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AP Psychology Vocab > Unit 3 through module 13 > Flashcards

Unit 3 through module 13 Flashcards

1
Q

the scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes

A

Biological psychology

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2
Q

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

A

Neuron

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3
Q

a neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body (internal interaction within cell)

A

Dendrites

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4
Q

the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to OTHER neurons or to muscles or glands (between cells)

A

Axon

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5
Q

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons; insulates and speeds neural impulses

A

Myelin sheath

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6
Q

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

A

Action potential

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7
Q

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

A

Refractory period

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8
Q

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

A

Threshold

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9
Q

a neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing

A

All-or-none response

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10
Q

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron (tiny gap at this junction called synaptic gap/cleft)

A

Synapse

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11
Q

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gals between neurons

A

Neurotransmitters

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12
Q

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

A

Reuptake

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13
Q

“Morphine-within” (😂)- natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure

A

Endorphins

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14
Q

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response; mimics the effect of a neurotransmitter

A

Agonist

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15
Q

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response

A

Antagonist

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16
Q

the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the PNS and CNS

A

Nervous system

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17
Q

the brain and spinal cord

A

Central Nervous System (CNS)

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18
Q

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

A

PNS

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19
Q

bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs

A

Nerves

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20
Q

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

A

Sensory neurons

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21
Q

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

A

Motor neurons

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22
Q

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

A

Interneurons

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23
Q

enables voluntary control of our skeletal muscles; the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles

A

Somatic nervous system

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24
Q

the part of our peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs

A

Autonomic Nervous System

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25
Q

division of the Autonomic Nervous System that AROUSES the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

A

Sympathetic Nervous System

26
Q

division of the Autonomic Nervous System that calms the body, conserving its energy

A

Parasympathetic nervous system

27
Q

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

A

Reflex

28
Q

the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

A

Endocrine system

29
Q

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues

A

Hormones

30
Q

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

A

Adrenal glands

31
Q

the endocrine system’s most influential gland; regulates growth and controls other glands

A

Pituitary gland

32
Q

(typically intentional) tissue destruction/damage

A

Lesion

33
Q

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

A

EEG (electroencephalogram)

34
Q

a series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined into a composite representation of a slice of the brain’s structure

A

CT scan

35
Q

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

A

PET (positron emission tomography) scan

36
Q

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue; shows brain anatomy

A

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan

37
Q

a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity; show brain function as well as its structure

A

fMRI (functional MRI)

38
Q

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions

A

Brain stem

39
Q

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

A

Medulla

40
Q

the brain’s sensory control center, located on the top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

A

Thalamus

41
Q

(Not that important) a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal

A

Reticular formation

42
Q

the “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory

A

Cerebellum

43
Q

two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion (particularly aggression and fear)

A

Amygdala

44
Q

Lies below the thalamus, linked to pleasure center of the brain -emotion and rewards - (hunger, thirst, sex) and body temperature

A

Hypothalamus

45
Q

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center

A

Cerebral cortex

46
Q

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons (may also play a role in learning and thinking)

A

Glial cells (glia)

47
Q

portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements

A

Frontal lobes

48
Q

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and towards the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

A

Parietal lobes

49
Q

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive info from the visual fields

A

Occipital lobes

50
Q

portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

A

Temporal lobes

51
Q

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movement

A

Motor cortex

52
Q

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

A

SomatoSENSORY cortex

53
Q

areas 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 speaking

A

Association areas

54
Q

the brain’s ability to change by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience (especially in childhood)

A

Plasticity

55
Q

the formation of new neurons

A

neurogenesis

56
Q

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

A

Corpus callosum

57
Q

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly corpus callosum) connecting them

A

Split brain

58
Q

our awareness of ourselves and our environment

A

Consciousness

59
Q

the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language)

A

Cognitive neuroscience

60
Q

the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks

A

Dual processing

AP Psychology Vocab (4 decks)

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