ap psych unit 1 part 2 (copy) Allie’s

twin biology

effects of environments on two sets of twins: identical and fraternal. effects of shared and unique environments on partial genetic makeup

seperated twins similarities

personality, intelligences, interests, fears, abilities, aptitudes, brain waves, heart rates

parenting effects on twins/children

Parenting does effect on biologically related and unrelated children

nature vs nurture

psychological traits impacted by the environments, genes lay the foundation

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

sensory and motor neurons connect CNS to rest of the body

somatic nervous system

controls skeletal muscles (voluntary)

autonomic nervous system

involuntary systems

sympathetic nervous

fight or flight

parasympathic nervous system

calms the body down

neuron

nerve cell

dendrite

received messages from other neurons

axon

carries an electrical signal to other neurons

terminals of axon (terminal buttons)

branched ending of axons, transmit neurotransmitters to other neurons

action potential

neural impulse

threshold

stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

refractory period

after neuron fire, action potential pauses for short period to recharge to fire again

all-or-none response

when depolarizing current exceeds threshold, neuron fires, below threshold will not

synapse

junction between axon top of sending neuron and dendrite of receiving neuron

neurotransmitters

chemicals released form the sending neuron, bind to receptors, generate action potential

reuptake

neurotransmitters reabsorbed into sending neurons

agonist

chemical mimics or excites neurotransmitter

antagonist

chemical inhibits action of neurotransmitters

endorphins

neurotransmitter deals with perception of pleasure and pain (body's natural painkiller)

endocrine system

body's "slow" chemical communication system

hormones

chemicals synthesized by endocrine glands and secreted into bloodstream

neuroplasticity

brain's ability to change by building new pathways

pituitary gland

most influential gland ("master gland")

EEG

recording of waves of electrical activity across the brain's surface.; measured by electrodes placed on scalp. (shows functioning)

PET (positron emission tomography) scan

detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task (shows function)

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images of soft tissue. (shows structure)

fMRI

produces images while performing a task (shows structure and function)

medulla

controls heartbeat and breathing

reticular formation

nerve network in brainstem that plays role in controlling arousal

thalamus

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

cerebellum

"little brain" at rear of brainstem; coordinate voluntary movements and balance

amygdala

linked to fear and anger

hippocampus

responsible for memory

hypothalamus

below the thalamus; directs activities, eating, drinking, body temp. may also help govern endocrine system

cerebrum

topmost layer of brain

cerebral cortex

thin gray-matter covering cerebrum; carries thinking and perceiving

frontal lobe

associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement, emotions, and problem solving

temporal lobe

perception, auditory hearing, memory

occipital lobe

vision

parietal lobe

related to touch, pressure, temperature, pain

motor cortex

controls voluntary movements

sensory cortex

received info from skin to sense organs

aphasia

impairment of language

broca's area

controls physical activity of speaking

Wernicke's area

controls language comprehension

corpus callosum

bundle of nerves connects two hemispheres, allows communication

plasticity

brain ability to modify itself after injury

split brain patients

corpus collosum is severed, objects presented in the right visual can be named, left visual can not be named

psychoactive drugs

chemicals change how you think and feel, tolerance: physical and psychological dependence (difficult to quit)

depressant

drugs slow and calm neural activity

alcohol

impairs judgement, prevents recent events to go to long term memory

opiates

depress brain activity, brings pleasure with addiction, can lead to death

stimulant

excite neural activity and speeds up bodily functions

caffeine and nicotine

increase heart and breathing rates and other autonomic functions to provide energy

ecstasy or MDMA

produces euphoric high and can damage serotonin and dopamine producing neurons resulting in permanent deflation of mood and impairment of memory

cocaine

immediate euphoria followed by a crash, blocks reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine

hallucinogen

distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

LSD

powerful, also known as acid

THC

active ingredient in marijuana, mild hallucinations + other effects

acetylcholine

enables muscle action, learning, and memory, alzheimer's disease

dopamine

influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion, schizophrenia, parkinson's disease

serotonin

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal, depression

norepinephrine

helps control alertness and arousal, depress mood

Glutamate

excitatory neurotransmitter, migraine seizure

GABA

a major inhibitory neurotransmitter, seizures tremors insomnia