AP Psych Unit 1 vocab

Traits we get from our parents through our genes.

Heredity (Nature)

Things around us that affect how we grow and behave.

Environment (Nurture)

Twins who develop from two separate eggs and are genetically like regular siblings.

Dizygotic/Fraternal Twins

Twins who develop from one fertilized egg that splits into two.

Monozygotic/Identical Twins

The study of how evolution affects human behavior.

Evolutionary Psychology

The study of how genes and the environment affect behavior.

Behavioral Genetics

When traits that help organisms survive and reproduce become more common over time.

Natural Selection

The study of how the environment affects how genes work without changing the DNA itself.

Epigenetics

The harmful idea of controlling reproduction to create people with certain traits.

Eugenics

How much genetic differences explain differences in a trait within a group.

Heritability

Chemicals released into the blood that send messages throughout the body.

Hormones

A gland that controls growth and helps control other glands.

Pituitary Gland

A hormone that prepares your body for stress or danger.

Adrenaline

A hormone that tells your brain you're full.

Leptin

A hormone that makes you feel hungry.

Ghrelin

A hormone that helps control sleep.

Melatonin

A hormone that helps people bond with others.

Oxytocin

The brain and spinal cord.

Central Nervous System

All the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System

Controls voluntary movements and carries sensory information.

Somatic Nervous System

Controls automatic body functions.

Autonomic Nervous System

Prepares your body for stress or danger.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Calms your body after stress.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Cells that send messages through the nervous system.

Neurons

Carry messages from your senses to your brain and spinal cord.

Sensory Neurons

Carry messages from your brain and spinal cord to your muscles.

Motor Neurons

Connect neurons and help process information.

Interneurons

Cells that protect and support neurons.

Glial Cells

Parts of a neuron that receive messages.

Dendrites

The part of a neuron that keeps the cell alive.

Soma (Cell Body)

Carries messages away from the cell body.

Axon

A covering that helps messages travel faster along the axon.

Myelin Sheath

The ends of a neuron that release chemicals to send messages.

Terminal Branches/Buttons

Places where neurotransmitters attach to a neuron.

Receptor Sites

The tiny space between neurons where chemicals pass messages.

Synapse/Synaptic Gap

A neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all.

All-or-Nothing Principle

When a neuron is resting and ready to fire.

Resting Potential

A change in a neuron's electrical charge that starts an action potential.

Depolarization

The minimum stimulation needed for a neuron to fire.

Threshold

An electrical signal that travels down a neuron's axon.

Action Potential

A short period after firing when a neuron cannot immediately fire again.

Refractory Period

When a neuron takes back neurotransmitters it released.

Reuptake

An agonist increases a neurotransmitter's effects; a reuptake inhibitor keeps it in the synapse longer.

Agonist/Reuptake Inhibitor

A chemical that blocks a neurotransmitter's effects.

Antagonist

A quick, automatic response that can happen through the spinal cord.

Spinal Reflexes/Reflex Arc

When connections between neurons become stronger with repeated use, helping with learning and memory.

Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)