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AP Psych > Unit 2 > Flashcards

Unit 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

evolutionary psychology

A

Study of how psychological traits + behaviors have evolved over timeto enhance survival + reproductive success.

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2
Q

natural selection

A

The process by which organisms with traits that are better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those advantageous traits to future generations.

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3
Q

adoption studies

A

Investigates similarities between adopted children and their biological and adoptive families to assess the impact of genetics vs. environment on various traits and behaviors.

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3
Q

nature

“genes”

A

Inherent biological and genetic factors that influence an individual’s psychological development, traits, behaviors, and cognitive abilities.

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3
Q

nurture

“environment”

A

The environmental influences and experiences that shape an individual’s psychological development, behaviors, and cognitive processes.

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3
Q

twin studies

A

Examines similarities and differences between identical (monozygotic) and fraternal (dizygotic) twins to assess the relative influence of genetics and to assess the relative influence of genetics and environment on traits and behaviors.

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4
Q

family studies

A

Analyzes similarities and differences among family members, including parents and siblings, to understand the interplay of genetics and environment in shaping traits and behaviors within a family unit.

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5
Q

heredity

A

The transmission of genetic information from biological parents to offspring.

how much comes from genes vs environment

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6
Q

genetic predisposition

A

The inherited likelihood of developing specific traits or conditions due to genetic factors from biological parents.

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7
Q

eugenics

A

The belief in improving the genetic quality of a human population by controlling reproduction to increase desirable traits and decrease undesirable ones.

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8
Q

cerebral cortex

A

The outer layer of the brain.
Responsible for HLCF.

grey matter

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9
Q

HLCF

higher-level cognitive functions

A

Thinking, perceiving, and decision-making.

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10
Q

matter

A

grey: processing
white: transporting

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11
Q

frontal lobes

A

Responsible for HLCF.

motor cortex

contains: prefrontal cortex

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12
Q

prefrontal cortex

A

Responsible for HLCF + EF.

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13
Q

EF

executive functions

A

planning, organizing, strategizing, and focusing.

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14
Q

motor cortex

A

Responsible for planning, executing, and controlling VOLUNTARY movements of the body.

sends signals to muscles

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15
Q

parietal lobes

A

At the top of the brain. Responsible for processing sensory information.

touch, temperature, SPATIAL AWARENESS

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16
Q

somatosensory cortex

A

In parietal. Responsible for interpreting sensory information (skin, muscles, joints)

interpretation: accompanied by experience (can be conditioned)

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17
Q

occipital lobe

A

Located at the back of the brain. Responsible for processing visual information.

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18
Q

temporal lobes

A

Located next to the ears. Involved in processing auditory information, language comprehension, and memory formation (close to hippocampus).

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19
Q

corpus callosum

A

Thick band of nerve fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

lateralizacion, stroke

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20
Q

brainstem

A

Oldest, most primitive. Responsible for basic life-sustaining functions such as breathing, heart rate, and sleep-wake cycles.

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21
Q

medulla

oblongata

A

Located at the base of the brainstem. Regulates essential autonomic functions like heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure.

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22
RAS | reticular activating system
A network of neurons located in the brainstem. Responsible for regulating arousal, attention, and consiousness. | filters sensory information and modulates overall brain activity ## Footnote helps maintain wakefulness
23
cerebellum
Located at the back of the brain. Responsible for coordinating movement, balance, and posture.
24
limbic system
Beneath the cerebral cortex. A set of brain structures involved in emotions, memory, and motivation.
25
reward center
Network of brain structures in the limbic system, that processes pleasurable experiences and reinforces behaviors associated w/ them.
26
thalamus
Relay station that processes and relays information (like sight, sound, touch, and taste). | NOT INCLUDING SMELL
27
hipothalamus
Below the thalamus. Responsible for regulating various essential bodily functions (like hunger, thirst, body temperature, and sleep-wake cycles).
28
pituitary gland
Regulates hormone production.
29
hippocampus
Forms and consolidates new memories.
30
amygdala
Processes emotions particularly fear and agression (fight or flight).
31
nervous system
Body's communication network. | nerves, neurons, specialized neurons
32
central nervous system (CNS)
Brain + spinal chord. Processes info, coordinates responses, and regulates bodily functions. | car scene inside out
33
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
All nerves and ganglia. | ganglia: armpits, boobs
34
autonomic | ans
Regulates involunaty body functions, operating automatically, w/o consious control.
35
sympathetic | sns
Responsible for agitating, and activating flight or flight.
36
parasympathetic | pns
Responsible for relaxing, and restoring calmness.
37
somatic | sns
Controls voluntary movement and relaying sensory information.
38
neurons
specialized cell, building block of the nervous system, transmitting electric + chemical signals throughout the body.
39
glial cells
Provide structural support, insulation, and nourishment to neurons. | support cells, insulation
40
motor neurons
transmit signals from the cns to muscles, glands, and organs. | out
41
sensory neurons
Specialized nerve cells that transmit sensory infformation from sensory receptors. | in
42
interneurons
Connects the cns. Relays signals between sensory nerves + sensory neurons. ******
43
reflex arc
Reward pathway that controls reflex actions.
44
all-or-nothing principle
Once a neuron reaches its threshold of excitation, it will fire an action potential at full strength.
45
depolarization
Phase of action-potential where the inside of the neuron becomes less negative than the outside. ## Footnote Due to the influx of positively charged ions (sodium) through ion channels
46
dendrites
Axon's form of transportation.
47
refractory period
Brief period following an action potential when a neuron is unable to generate another one.
48
resting potential
Stable negative charge that exists across the cell membrane of a neuron when it is not transmitting signals. | maintained by inequal distribution of ions
49
reuptake
Process where neurotransmitters that have been released into the synapse are reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron from which it came from. | synapse: junction between 2 nerve cells.
50
MS | multiple sclerosis
Chronic autoimmune disease that affects the CNS. Occurs when the immune system attacks the myelin sheath.
51
MG | myasthenia gravis
Chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction, where nerve impusles are transmitted to muscles.
52
excitatory neurotransmitters
Increases the likelihood of an action potential.
53
Glutamate
Plays a key role in synaptic transmission and neural communication. | learning, memory, and neural plasticity
54
LTP | long-term potentiation
Neuron connection. | memory
55
inhibitory neurotransmitters
Decreases the likelihood of an action potential.
56
GABA
Acts a primary inhibitor in the CNS. Promotes relaxation + reduces anxiety. | associated w/ amygdala ## Footnote Ex. stressful situation, hyperpolarization, gaba
57
dopamine
Helps regulate mood, reward, motivation, and movement.
58
seratonin
Helps regulate mood, sleep, appetite, and stress.
59
endorphins | opioid #opium #maisonmargiela
Natural pain reliever + mood enhancer.
60
61
substance P
Amplifies pain signals and contributes to the perception of pain. | nociceptores
62
acetylcholine
Involved in muscle contraction, memory, and learning.
63
hormones
chemical messengers produced by glands in the endocrine system that travel through the bloodstream to target cells or organs, where they regulate physiological processes and behaviors.
64
endocrine system
hypothalamus, pituitary gland, pineal gland, thyroid, etc.
65
ghrelin
Produced by the stomach. Stimulates apetite.
66
Leptin
Produced by fat cells that regulate energy balance + apetite. Acts on the hipothalamus to suppress apetite and increase energy expenditure.
67
melatonin
regulates sleep-wake cycle, circadian rhythm, inner clock, etc.
68
oxytocin
Key role in social bonding. Forms emotional connections, trust, and intimacy.
69
adrenaline
Key role in fight or flight stress response.
70
norepinephrine
Fight or flight, regulates arousal, attention, and stress.
71
plasticity
brain's ability to adapt
72
split brain research
studies people who have surgically cut their corpus callosum to research CHO.
73
CHO | contralateral hemispheral organization
Phenomenon where each hemisphere of the brain controls the opposite side of the body.
74
Broca's area
Area in the left brain, part of the frontal lobe. Responsible for speech production and language processing.
75
Broca's aphasia
Difficulty producing speech, but can understand speech.
76
Wernicke's area
Left hemisphere of the temporal lobe. Has to do with the comprehension of language.
77
Wernicke's Aphasia
The person has difficulty interpreting the meaning of a message, it is impaired.

AP Psych (2 decks)

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