Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

AP PSYCH (swapped) > UNIT 2 > Flashcards

UNIT 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Biological psychology

A

a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

neuron

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

sensory neuron (afferent neuron)

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

motor neurons (efferent neuron)

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

interneurons

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

dendrite

A

the bushy, braching extentions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

axon

A

the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to the muscles or glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

myelin sheath

A

a layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impluses as the impulse hops from one node to the next

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

action potential

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

threshold

A

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

synapse

A

the 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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to reseptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

reuptake

A

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

endorphins

A

morphine within - natural . opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

nervous system

A

the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

the brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

peripheral nervous system

A

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

nerves

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

somatic nervous system

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

reflex

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

endocrine system

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

hormones

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

adrenal glands

A

a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hornomes (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that helps arouse the body in times of stress

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

pituitary gland

A

the endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

lesion

A

tissue destruction; a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on th scalp.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

CT (computed tomograpgy) scan

A

a series of X-ray photos taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body - also called a CAT scan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

PET (positron emission tomography) scan

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A

a technique that uses magnetic fields ans radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

fMRI (functional MRI)

A

a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans, fMRI shows brain functions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

brainstem

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

medulla

A

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

reticular formation

A

a nerve netowrk in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

thalamus

A

the brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum amd medulla - all senses, but smell are processed here

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

cerebellum

A

the “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output an balance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

limbic system

A

doughnut-shaped neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

amygdala

A

two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to raw emotions such as fear and anger

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

hypothalamus

A

a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp). helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward (think 4 F’s!!)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

cerebral cortex

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

glial cells

A

cells in the nervour system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

frontal lobes

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

parietal lobes

A

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; received sensory input for touch and body postion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

occipital lobes

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

temporal lobes

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

motor cortex

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

sensory cortex (somatosensory cortex)

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

association areas

A

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in promary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions ssuch as learning, remembering, , thinking, and speaking

51
Q

aphasia

A

impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s Area (impairing speaking) or Wernicke’s Area (impairing understanding)

52
Q

Broca’s Area

A

controls language expression - an area, usually in the left frontal lobe, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech

53
Q

Wernicke’s Area

A

controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe

54
Q

plasticity

A

the brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reogranizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

55
Q

neurogenesis

A

the formation of new neurons

56
Q

corpus callosum

A

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

57
Q

split brain

A

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

58
Q

consciousness

A

our awareness of ourselves and our environment

59
Q

cognitive neuroscience

A

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

60
Q

dual processing

A

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

61
Q

behavior genetics

A

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental behavior

62
Q

environment

A

every non-genetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around you

63
Q

chromosomes

A

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes

64
Q

DNA

A

a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes

65
Q

genes

A

the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein

66
Q

heritablity

A

the proportion of variation among individual that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied

67
Q

interaction

A

the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)

68
Q

molecular genetics

A

the subfield of biology that studies molecular structure and function of genes

69
Q

evolutionary psychology

A

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection

70
Q

natural selection

A

the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likelybe passed on to the succeeding generations

71
Q

genome

A

the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all genetic material in the organism’s chromosomes

72
Q

identical twins (monozygotic twins)

A

twins who develop from a single egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms

73
Q

fraternal twins (dizygotic twins)

A

twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but share a fetal environment

74
Q

mutation

A

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change

75
Q

cell body

A

the cell’s life support center

76
Q

refractory period

A

in neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state

77
Q

all-or-none response

A

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

78
Q

agonists

A

a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action - it mimics the neurotransmitter

79
Q

antagonist

A

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action

80
Q

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

A

a brain-imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain’s natural electrical activity

81
Q

hippocampus

A

a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process for storage (conscious) memories of facts and events

82
Q

blindsight

A

a condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it

83
Q

sequential processing

A

processing one aspect of a problem at a time; generally used to process new information or to solve difficult problems

84
Q

heredity

A

the genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

85
Q

epigenetics

A

above or “in addition to” genetics; the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

86
Q

social script

A

culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations

87
Q

parallel processing

A

processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously; generally used to process well-learned information or to solve easy problems

88
Q

molecular behavior genetics

A

the study of how the structure and function of genes interact with our environment to influence behavior

89
Q

sleep

A

periodic, natural loss of consciousness–as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation

90
Q

circadian rhythm

A

the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle

91
Q

REM sleep

A

Rapid eye movement sleep, a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active.

92
Q

alpha waves

A

the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state

93
Q

NREM sleep

A

non-rapid eye movement sleep; encompasses all sleep stages except for REM sleep

94
Q

hallucinations

A

false sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus

95
Q

hypnagogic sensations

A

bizarre experiences, such as jerking or a feeling of falling or floating weightlessly, while transitioning to sleep

96
Q

delta waves

A

the large, slow brain waves associated with the deep sleep of NREM-3

97
Q

suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

A

a pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm. In response to light, the SCN causes the pineal gland to adjust melatonin production, thus modifying our feelings of sleepiness

98
Q

insomnia

A

recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

99
Q

narcolepsy

A

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.

100
Q

sleep apnea

A

a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings

101
Q

night terrors

A

a sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during NREM-3 sleep, within two or three hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered

102
Q

dream

A

a sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind.

103
Q

manifest content

A

according to Freud, the symbolic, remembered story line of a dream (as distinct from its latent - hidden - content)

104
Q

latent content

A

according to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream (as distinct from its manifest content)

105
Q

REM rebound

A

the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation

106
Q

psychoactive drugs

A

a chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods

107
Q

substance use disorder

A

disorder characterized by continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk

108
Q

tolerance

A

the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug’s effect

109
Q

withdrawl

A

the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior

110
Q

depressants

A

drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

111
Q

alcohol use disorder (alcoholism)

A

alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdrawal, and a drive to continue problematic use

112
Q

barbituarates

A

drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement

113
Q

opiates

A

opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

114
Q

stimulants

A

Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, and Ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

115
Q

nicotine

A

a stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco

116
Q

cocaine

A

a powerful and addictive stimulant, derived from the coca plant, producing temporarily increased alertness and euphoria

117
Q

amphetamines

A

drugs, such as methamphetamine, that stimulate neural activity, causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes

118
Q

Methamphetamine

A

a powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system, with speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes; over time, appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels

119
Q

Ecstasy (MDMA)

A

a synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. Produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short-term health risks and longer-term harm to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition.

120
Q

halucinogens

A

psychedelic (“mind-manifesting”) drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

121
Q

near-death experience (NDE)

A

an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death (such as through cardiac arrest); often similar to drug-induced hallucinations

122
Q

LSD

A

a powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid (lysergic acid diethylamide)

123
Q

THC

A

the major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations

AP PSYCH (swapped) (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions