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AP Psychology > Chapter 3 > Flashcards

Chapter 3 Flashcards

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0
Q

Neuron

A

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

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1
Q

Biological psychology

A

The scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

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2
Q

Dendrites

A

A neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

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3
Q

Axon

A

The neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neuron’s or to muscles or glands

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4
Q

Myelin sheath

A

A fatty tissue layer segment ally encasing the axons of some neurons

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5
Q

Action potential

A

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

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6
Q

Refractory period

A

A period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

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7
Q

Threshold

A

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

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8
Q

All-or-none response

A

A neuron’s reaction of either firing or not firing

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9
Q

Synapse

A

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite of the receiving cell

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10
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

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11
Q

Reuptake

A

A neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

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12
Q

Endorphins

A

Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitter’s linked to pain control and to pleasure

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13
Q

Agonist

A

A molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response

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14
Q

Antagonist

A

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

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15
Q

Nervous system

A

The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network consisting of the central and peripheral nervous system

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16
Q

Central nervous system

A

Nerves within bone (brain and the spinal cord)

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17
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

All the nervous systems outside and around the bones

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18
Q

Nerves

A

Bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

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19
Q

Sensory (afferent) neurons

A

Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors TO the brain

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20
Q

Motor (efferent) neurons

A

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cords to the muscles and glands

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21
Q

Interneurons

A

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

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22
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles

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23
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (the automatic/unconscious functions)

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24
Sympathetic nervous system
Part of the autonomic, responsible for exciting you (like a gas pedal)
25
Parasympathetic nervous system
Part of the autonomic nervous system, responsible for calming you down (like a brake)
26
Reflex
A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, like the knee-jerk reaction
27
Endocrine system
The hormone system
28
Hormones
Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands that travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues
29
Adrenal glands
A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones
30
Pituitary gland
The endocrine system's most influential gland (controlled by the hypothalamus)
31
Lesion
Neural tissue destruction
32
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Used to study different states of consciousness and mostly used in sleep studies
33
CT scan
Also called a CAT scan; takes picture of different angles of the brain and looking at structure, usually used to find damage and rumors
34
PET scan
Depicts brain activity by showing where different chemicals are being used
35
MRI
Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce, show anatomy and which areas are active
36
fMRI
(functional MRI) how brain function as well as brain structure
37
Brainstorm
Responsible for automatic survival functions
38
Medulla
The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
39
Thalamus
Receives messages from the spinal cord and the sensory cortex and then sends it to where it needs to go
40
Reticular formation
A cluster of nerves in the brain that filters information coming to the thalamus from the spinal cord and influential in controlling arousal
41
Cerebellum
Processes sensory input, coordinating movement output and input, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory
42
Limbic system
Neural system including the hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and thalamus. In charge of mood and emotion control
43
Amygdala
Linked to emotions and fear
44
Hypothalamus
Directs maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature) and governs the endocrine system
45
Cerebral cortex
The body's ultimate control and information-processing center
46
Glial cells
Cells in the nervous cells that support, nourish, and protect neurons
47
Frontal lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements
48
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 position
49
Occipital lobes
Is in the back of the head; includes the areas that receive information from the visual fields
50
Temporal lobes
Roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information from the opposite ear
51
Motor cortex
An area at the rear of the frontal lobe that controls voluntary movements
52
Somatosensory cortex
Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
53
Association areas
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
54
Plasticity
The brains ability to change, especially during childhood
55
Neurogenesis
The formation of new neurons
56
Corpus callosum
The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres
57
Split brain
A condition resulting from surgery that isolated the two hemispheres by cutting the corpus callosum
58
Consciousness
Our awareness of ourselves and our environment
59
Cognitive neuroscience
The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition
60
Dual processing
The principle that information is often simultaneously processes on separate conscious and unconscious tracks
61
Behavior genetics
The study of relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences and behavior
62
Environment
Every external influence, from prenatal nutrition and the people and things around us
63
Chromosomes
Threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes
64
DNA
A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up chromosomes
65
Genes
The biochemical units of heredity
66
Genome
The complete instructions for making and organism
67
Identical twin
Monozygotic twins; twins who develop from the same fertilized egg
68
Dizygotic twins
Twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs
69
Molecular genetics
The subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes
70
Heritability
The extent to which variation among individuals can be attributed to their different genes
71
Interaction
The interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another factor
72
Epigenetics
The study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change
73
Evolutionary psychology
The study of evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection
74
Natural selection
The principle that, among the range of inherited trait variable and mutation, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations
75
Mutation
A random error in gene replication that leads to change

AP Psychology (6 decks)

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