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AP Psychology: Unit 3 Flashcards

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5454151265biological psychologiststhe scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes.0
5454151266neurona nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.1
5454151267dendritesthe bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.2
5454151268axonthe neuron extension that passes and electrical messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands.3
5454151269myelin sheatha layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.4
5454151270action potentiala neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.5
5454151271refractory perioda period of inactivity after a neuron has fired.6
5454151272thresholdthe level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.7
5454151273all-or-nothing responsea neuron's reaction of either firing or not firing.8
5454151274synapsethe junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.9
5454151275neurotransmitterschemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, 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
5454151276reuptakea neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron.11
5454151277endorphins"morphine within"—natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.12
5454151278AgonistA chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter.13
5454151279AntagonistsChemical substances that block or reduce a cell's response to the action of other chemicals or neurotransmitters.14
5454151280nervous systemthe body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.15
5454151281Central nervous system (CNS)the brain and the spinal cord16
5454151282Peripheral nervous system (PNS)the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body17
5454151283nervesbundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.18
5454151284sensory (afferent) neuronsneurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.19
5454151285motor (efferant) neuronsneurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.20
5454151286interneuronsneurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.21
5454151287Somatic nervous systemthe division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles (skeletal nervous system)22
5454151288Autonomic nervous systemthe part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs. It's sympathetic system arouses and parasympathetic calms.23
5454151289Sympathetic nervous systemthe division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations. (If you get scared)24
5454151290Parasympathetic nervous systemthe division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy (Your PARents come home and calm you down)25
5454151291Reflexessimple, automatic responses to sensory stimuli, such as the knee-jerk response26
5454151292Endocrine systemthe body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream27
5454151293Hormoneschemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues28
5454151294Adrenal glandsa pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress29
5454151295Pituitary gland"THE MASTER GLAND" the endocrine system's most influential gland under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands30
5454151296Lesiontissue destruction. It can occur naturally or experimentally by the caused distruction/remove of brain tissues31
5454151297Electroencephalogram (EEG)An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.32
5454151298CT (computed tomography) scana series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representaion of a slice through the body. Aslo called a CAT scan33
5454151299(PET) Positron emission tomography scanA visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.34
5454151300MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)a TECHNIQUE THAT USES MAGNETIC FIELDS AND RADIO WAVES TO PRODUCE COMPUTER generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissues.35
5454151301fMRI (functional MRI)A technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function.36
5454151302Brainstemthe oldest part and central core of brain. AKA reticular formation, or reticular activating system. In charge of automatic survival functions37
5454151303MeduallaThe base of the brainstem. Controls heartbeat and breathing.38
5454151304Ponssleep and arousal39
5454151305Thalamusthe brains 'sensory switch board' Located at top of brainstem; directs messages to the sensory areas and transmits them to cerebellum and medulla.40
5454151306Reticular FormationPlays an important role in controlling arousal.41
5454151307Cerebellum"little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions including processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.42
5454151308Limbic systemA system of neural structures at the border of brainstem. Associated with emotions like fear, agression, and drives such as those for food and sex. Includes the Hippocampus, Amygdala and hypothalamus.43
5454151309Amygdala2Lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system, linked to emotion. Includes rage and fear.44
5454151310HippocampusLimbic system. Learning and memory matcher.45
5454151311hypothalamousA neural structure lying below the thalamus, it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature) helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.46
5454151312Cerebral cortexFabric of interconnected neuron cells. Higher order thinking. Takes meaning and puts it to focus. The body's ultimate control and information-processing center.47
5454151313Glial CellsCells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons.48
5454151314Frontal Lobethe portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements.49
5454151315Parietal lobeThe portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; includes the sensory cortex. Receives sensory input for touch and body position.50
5454151316Occipital lobethe portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, which receive visual info from the opposite visual feild.51
5454151317Temporal lobeThe portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughyl above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which revieves aditory info primarily from the opposite end.52
5454151318motor cortexan area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.53
5454151319somatosensory cortexthe area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.54
5454151320association areasareas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking55
5454151321PlasticityThe brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.56
5454151322NeurogenesisFormation of new neurons57
5454151323Corpus CallosumLarge band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.58
5454151324Consciousnessour awareness of ourselves and our environment.59
5454151325environmentevery nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us, Every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us.60
5454151326chromosomesthreadlike structure made of DNA molecules that contain the genes61
5454151327DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) .(deoxyribonucleic acid) a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes62
5454151328genesThe segment of a chromosome that encodes the directions for the inherited physical and mental characteristics of an organism; the functional units of a chromosome.63
5454151329identical twins (monozygotic)twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms64
5454151330fraternal twins (dizygotic)twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs; no genetically closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment65
5454151331heritabilitythe proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes; this may vary depending on population range and the environment being studied66
5454151332interactionthe interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)67
5454151333epigeneticsThe study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change.68
5454151334natural selectionthe principle that, among range of inherited trait variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations69
5454151335mutationsA random error in gene replication that leads to a change70
5454151336DopamineNeurotransmitter. Pleasure & reward; Imbalance = Schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease71
5454151337SerotoninNeurotransmitter. Regulates sleep, mood, pain, aggression, appetite, and sexual behavior; imbalance = depression, anxiety72
5454151338norepinephrineNeurotransmitter; Controls heart rate, sleep, stress, appetite; imbalance = depression; high blood pressure73
5454151339Acetylcholine (Ach)Neurotransmitter; learning and memory; imbalance = alzheimer's and some muscular disorders74
5454151340GABAneurotransmitter; inhibitory; imbalance = anxiety & epilepsy75
5454151341Glutamateneurotransmitter; excitatory; learning and memory; imbalance = brain damage (after stroke)76
5454151342Endorphinsneurotransmitter; pleasure and pain; imbalance = lowered levels can result from opiate addiction77

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