Unit 2 AP Psych Review

Neuron - Sends and receives messages in the brain

Dendrites - part of neuron that receives messages

Cell body - contains the nucleus

Myelin Sheath - insulates axon, speeds up message

Nodes of Ranvier - Space between Myelin Sheath

Axon - Carries the message

Axon Terminal Branches - Endpoint of neural message

Resting potential - Neuron is not firing, -70V charge

Depolarization - Neuron has been fired, +30V charge

Action potential - Neuron is firing

All or Nothing - Neuron is firing or it is not firing

Refractory Period - Period of time when the neuron cannot fire

Neurotransmitters - Chemicals that cross the synapse to carry a message

Vesicles - Spaces in axon that hold neurotransmitters

Pre/Post Synapse: Sends and receives neurotransmitters respectively

Receptor Sites: Sites that receive neurotransmitters

Synapse: Open space between two neurons

Acetylcholine: controlsMovement and Memory, linked to Alzheimer’s Disease/Paralysis

Dopamine: controls Reward System, linked to Parkinson’s Disease

Serotonin: controls Appetite and Mood, linked to Depression

Norepinephrine: controls Alertness, Rapid Heartbeat, Flight or Flight, linked to Depression

GABA: Calms the body, linked to Huntington’s Disease

Glutamate, Excites the body linked to Depression, Schizophrenia, Migraines

Endorphins: Natural bodily painkillers, linked to Depression

Peripheral Nervous System - Sensory and motor neurons

Somatic System - Voluntary Movements (moving arms and legs)

Autonomous System - Involuntary Movements (digestion)

Sympathetic System - Arouses the body and controls stress (increases heartbeat, respiration)

Parasympathetic System - Calms the body down  (decreases heartbeat, respiration)

Central nervous system - includes the brain and the spinal cord

Spinal cord - messages travel through here

Sensory Neurons - carries info from sensory neurons to CNS

Motor Neurons - carries info from motor neurons to CNS

Interneurons - act as a messenger between sensory/motor neurons to CNS

Endocrine System - Communicates with the brain through the blood system and hormones

Pituitary Gland - Master gland, controls other 3 glands & controlled by hypothalamus

Thyroid Gland - produces hormone Thyroxine, controls metabolism

Adrenal Gland - releases chemicals that control adrenaline levels

Medulla - Controls Heartbeat and Breathing

Reticular Formation - Controls Arousal and Sleep

Pons - Controls sleep

Cerebellum - Controls balance and coordination

Thalamus - Central control center between all the parts of the brain

Hypothalamus - Controls maintenance activities such as hunger and hormone release

Amygdala - Controls emotions

Hippocampus - Controls information and memory

Corpus Callosum - Fibers connecting the left and right side of the brain

Cerebral Cortex - Outer covering of the brain

EEG - Shows electrical brainwaves

MRI - Highly complex 3d image of the brain

CAT - Uses x-rays to show brain

PET - Compares glucose and metabolic measures of brain

fMRI - MRI with functioning

Frontal Lobe - Motor Cortex and controls voluntary movements

Parietal Lobe - Sensory Cortex, controls touch & taste

Temporal Lobe - Auditory Cortex, controls hearing

Occipital Lobe - Visual Cortex, controls seeing

Broca’s Area - In left frontal lobe, generates speech

Wernicke’s Area - in right temporal lobe, controls language comprehension

Left Hemisphere - controls analysis, logic, ideas, facts, math, training

Right Hemisphere - controls creativity, intuition, arts, creation, feeling, imagination

Neuroplasticity - Brain rewiring in response to experiences

Neurogenesis - Neurons being formed 

Lateralization - Brain hemispheres affect each other

Split Brain - Can hinder a person when the corpus callosum is cut because of epilepsy issues

Sleep Cycle - 5 Stages (NREM 1, 2, 3, 4, 5/REM)

4 Types of Brain Waves:

• Beta Waves: Super Fast brainwaves

• Alpha Waves: Fast brainwaves

• Theta Waves: Moderately fast brainwaves

• Delta Waves: Slow brain waves

NREM 1 - includes Myoclonic Jerks (involuntary muscle movement), Hallucinations (Brief hallucinations as you sleep)

NREM 2 - Sleep spindles (bursts of rapid brainwave activity), K-Complexes (decreased metabolism, responsiveness, and motor activity)

NREM 3 & 4 - Night Terrors (also known as nightmares), Sleep walking (motor actions while sleeping)

NREM 5/REM - Dreams occur

Insomnia - Can't fall asleep quickly

Narcolepsy - Very tired during the day

Sleep Apnea - When a person doesn’t breathe in the sleep, usually snores or is obese

Night Terrors - “Extensive Nightmare” that includes crying and moving, but the victim doesn’t remember anything in the morning

Somnambulism - Sleepwalking

REM Rebound - Dreams for a long time after sleep deprivation

Psychoanalytic Dreams:

• Wish fulfillment: Wishes appear unconsciously in our dreams

• Manifest Content - Content of our dreams literally

• Latent Content - meaning of our dreams

Biological Dreams:

• Information Processing: Sensing millions of pieces of information a day

• Activation Synthesis: Randomly firing neurons to create a storyline

Psychoactive Drugs - Chemicals that alter mood and perception

Tolerance - The more of something needed to achieve the same effect

Depressants - Slow down the body & mental activity (alcohol, barbiturates, opiates)

Stimulants - Speed up the body & mental activity (Caffeine, amphetamines, Cocaine)

Hallucinogens - Cause hallucinations (LSD/Acid, Ecstasy, Marijuana)