AP Psychology Unit 1A

What did Paul Broca find in his studies about expressive aphasia?

Destruction of Broca's area in the left frontal lobe is linked to loss of the ability to speak.

What is Wernicke’s area responsible for?

Understanding language; destruction results in receptive aphasia.

What technique uses X-rays to create images of the brain?

Computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT).

What does an EEG measure?

The brain's electrical activity through signals transmitted by electrodes on the scalp.

What is the role of the autonomic nervous system?

Stimulates smooth and heart muscles, operating involuntarily.

What are the two subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system?

Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

Which part of the brain is associated with emotion and memory?

The old mammalian brain or limbic system.

What is the majority function of the cerebral cortex?

Higher-order processes such as thinking, planning, and judgment.

What is neurogenesis?

The growth of new neurons throughout life.

What happens during the action potential in a neuron?

A rapid change in potential occurs when sodium ions flow into the cell.

What is the reflex arc?

The pathway that nerve impulses take during a reflex action.

What are hormones?

Chemical messengers secreted by the endocrine glands into the bloodstream.

What is heritability?

The proportion of variation among individuals in a population that is due to genetic causes.

What are identical twins also known as?

Monozygotic twins.

What is the difference between genotype and phenotype?

Genotype is the genetic makeup, while phenotype is the expression of those genes.

What is phenylketonuria (PKU)?

A genetic disorder causing severe brain damage due to lack of an enzyme for processing phenylalanine.

What syndrome results from having one X chromosome?

Turner syndrome.

What is Down syndrome caused by?

The presence of three copies of chromosome 21.

What is the function of the myelin sheath?

To insulate axons and speed up conduction of neural impulses.