells. With experience, networks can learn, as feedback strengthens or inhibits connections that produce certain results. Computer simulations of neural networks show analogous learning.

Neuron

A cell that is specialized to conduct nerve impulses

Neuroscience

The scientific study of the nervous system

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

Peripheral Nervous System

The section of the nervous system lying outside the brain and spinal cord

Pituitary Gland

The master gland of the endocrine system

Plasticity

The brains capacity for modification, as evident in brain reorganization following damage (especially in children) and in experiments on the effects of experience on brain development

Positron Emission Tomography

Using a computerized radiographic technique to examine the metabolic activity in various tissues (especially in the brain)

Postsynaptic potential

The change in the membrane potential of a neuron that has received stimultation from another neuron

Reflex

An automatic instinctive unlearned reaction to a stimulus

Resting Potential

The potential difference between the two sides of the membrane of a nerve cell when the cell is not conducting an impulse.

Reticular Formation

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

Reuptake

A neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

Soma

Cell body of a neuron

Somatic Nervous System

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles

Sympathetic Nervous System

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

Synapse

the junction between two neurons (axon-to-dendrite)

Synaptic Cleft

synaptic gap or synaptic space; tiny gap between the terminal of one neuron and the dendrites of another neuron (almost never touch); location of the transfer of an impulse from one neuron to the next

Synaptic Vesicle

spherical sac containing neurotransmitters

Terminal Buttons

Small knobs at the end of axons that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters

Thalamus

The brain's sensory switchboard, 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

Threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

Pons

Just above the medulla; relays signals to cerebellum that deal with sleep, respiration, swallowing, bladder control, hearing, equilibrium, taste, eye movement, facial expressions, facial sensations, and posture.

Hippocampus

Connect present with past to remember locations of things in space; if damaged may lose ability to make new memories

Frontal Lobe

Involved in speaking and muscle movement, plans and judgement

Primary Motor Cortex

Parietal Lobe

Top rear of brain, behind frontal lobe. Integrates visual input and monitors body position in space

Somasensory Cortex

Primary processor for sensations of touch, temp, pain, pressure

Help locate sensation on body

Occipital Lobe

Back of head; primary visual cortex, shows what we see. Includes visual areas, which receive info from opposite visual field

Temporal Lobe

Primary auditory info; receives auditory information from opposite ear. Damage can impair comprehension of speech and language

Left side dedicated to speech sounds