AP Psychology Unit 1 Study Guide

This set of flashcards covers essential vocabulary and concepts from AP Psychology Unit 1, including topics related to heredity, the nervous system, brain functions, and sensory processes.

Evolutionary Psychology

The branch of psychology that examines the ways in which the biological pressures of evolution shape human behavior.

Behavior Genetics

The study of the relationship between genetics and behavior, emphasizing the interaction between heredity and environment.

Gene-Environment Interaction

The influence of genetics on the way individuals respond to environmental factors.

Heritabiliity

The proportion of variation among individuals that can be attributed to genes, which can vary depending on the range of populations and environments studied.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The part of the nervous system that consists of all the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.

Autonomic Nervous System

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions.

Neurotransmitters

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

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A neurotransmitter that enables muscle action, learning, and memory; a lack of ACh is associated with Alzheimers disease.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter that influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion; oversupply is linked to schizophrenia, while undersupply is linked to Parkinsons disease.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal; undersupply is strongly linked to depression.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter that helps control alertness and arousal; undersupply can depress mood.

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter; undersupply is linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia.

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory; oversupply can overstimulate the brain, causing migraines or seizures.

Endorphins

Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.

Agonist

A substance that stimulates or enhances the action of neurotransmitters.

Antagonist

A substance that blocks or inhibits the action of neurotransmitters.

Depressants

Drugs such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

Stimulants

Drugs such as caffeine, nicotine, and more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, and Ecstasy that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

Hallucinogens

Psychedelic drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.

Adrenaline (Epinephrine)

A hormone secreted by the adrenal glands that increases heart rate, blood pressure, and energy supplies during stress.

Cortisol

A steroid hormone released by the adrenal glands in response to stress and low blood-glucose concentration.

Oxytocin

A hormone released by the pituitary gland that causes increased contraction of the uterus during labor and stimulates the ejection of milk into the breasts; often called the love hormone for its role in social bonding.

EEG (Electroencephalogram)

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brains surface, measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

CT (Computed Tomography) Scan

A series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brains structure.

PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Scan

A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue, showing brain anatomy.

fMRI (Functional MRI)

A technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans to show brain function.

Brocas Area

An area in the left frontal lobe that directs the muscle movements involved in speech; damage results in aphasia marked by difficulty speaking.

Wernickes Area

An area in the left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension and expression; damage results in aphasia marked by difficulty understanding speech.

Circadian Rhythm

The biological clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and other physiological processes on a roughly 24-hour cycle.

NREM Sleep

Non-rapid eye movement sleep, which consists of 3 stages (NREM 1, 2, and 3) and is characterized by physical restoration.

REM Sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep, a stage associated with vivid dreaming and muscle paralysis to prevent acting out dreams.

Why We Sleep

Theories include: 1. evolutionary protection, 2. physical and mental recuperation, 3. memory consolidation, 4. creative thinking, and 5. supporting physical growth.

Dreams

A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping persons mind; theories include Freuds wish fulfillment, information-processing, and neural activation-synthesis.

Cornea

The transparent layer forming the front of the eye that protects the eye and bends light to provide focus.

Pupil

The adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters.

Iris

A ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening.

Lens

The transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina.

Retina

The light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual information.

Rods

Retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision.

Cones

Retinal receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions; they detect fine detail and give rise to color sensations.

Optic Nerve

The nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain.

Fovea

The central focal point in the retina, around which the eyes cones cluster.

Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic Theory

The theory that the retina contains 3 different color receptors—1 most sensitive to red, 1 to green, and 1 to blue—which, when stimulated in combination, can produce the perception of any color.

Opponent-Process Theory

The theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable color vision.

Middle Ear

The chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing 3 tiny bones (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) that concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochleas oval window.

Cochlea

A coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear; sound waves traveling through the cochlear fluid trigger nerve impulses.

Taste Buds

Sensory organs on the tongue that detect taste, including sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.

Sweet

The taste sensation that identifies energy-rich sugars, which provide fuel for the body.

Sour

The taste sensation that detects potentially toxic acids, alerting us to spoiled or unripe food.

Salty

The taste sensation that identifies sodium, an essential mineral for physiological processes and nerve function.

Bitter

The taste sensation that identifies potential poisons, serving as a survival mechanism against toxins.

Umami

The savory taste sensation that identifies glutamate and proteins required for tissue growth and repair.