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AP Psychology Biological Psychology Flashcards

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10076775734biological psychologyscientific study of the links between biological (genes, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes.0
10076775735neurona nerve cell; basic building block of the nervous system1
10076775736dendritespart of the neuron that receives messages and conducts impulses toward the cell body.2
10076775737axonthe neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands.3
10076775738myelin sheatha fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one sausage-like node to the next.4
10076775739action potentiala neural impulse, a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.5
10076775740refractory perioda period of inactivity after a neuron fires.6
10076775741thresholdthe level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse7
10076775742all-or-none responsea neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing.8
10076775743synapsethe junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. Tiny gap is known as the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.9
10076775744neurotransmitterschemical messengers that cross the synaptic gas between neurons. They travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.10
10076775745reuptakea neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron.11
10076775746endorphins"morphine within" natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure. "runner's high"12
10076775747agonista molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response.13
10076775748antagonista molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response.14
10076775749nervous systemthe body's speedy; electrochemical communication network, holds all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system.15
10076775750Central nervous system (CNS)brain and spinal cord.16
10076775751peripheral nervous system (PNS)the sensory and motor neurons that connect to CNS.17
10076775752nervesbundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the CNS with the muscles, glands, & sense organs.18
10076775753sensory (afferent) neuronsneurons that carry information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord. (takes info from outside world)19
10076775754motor (efferent) neuronsneurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.20
10076775755interneuronsneurons within the brain and spinal cord that talk internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.21
10076775756somatic nervous systemthe division of the PNS that controls the body's skeletal muscles. (what you are aware of. ex. moving your leg)22
10076775757autonomic nervous system. (ANS)part of the PNS that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). (automatic, things you aren't aware of working like your heart or bladder.) Contains sympathetic and parsympathetic nervous systems.23
10076775758sympathetic nervous systemdivision of the ANS that arouses our body, getting us ready to react in stressful situations.24
10076775759parasympathetic nervous systemthe division of the ANS that calms the body, conserving its energy.25
10076775760reflexa simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.26
10076775761endocrine systema set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.27
10076775762hormoneschemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues.28
10076775763adrenal glandsa pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help the body respond in times of stress.29
10076775764pituitary glandthe endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, it regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.30

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