UNIT 1 AP PSYCH

Eugenics

The false idea that some people should have kids and others shouldn't to make the human race 'better.'

Neurons

Basic units of the nervous system that transmit information through electrical and chemical signals.

Glial Cells

Supportive cells in the nervous system that provide structural support, nutrition, and insulation for neurons.

Reflex Arc

A neural pathway that controls a reflex action, involving sensory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons.

Neural Transmission

The process by which neurons communicate with each other through synapses using neurotransmitters.

Resting Potential

The electrical charge difference across a neuron's membrane when it is not actively sending a signal.

Threshold

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

Action Potential

A brief electrical charge that travels down the axon, leading to the release of neurotransmitters.

Depolarization

A change in a neuron's membrane potential, making it more positive and likely to fire an action potential.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses from one neuron to another.

Reuptake

The process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the sending neuron after transmitting a neural impulse.

Multiple Sclerosis

A disease where the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerves, leading to communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body.

Myasthenia Gravis

A chronic autoimmune disorder that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles due to impaired communication between nerves and muscles.

Hormones

Chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands that regulate various bodily functions.

Adrenaline (Epinephrine)

A hormone released by the adrenal glands that prepares the body for 'fight or flight' responses.

Leptin

A hormone that helps regulate energy balance by inhibiting hunger.

Ghrelin

A hormone that stimulates appetite, increasing food intake and promoting fat storage.

Melatonin

A hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles, produced by the pineal gland.

Oxytocin

A hormone involved in social bonding, sexual reproduction, and childbirth.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Involved in muscle action, learning, and memory.

Dopamine

Associated with movement, attention, learning, and the brain's reward system.

Serotonin

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal.

Norepinephrine

Influences alertness and arousal.

GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces neuronal excitability.

Endorphins

Natural painkillers produced by the body that also promote pleasure.

Substance P

Involved in the transmission of pain signals to the brain.

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory and learning.

Agonist

A substance that binds to a receptor and activates it, mimicking the effect of a neurotransmitter.

Antagonist

A substance that binds to a receptor but does not activate it, blocking the action of a neurotransmitter.

Reuptake Inhibitor

A drug that blocks the reabsorption of neurotransmitters, increasing their availability in the synaptic cleft.

Caffeine

A central nervous system stimulant that increases alertness.

Cocaine

A powerful stimulant that increases levels of dopamine in brain circuits related to movement and reward.

Alcohol

A depressant that slows down brain function and neural activity.

GABA Involvement

Alcohol enhances the effect of GABA, leading to sedative effects.

Marijuana

A drug that can cause altered perceptions and mood changes.

Heroin

An opioid that produces euphoria and pain relief but has a high potential for addiction.

Brainstem

Responsible for automatic survival functions.

Reticular Activating System

Regulates wakefulness and sleep-wake transitions.

Brain's Reward System

Involves structures like the nucleus accumbens and is associated with pleasure and reinforcement learning.

Cerebellum

Coordinates voluntary movements and balance.

Thalamus

Relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex.

Hypothalamus

Regulates bodily functions like hunger, thirst, and temperature.

Pituitary Gland

The 'master gland' that controls other endocrine glands.

Hippocampus

Involved in memory formation.

Amygdala

Processes emotions such as fear and aggression.

Corpus Callosum

Connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Occipital Lobes

Processes visual information.

Temporal Lobes

Processes auditory information and is involved in memory.

Parietal Lobes

Processes sensory information related to touch, temperature, and pain.

Somatosensory Cortex

Processes tactile information from the body.

Wernicke's Area

Involved in language comprehension.

Frontal Lobes

Involved in decision-making, problem-solving, and planning.

Motor Cortex

Controls voluntary muscle movements.

Broca's Area

Involved in speech production.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections.

EEG (Electroencephalogram)

Measures electrical activity in the brain.

fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Measures brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow.

Lesioning

The removal or destruction of part of the brain to study its function.

Left Hemisphere

Typically associated with language and analytical tasks.

Right Hemisphere

Typically associated with spatial abilities and face recognition.

Contralateral Hemispheric Organization

Each hemisphere of the brain controls the opposite side of the body.

Consciousness

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment.

Sleep

A natural state of rest for the body and mind.

Wakefulness

The state of being awake and aware.

Circadian Rhythm

The body's internal clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle.

NREM Stage 1

Light sleep, transition between wakefulness and sleep.

NREM Stage 2

Deeper sleep, characterized by sleep spindles.

NREM Stage 3

Deep sleep, also known as slow-wave sleep.

REM Sleep

Rapid Eye Movement sleep, associated with vivid dreams.

REM Rebound

An increase in REM sleep following deprivation.

Paradoxical Sleep

REM sleep, where the brain is active but the body is relaxed.

Insomnia

Difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks.

Sleep apnea

Breathing stops during sleep; causes repeated waking.

Somnambulism

Sleepwalking during non-REM sleep; person appears awake but isn't.

REM sleep behavior disorder

Muscles don't paralyze during REM; person acts out dreams.

Dreams

Sequences of images, emotions, and thoughts during sleep.

Activation-synthesis

Brain makes meaning from random neural activity during dreams.

Consolidation theory

Sleep helps stabilize and store memories.

Sensation

Process of receiving sensory input from the environment.

Transduction

Converting sensory input into neural signals the brain can interpret.

Absolute threshold

Minimum stimulation needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time.

Sensory adaptation

Reduced sensitivity to constant stimulation.

Just noticeable difference

Smallest detectable difference between stimuli.

Weber's Law

JND is a constant proportion, not a fixed amount.

Sensory interaction

Senses influence each other (e.g., smell affects taste).

Synesthesia

Stimulation of one sense leads to perception in another (e.g., seeing colors in sound).

Accommodation

Eye's lens changes shape to focus on near or far objects.

Nearsightedness

Can see near objects clearly, not far ones.

Farsightedness

Can see far objects clearly, not near ones.

Photoreceptors

Sensory cells (rods and cones) in the retina that detect light.

Rods

Detect black, white, gray; function in low light.

Cones

Detect color and detail; work best in bright light.

Light and dark adaptation

Eyes adjust to brightness or darkness.

Blind spot

Spot with no receptors where optic nerve leaves eye.

Trichromatic theory

Three color receptors (red, green, blue) make all colors.

Opponent-process theory

Color perception based on opposing colors (red-green, blue-yellow).

Afterimages

Visual image lingers after stimulus is removed.

Ganglion cells

Neurons in retina that send visual info to brain.

Dichromatism

Two working cone types; color blindness to one pair.