AP Psych Ch 3 Vocab

Biological Psychology

the scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

Neuron

a nere cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

dentrites

a neuron’s bushy branching extension that receives messages and conducts impulses toward the cell body (Like alien fingers)

Axon

The neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

Myelin Sheath

a fatty tissue layer sentimentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next (speed boosters)

Action potential

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down the axion (toilet flush)

refractory period

a period of inactivity after neuron has fired

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse (toilet flush)

All-or-Nothing response

a neuron’s reaction of either firing or not firing

Synapse

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

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse

Reuptake

a neurotransmitter’s re absorption by sending neuron

Endorphins

Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure (from running)

agonist

a molecule that by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response

antagonist

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response

Nervous System

The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network

Central Nervous System

The brain and spinal chord

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

nerves

bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

sensory (afferent) neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal chord

motor (efferent) neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal chord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor inputs

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles

Autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles f the internal organs. Sympathetic arouses, parasympathetic calms

Reflex

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus (Like a knee-jerk)

Endocrine system

the body’s slow chemical communication system

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine system

adrenal glands

a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress

pituitary gland

the endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

lesion

tissue destruction (commonly when people might cut into a brain)

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

An amplified recording of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface

CT Scan

a series of x-rays taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain’s structure

PET Scan

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

MRI

A technique that uses magnetic fields as radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue

fMRI

a technique for revealing bloodflow ad therefore brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans

Brainstem

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull

Medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

thalamus

the brains sensory control center, located on the top of the brainstem

reticular formation

a nerve network that ravels through the brainstem and thalamus and pays an important role in controlling arousal

cerebellum

the “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem. Functions include processing sensory information, coordinating movements, and enabling nonverbal learning

limbic system

neural system located below the cerebral system associated with emotions and drive

Amygdala

two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotions

Hypothalamus

a neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs several maintenance activities, govern endocrine system, linked to emotion and reward. (hypo the llamas)

Cerebral Cortex

the intricate fabric of connecting neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres-control and processing center (Network system)

glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons-learning and thinking

frontal lobe

portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the foread; involved with speaking, muscle movements, and plans

parietal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex at the top of the head and toward the rear; receiving sensory input from touch & body

occipital lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive info from the visual field

temporal lobe

portion of the cerebral cortex lying around ears; for receiving auditory

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the fronal lobes that controls voluntary movements

somatosensory cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobe that registers touch and movement

Association areas

areas of the cerbral cortex that are not involved with primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions

plasticity

brain’s ability to change by reorganizing after damage or building new pathways

neurogenesis

formation of new neurons

corpus callostum

the large bond of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

split brain

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them

conciousness

awareness of ourselves and the environment

cognitive neuroscience

the study of the brain and activity linked with cognition

dual processing

the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious pathways

behavior genetics

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

environment

every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around you

chromosomes

threadlike structures made up of dna molecules that contain the genes

dna

a complex molecule containing the genetic info that makes up the chromosome

genes

the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes

identical twins

twins that develop from a single egg

fraternal twins

twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs

molecular genetics

the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes

heritability

the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes

interaction

the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another factor

epigenetics

the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occurs without DNA change

evolutionary psychology

the study of the evolution of behaviors and the mild

natural selection

survival of the best traits

mutation

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change