AP Psychology Unit 1A: Biological Bases of Behavior Vocab

Heredity

The passing of traits from parents to offspring, either through asexual or sexual reproduction.

Evolutionary perspective

A psychological approach that emphasizes the role of evolutionary processes in shaping behavior and mental processes.

Natural selection

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Eugenics

A social philosophy advocating for the improvement of the genetic quality of the human population, often through selective breeding.

Central nervous system (CNS)

The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing and transmitting information.

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

The part of the nervous system outside the CNS, including nerves and ganglia, that connects the CNS to limbs and organs.

Autonomic nervous system

A subdivision of the PNS that controls involuntary functions like heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate.

Somatic nervous system

The part of the PNS that controls voluntary movements and transmits sensory and motor information to and from the CNS.

Sympathetic nervous system

A division of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for "fight or flight" responses during stressful situations.

Parasympathetic nervous system

A division of the autonomic nervous system that promotes "rest and digest" functions, conserving energy and calming the body.

Glial cells

Non-neuronal cells in the nervous system that support and protect neurons, playing roles in nutrient supply and maintenance of the extracellular environment.

Reflex arc

The neural pathway that controls a reflex, involving sensory input, processing in the spinal cord, and motor output without involving conscious brain activity.

Sensory neurons

Neurons that transmit sensory information (e.g., touch, pain, temperature) from receptors to the CNS.

Motor neurons

Neurons that transmit signals from the CNS to muscles or glands to initiate movement or actions.

Interneurons

Neurons that connect sensory and motor neurons within the CNS, playing a role in reflexes and neural communication.

All-or-Nothing principle

The concept that a neuron either fully fires or does not fire at all; action potentials have the same strength regardless of stimulus intensity.

Depolarization

A reduction in the electrical charge difference across a cell membrane, typically leading to an action potential.

Refractory period

The period following an action potential during which a neuron is unable to fire again until it returns to its resting state.

Resting potential

The electrical charge across the membrane of a neuron when it is not active, typically around -70 mV.

Reuptake

The process by which neurotransmitters are absorbed back into the presynaptic neuron after being released into the synapse, stopping the signal transmission.

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

A chronic disease affecting the CNS, where the immune system attacks the myelin sheath covering nerves, leading to communication problems between the brain and body.

Myasthenia gravis

An autoimmune disorder where antibodies block or destroy acetylcholine receptors, leading to muscle weakness and fatigue.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, pleasure, and reward, as well as motor control.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation, sleep, appetite, and emotional well-being.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter and hormone involved in arousal, attention, and the fight-or-flight response.

Glutamate

The most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS, involved in cognitive functions like learning and memory.

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS, reducing neuronal excitability and helping control anxiety and stress.

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters that act as natural painkillers, reducing pain and promoting feelings of pleasure or well-being.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter involved in muscle contraction, memory, and learning.

Substance P

A neurotransmitter involved in transmitting pain signals to the brain.

Leptin

A hormone that regulates energy balance by inhibiting hunger, often called the "satiety hormone."

Ghrelin

A hormone that stimulates appetite, often called the "hunger hormone."

Melatonin

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

Oxytocin

A hormone and neurotransmitter involved in social bonding, reproduction, childbirth, and trust.

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 blocks or dampens the effect of a neurotransmitter.

Stimulants

Drugs that increase nervous system activity, leading to increased alertness, energy,

Depressants

Drugs that decrease nervous system activity, leading to relaxation and reduced anxiety (e.g., alcohol, benzodiazepines).

Hallucinogens

Drugs that cause perceptual distortions, hallucinations, and altered sensory experiences (e.g., LSD, psilocybin).

Medulla

The lower part of the brainstem that controls vital life-sustaining functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Reticular activating system (RAS):

A network of neurons in the brainstem involved in arousal and regulating wakefulness and sleep.

Cerebellum

The part of the brain involved in coordination, balance, and fine motor skills.

Cerebral cortex

The outer layer of the brain, responsible for complex cognitive functions, including thought, perception, and decision-making.

Limbic system

A group of brain structures involved in emotions, memory, and motivation, including the hippocampus and amygdala.

Thalamus

A brain structure that acts as a relay station for sensory information, directing it to the appropriate areas of the cortex.

Hypothalamus

A small region of the brain involved in regulating body temperature, hunger, thirst, and other homeostatic functions, as well as linking the nervous and endocrine systems.

Pituitary gland

The "master gland" of the endocrine system, regulating hormone production and secretion in other glands.

Hippocampus

A brain structure involved in the formation and retrieval of long-term memories.

Amygdala

A brain structure involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and aggression.

Corpus callosum

A bundle of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres of the brain, enabling communication between them.

Occipital lobes

• The region of the brain responsible for processing visual information.

Parietal lobes

The region of the brain responsible for processing sensory information related to touch, temperature, and body position.

Temporal lobes

The region of the brain involved in processing auditory information and memory.

Frontal lobes

The region of the brain involved in decision-making, problem-solving, planning, and voluntary movement.

Association areas

Regions of the cerebral cortex that integrate information from various parts of the brain, involved in higher cognitive functions.

Somatosensory cortex

A part of the parietal lobe that processes sensory information from the body, including touch, pressure, and pain.

Motor cortex

A part of the frontal lobe that controls voluntary movements.

Broca’s area/aphasia

A region in the frontal lobe responsible for speech production; damage to this area results in Broca’s aphasia, characterized by difficulty in producing speech.

Wernicke’s area/aphasia

A region in the temporal lobe responsible for language comprehension; damage results in Wernicke’s aphasia, characterized by difficulty understanding language.

Brain plasticity

The brain's ability to change and adapt by forming new neural connections, particularly after injury or in response to learning

EEG (Electroencephalogram)

A test that measures electrical activity in the brain, often used to study sleep patterns and diagnose epilepsy.

fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

A brain imaging technique that measures blood flow to different parts of the brain to identify areas of activity.

Left hemisphere

The left side of the brain, typically involved in language, logical thinking, and analytical tasks.

Right hemisphere:

The right side of the brain, typically involved in spatial abilities, face recognition, and creativity.

N-REM 1-3

The non-rapid eye movement stages of sleep, from light sleep (NREM-1) to deep sleep (NREM-3), where restorative processes occur.

REM (Rapid Eye Movement):

The stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements, vivid dreams, and increased brain activity.

Circadian rhythm:

The body's internal clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles, typically on a 24-hour cycle.

Hypnogogic sensations

Vivid, dream-like sensations that occur as a person is falling asleep.

REM rebound

The phenomenon where the amount of REM sleep increases following periods of REM sleep deprivation.

Insomnia:

A sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

REM sleep behavior disorder

A sleep disorder in which a person physically acts out vivid dreams during REM sleep, often involving violent movements.

Sleep apnea:

A disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, often leading to poor sleep quality.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep.

Somnambulism (sleepwalking):

A disorder in which a person walks or performs other activities while asleep, usually during deep sleep.

Activation synthesis theory:

A theory suggesting that dreams are the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity during sleep.