AP Psych: Biopsychology and the Foundations of Neuroscience

220964959	Adaptation	An inherited characteristic that increased in a population (through natural selection) because it helped solve a problem of survival or reproduction during the time it emerged.
220964960	Adoption studies	Research studies that assess hereditary influence by examining the resemblance between adopted children and both their biological and their adoptive parents.
220964961	Afferent nerve fibers	Axons that carry information inward to the central nervous system from the periphery of the body.
220964962	Agonist	A chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter.
220964963	Antagonist	A chemical that opposes the action of a neurotransmitter.
220964964	Autonomic nervous system (ANS)	The system of nerves that connect to the heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles, and glands.
220964965	Axon	A long, thin fiber that transmits signals away from the neuron cell body to other neurons, or to muscles or glands.
220964966	Behavioral genetics	An interdisciplinary field that studies the influence of genetic factors on behavioral traits.
220964967	Central nervous system (CNS)	The brain and the spinal cord.
220964968	Cerebral cortex	The wrinkled outer layer of the cerebrum.
220964969	Cerebral hemispheres	The right and left halves of the cerebrum.
220964970	Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)	(CSF) A solution that fills the hollow cavities (ventricles) of the brain and circulates around the brain and spinal cord.
220964971	Chromosomes	Threadlike strands of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecules that carry genetic information.
220964972	Corpus callosum	The structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres.
220964974	Dendrites	Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.
220964975	Dominant gene	A gene that is expressed when paired genes are heterozygous (different).
220964976	Efferent nerve fibers	Axons that carry information outward from the central nervous system to the periphery of the body.
220964978	Electroencephalograph (EEG)	A device that monitors the electrical activity of the brain over time by means of recording electrodes attached to the surface of the scalp.
220964979	Endocrine system	A group of glands that secrete chemicals into the bloodstream that help control bodily functioning.
220964980	Endorphins	The entire family of internally produced chemicals that resemble opiates in structure and effects.
220964981	Excitatory PSP	An electric potential that increases the likelihood that a postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials.
220964982	Family studies	Scientific studies in which researchers assess hereditary influence by examining blood relatives to see how much they resemble each other on a specific trait.
220964983	Fitness	The reproductive success (number of descendants) of an individual organism relative to the average reproductive success of the population.
220964986	Genes	DNA segments that serve as the key functional units in hereditary transmission.
220964987	Genetic mapping	The process of determining the location and chemical sequence of specific genes on specific chromosomes.
220964988	Genotype	A person's genetic makeup.
220964990	parietal lobe	sensations of touch, body position, hearing
220964991	occipital lobe	vision
220964992	Hormones	The chemical substances released by the endocrine glands.
220964993	frontal lobe	movement, speech, abstract thought
220964994	Identical twins	Twins that emerge from one zygote that splits for unknown reasons. Also called Monozygotic twins.
220964995	Inclusive fitness	The sum of an individual's own reproductive success plus the effects the organism has on the reproductive success of related others.
220964996	temporal lobe	hearing, smell, vision
220964998	Limbic system	A densely connected network of structures roughly located along the border between the cerebral cortex and deeper subcortical areas.
220964999	natural selection	the driving force behind evolution by which the environment selects the fittest organisms.
220965000	Myelin sheath	Insulating material, derived from glial cells, that encases some axons of neurons.
220965001	synaptic transmission	the relaying of information across the synapse by means of chemical neurotransmitters
220965002	Nerves	Bundles of neuron fibers (axons) that are routed together in the peripheral nervous system.
220965003	Neurons	Individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate, and transmit information.
220965004	Neurotransmitters	Chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another.
220965005	Parasympathetic division	The branch of the autonomic nervous system that generally conserves bodily resources.
220965006	glial cells	cells that bind the neurons together. glial cells also provide an insulating covering (myelin sheath) of the axon for some neurons, which facilitates the electrical impulse.
220965007	Peripheral nervous system	All those nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord.
220965008	Phenotype	The ways in which a person's genotype is manifested in observable characteristics.
220965009	Pituitary gland	The "master gland" of the endocrine system; it releases a great variety of hormones that fan out through the body, stimulating actions in the other endocrine glands.
220965010	Polygenic traits	Characteristics that are influenced by more than one pair of genes.
220965011	Postsynaptic potential (PSP)	A voltage change at the receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane.
220965012	Recessive gene	A gene whose influence is masked when paired genes are different (heterozygous).
220965013	Resting potential	The stable, negative charge of a neuron when it is inactive.
220965014	Reuptake	A process in which neurotransmitters are sponged up from the synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane.
220965015	Soma	The cell body of a neuron; it contains the nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells.
220965016	Somatic nervous system	The system of nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and to sensory receptors.
220965017	Split-brain surgery	A procedure in which the bundle of fibers that connects the cerebral hemispheres (the corpus callosum) is cut to reduce the severity of epileptic seizures.
220965018	Sympathetic division	The branch of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body's resources for emergencies.
220965019	Synapse	A junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to the next.
220965020	Synaptic cleft	A microscopic gap between the terminal button of a neuron and the cell membrane of another neuron.
220965021	Terminal buttons	Small knobs at the end of axons that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters.
220965022	Thalamus	A structure in the forebrain through which all sensory information (except smell) must pass to get to the cerebral cortex.
220965023	Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)	A new technique that permits scientists to temporarily enhance or depress activity in a specific area of the brain.
220965024	Twin studies	A research design in which hereditary influence is assessed by comparing the resemblance of identical twins and fraternal twins with respect to a trait.
220965025	Zygote	A one-celled organism formed by the union of a sperm and an egg.
220965026	biopsychology	Specialty in psychology that studies the interaction of biology, behavior and mental process
220965027	neuroscience	perspective on psychology that emphasizes the study of the brain and its effects on behavior
220965028	sex chromosomes	X and Y chromosomes that determine our physical sex characteristics
220965029	nervous system	fast-acting network of nerve cells that carry out messages in pulses of electrical/chemical energy throughout the body.
220965030	endocrine system	slower-acting system that sends follow-up messages that support and sustain the emergency response initiated by the nervous system.
220965031	sensory neurons	neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system
220965032	motor neurons	neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands.
220965033	interneuron	a neuron that carries nerve impulses from one neuron to another
220965034	reflex	a simple, unlearned response triggered by stimuli - such as the knee-jerk reflex set off by tapping the tendon just below your knee cap.
222049829	medulla	the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing