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Unit 3 AP Psychology Flashcards

Advanced Placement Psychology

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14992985852biological psychologiststhe scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes.0
14992985853neurona nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.1
14992985854dendritesthe bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.2
14992985855axonthe neuron extension that passes and electrical messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands.3
14992985856myelin 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
14992985857action potentiala neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.5
14992985858refractory perioda period of inactivity after a neuron has fired.6
14992985859thresholdthe level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.7
14992985860all-or-nothing responsea neuron's reaction of either firing or not firing.8
14992985861synapsethe junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.9
14992985862neurotransmitterschemical 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
14992985863reuptakea neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron.11
14992985864endorphins"morphine within"—natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.12
14992985865AgonistA chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter.13
14992985866AntagonistsChemical substances that block or reduce a cell's response to the action of other chemicals or neurotransmitters.14
14992985867nervous systemthe body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.15
14992985868Central nervous system (CNS)the brain and the spinal cord16
14992985869Peripheral nervous system (PNS)the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body17
14992985870nervesbundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.18
14992985871sensory (afferent) neuronsneurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.19
14992985872motor (efferant) neuronsneurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.20
14992985873interneuronsneurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.21
14992985874Somatic nervous systemthe division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles (skeletal nervous system)22
14992985875Autonomic 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
14992985876Sympathetic nervous systemthe division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations. (If you get scared)24
14992985877Parasympathetic nervous systemthe division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy (Your PARents come home and calm you down)25
14992985878Reflexessimple, automatic responses to sensory stimuli, such as the knee-jerk response26
14992985879Endocrine systemthe body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream27
14992985880Hormoneschemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues28
14992985881Adrenal 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
14992985882Pituitary 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
14992985883Lesiontissue destruction. It can occur naturally or experimentally by the caused distruction/remove of brain tissues31
14992985884Electroencephalogram (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
14992985885CT (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
14992985886(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
14992985887MRI (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
14992985888fMRI (functional MRI)A technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function.36
14992985889Brainstemthe oldest part and central core of brain. AKA reticular formation, or reticular activating system. In charge of automatic survival functions37
14992985890MeduallaThe base of the brainstem. Controls heartbeat and breathing.38
14992985891Ponssleep and arousal, coordinate movement39
14992985892Thalamusthe brains 'sensory switch board' Located at top of brainstem; directs messages to the sensory areas and transmits them to cerebellum and medulla.40
14992985893Reticular FormationPlays an important role in controlling arousal. is the nerve network in the brainstem41
14992985894Cerebellum"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
14992985895Limbic 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
14992985896Amygdala2Lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system, linked to emotion. Includes rage and fear.44
14992985897HippocampusLimbic system. Learning and memory matcher.45
14992985898hypothalamousA 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
14992985899Cerebral 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
14992985900Glial CellsCells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons.48
14992985901Frontal Lobesthe portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements.49
14992985902Parietal lobesThe 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
14992985903Occipital lobesthe 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
14992985904Temporal lobesThe 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
14992985905motor cortexan area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.53
14992985906somatosensory cortexthe area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.54
14992985926association 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
14992985907PlasticityThe brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.56
14992985908NeurogenesisFormation of new neurons57
14992985909Corpus CallosumLarge band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.58
14992985910Split BrainA conditioning resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them.59
14992985911Consciousnessour awareness of ourselves and our environment.60
14992985912Cognitive NeuroscienceThe interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition. (including perception, thinking, memory and language.)61
14992985913environmentevery 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.62
14992985914chromosomesthreadlike structure made of DNA molecules that contain the genes63
14992985915DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) .(deoxyribonucleic acid) a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes64
14992985916genesthe biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein65
14992985917genomethe complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes66
14992985918identical twins (monozygotic)twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms67
14992985919fraternal twins (dizygotic)twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs; no genetically closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment68
14992985920heritabilitythe proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes; this may vary depending on population range and the environment being studied69
14992985921interactionthe interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)70
14992985922evolutionary psychologistsThe study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.71
14992985923natural 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 generations72
14992985924mutationsA random error in gene replication that leads to a change73
15295675704Neurotransmitters TypeDifference Neurotransmitters are responsible for different things and lack of a particular can cause specific diseases74
15295638301Acetylocholine (ACh)Enables muscle action, learning and memory, Alzheimers disease: too little ACh producing neurons75
15295656337Dopamineinfluences movement, learning, attention, and emotion Schizophrenia: Too much: over hyper senses Parkinson: Too little: decrease mobility76
15295672906SerotoninAffects Mood, hunger, sleep and arousal Too little can lead to depression77
15295684023Norepinephrinehelps control alertness and arousal Lack: Depression78
15295686157GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)A major inhibitory neurotransmitter. Undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia.79
15295693080GlutamateA major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory Oversupply can seizures80

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