AP Psychology Unit 3 Flashcards
Terms : Hide Images [1]
| 4836331953 | biological psychology | the scientific study of the links between psychological and biological processes | 0 | |
| 4836336133 | neuron | a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system |  | 1 |
| 4836336548 | dendrites | a branchlike extension of a neuron that receives messages and send it towards the cell body |  | 2 |
| 4836340095 | axon | the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons, muscles, or glands |  | 3 |
| 4836343340 | Myelin sheaths | a fatty tissue layer encasing the axons of some neurons; enables greater sending speed |  | 4 |
| 4836345434 | action potential | a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon | 5 | |
| 4836347984 | refractory period | a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired | 6 | |
| 4836348254 | threshold | the level of stimulation needed to trigger neural impulse | 7 | |
| 4836349486 | all or none response | a neurons reaction of either firing or not firing | 8 | |
| 4836349808 | synapse (synaptic gap) | the space between the axon terminal of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron |  | 9 |
| 4836354797 | neurotransmitters | chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons |  | 10 |
| 4836355661 | reuptake | a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron | 11 | |
| 4836356465 | endorphins | "morphine within" natural opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure | 12 | |
| 4836357690 | agonist | a molecule that stimulates a response by binding to a receptor site | 13 | |
| 4836360763 | antagonist | a molecule that blocks a response by binding to a receptor site | 14 | |
| 4836361528 | nervous system | the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system |  | 15 |
| 4836365672 | central nervous system (CNS) | consists of the brain and spinal cord |  | 16 |
| 4836367151 | Peripheral nervous system (PNS) | the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body | | 17 |
| 4836368317 | nerves | bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs | 18 | |
| 4836370832 | sensory (afferent) neurons | neurons that carry INCOMING information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord |  | 19 |
| 4836371999 | motor (efferent) neurons | neurons that carry OUTGOING information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands | | 20 |
| 4836375385 | interneurons | neurons within the brain and spinal cord that intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs | 21 | |
| 4836377931 | somatic nervous system | the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles (also called skeletal nervous system) (soma=body) | 22 | |
| 4836380128 | autonomic nervous system | the part of the PNS that controls the glands and muscles of internal organs (such as the heart) its sympathetic division arouses, parasympathetic calms | 23 | |
| 4836382296 | sympathetic nervous system | the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situation | 24 | |
| 4836383936 | parasympathetic nervous system | the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy | 25 | |
| 4836386235 | reflex | a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus | 26 | |
| 4836386792 | endocrine system | the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream |  | 27 |
| 4836387907 | hormones | chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands that travel through the bloodstream and affect other parts of the body | 28 | |
| 4836389873 | adrenal glands | a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress (think ADRENALine) |  | 29 |
| 4836394096 | pituitary gland | the endocrine system's most influential glands. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, regulates growth and other endocrine glands |  | 30 |
| 4836396417 | lesion | tissue destruction | 31 | |
| 4836398751 | electroencephalogram (EEG) | an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp |  | 32 |
| 4836401588 | CT (Computed tomography) scan | a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by a computer into a slice of the brain's structure |  | 33 |
| 4836404309 | PET (position emission tomography) | a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a task |  | 34 |
| 4836408845 | MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) | a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. shows brain anatomy |  | 35 |
| 4836412979 | fMRI (functional MRI) | a technique for revealing blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. Show brain function and structure |  | 36 |
| 4836415188 | brainstem | the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; is responsible for automatic survival functions |  | 37 |
| 4836416977 | medulla | the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing |  | 38 |
| 4836419485 | thalamus | the brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla |  | 39 |
| 4836422979 | reticular formation | a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important part in controlling arousal | 40 | |
| 4836424351 | cerebellum | the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; processes sensory input, coordinates movement output and balance, also enables nonverbal learning |  | 41 |
| 4836427914 | limbic system | neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres, associated with emotions and drives |  | 42 |
| 4836433254 | amygdala | two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion | | 43 |
| 4836434998 | hypothalamus | a neural structure lying below the thalamus, directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature) helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward | | 44 |
| 4836437622 | cerebral cortex | the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information processing center |  | 45 |
| 4836439621 | glial cells | cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking | 46 | |
| 4836440813 | frontal lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements |  | 47 |
| 4836444665 | parietal lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body positions | | 48 |
| 4836449509 | occipital lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from visual fields | | 49 |
| 4836450814 | temporal lobes | part of cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes auditory areas, each receiving information, primarily from the opposite ear | | 50 |
| 4836452477 | motor cortex | an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements |  | 51 |
| 4836454098 | somatosensory cortex | area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations |  | 52 |
| 4836455269 | association areas | areas of the cerebral cortex that aren't involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking | 53 | |
| 4836458783 | plasticity | the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience | 54 | |
| 4836459857 | neurogenesis | the formation of new neurons | 55 | |
| 4836460480 | corpus callosum | the large band of neural fibers connecting the two hemispheres and carrying messages between them |  | 56 |
| 4836461202 | split brain | a condition resulting from surgery that violates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers(mainly from the corpus callosum) connecting them |  | 57 |
| 4836465104 | consciousness | our awareness of ourselves and our environment | 58 | |
| 4836466247 | cognitive neuroscience | the study of brain activity linked with cognition (perception, thinking, memory, and language) | 59 | |
| 4836467415 | dual processing | the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks | 60 | |
| 4836470294 | behavior genetics | the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior | 61 | |
| 4836471578 | environment | every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us | 62 | |
| 4836472226 | chromosomes | threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes |  | 63 |
| 4836473398 | DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) | a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes |  | 64 |
| 4836474254 | genes | the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins |  | 65 |
| 4836475942 | genome | the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosome |  | 66 |
| 4836478457 | identical (homozygotic) twins | twins who develop from a single fertilized egg split in two | 67 | |
| 4836479755 | fraternal (dizygotic) twins | twins that develop from two fertilized eggs. genetically not closer than brother and sister | 68 | |
| 4836481216 | molecular genetics | the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes | 69 | |
| 4836483056 | heritability | the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. | 70 | |
| 4836485796 | interaction | the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (environment) depends on another factor (heredity) | 71 | |
| 4836487043 | epigenetic | the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occurs without a DNA change | 72 | |
| 4836488312 | evolutionary psychology | the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection | 73 | |
| 4836490725 | natural selection | the principle that among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed to succeeding generations | 74 | |
| 4836492441 | mutation | a random error in gene replication that leads to change | 75 | |
| 4838929841 | Acetylcholine (ACh) | Neurotransmitter that enables muscle action, learning, and memory(table 9.1 pg 82) | 76 | |
| 4838931495 | dopamine | neurotransmitter that influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion(table 9.1 pg 82) | 77 | |
| 4838933658 | Serotonin | neurotransmitter that affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal(table 9.1 pg 82) | 78 | |
| 4838934895 | norepinephrine | neurotransmitter that helps control alertness and arousal(table 9.1 pg 82) | 79 | |
| 4838937398 | GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) | a major inhibitory neurotransmitter(table 9.1 pg 82) | 80 | |
| 4838938124 | Glutamate | a major excitatory neurotransmitter, involved in memory (table 9.1 pg 82) | 81 |