(WIP) AP Psych Unit 1

note to self: consider adding hormones/endocrine system stuff and psychoactive drugs

genome

a specie’s common set of genes, needed for making an organism; the human genome consists of all traits that are required for us to survive and reproduce

chromosomes

the “genetic code” of our body, composed of DNA and located in every cell of your body

mutation

random error in gene replication, becoming tests of alternative possibilities in traits

motor neurons

carry information from central nervous system to muscles/glands (efferent)

sensory neurons

carry information from body’s tissue to the central nervous system for processing (afferent)

interneurons

neurons within the central nervous system that communicate internally to process information between sensory and motor inputs

somatic nervous system

nervous system that allows for voluntary control of body’s skeletal muscles

autonomic nervous system

nervous system that control body’s glands and internal organ muscles

sympathetic nervous system

arouses body and spends/mobilizes energy automatically

parasympathetic nervous system

calms body and conserves energy automatically

spinal reflex arc

a neural pathway that controls a reflex action, consisting of a sensory neuron, an interneuron, and a motor neuron

dendrite

branching extensions of a neuron that receive and integrate messages

axon

segmented extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or muscles/glands

myelin sheath

fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons, allow for faster transmission speed

glial cells

cells which support, nourish, and protect neurons; play a role in learning, thinking, and memory

resting potential

the period where a neuron is not firing but has the potential to

action potential

a brief electrical impulse that travels down a neuron’s axon, resulting from a neuron firing

depolarization

a shift in an axon’s electrical charge, occurs as the action potential travels through the axon

excitatory signals

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

inhibitory signals

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

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse; when excitatory signals exceed inhibitory signals, this is surpassed and triggers the action potential

refractory period

the period where actions potentials cannot be fired until the axon recharges and returns to its resting state

all-or-none-response

a neuron either fires with a full strength response or doesn’t fire at all, intensity instead depends on how many/how often neurons fire

synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite/cell body of the receiving neuron

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers which cross the synaptic gap between neurons

reuptake

event where excess neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the sending neuron

serotonin

inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, emotional stability, sleep & wakefulness — deficit leads to depression

norepinephrine

inhibitory/excitatory neurotransmitter involved in energy and physical arousal (ex. fight/flight) — deficit leads to depression, surplus leads to anxiety/stress

acetylcholine (ACh)

excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory formation and movement through muscle contractions — deficit leads to Alzheimer’s disease

glutamate

excitatory neurotransmitter involved in learning, memory, and enhancing transmission of info to brain

GABA

inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in relaxation and regulating sleep-wake cycles, making it an all-purpose inhibitory signal

endorphins

inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in pain relief/perception and positive emotions through being a natural opiate

dopamine

excitatory neurotransmitter involved in rewarding sensations, emotional arousal, and voluntary muscle movements — deficit leads to Parkinson’s Disease (shaky hands) and surplus leads to schizophrenia