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AP Psychology > Unit 2 - Terminology > Flashcards

Unit 2 - Terminology Flashcards

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1
Q

neuron

A

nerve cell
basic building block of nervous system

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2
Q

dendrites

A

bushy, branching extensions on a neuron
receive and integrate messages by conducting impulses toward the cell body

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3
Q

cell body

A

part of neuron that contains the nucleus

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4
Q

axon

A

part of neuron that passes impulses from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands

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5
Q

myelin sheath

A

covers axon of some neurons
enables much faster transmission speed as impulses hop from one node to the next

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6
Q

neural impulse

A

action potential
electrical signal that travels down the axon of a neuron

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7
Q

terminal branches of axon

A

form junctions with other cells to send out impulses from neuron

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8
Q

glial cells/glia

A

cells in nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
assist in learning, thinking, memory

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9
Q

action potential

A

neural impulse
brief electrical charge that travels down the axon

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10
Q

threshold

A

level of stimulation necessary to trigger a neural impulse

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11
Q

refractory period

A

brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired

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12
Q

all-or-none response

A

neuron either fires a full strength impulse or fires nothing at all

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13
Q

synapse

A

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

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14
Q

synaptic cleft

A

tiny gap at the synapse

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15
Q

neurotransmitters

A

cross the synaptic clefts between neurons
when released by sending neuron, they bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron
influences whether or not a neuron will generate a neural impulse

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16
Q

reuptake

A

when extra neurotransmitters get reabsorbed by the sending neuron

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17
Q

types of neurotransmitters (7)

A

acetylcholine (ACh), dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA, glutamate, endorphins

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18
Q

acetylcholine (ACh)

A

enables muscle action, learning, memory
malfunction: undersupply —> Alzheimer’s disease

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19
Q

dopamine

A

influences movement, learning, attention, emotion
malfunction: oversupply —> schizophrenia; undersupply —> tremors/decreased mobility in Parkinson’s

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20
Q

serotonin

A

affects mood, hunger, sleep, arousal
malfunction: undersupply —> depression

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21
Q

norepinephrine

A

helps control alertness and arousal
malfunction: undersupply —> depressed mood

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22
Q

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A

inhibitory neurotransmitter
malfunction: undersupply —> seizures, tremors, insomnia

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23
Q

glutamate

A

excitatory neurotransmitter, memory
malfunction: oversupply —> migraines/seizures

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24
Q

endorphins

A

influence perception of pain and pleasure
malfunction: oversupply from opiates —> suppression of natural endorphin supply

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25
agonist
molecule that increases action of a neurotransmitter
26
antagonists
inhibits the action of a neurotransmitter
27
central nervous system (CNS)
brain and spinal cord
28
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body contains somatic and autonomic nervous systems
29
types of neurons (3)
sensory, motor, inter-neurons
30
sensory neurons
carry messages from body tissues and sensory receptors inward (afferent)
31
motor neurons
carry instructions for muscles and glands out from CNS (efferent)
32
inter-neurons
within brain and spinal cord process info between sensory and motor neurons
33
somatic nervous system
voluntary control of skeletal muscles
34
autonomic nervous system (ANS) (2)
controls glands and muscles of internal organs sympathetic division arouses, parasympathetic calms
35
adrenal glands
above kidneys secrete hormones that arouse body in times of stress
36
hypothalamus
controls pituitary gland
37
pituitary gland
control center of endocrine system top of brain stem
38
thyroid gland
affects metabolism in neck
39
parathyroids
regulate calcium in blood in neck
40
pancreas
regulates sugar in blood by kidneys
41
EEG (electroencephalogram)
records waves of electrical activity across surface of brain measured with electrodes
42
MEG (magnetoencephalography)
measures magnetic fields from natural electrical activity of brain
43
CT (computed tomography) scan, CAT scan
x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer to see slice of brain’s structure
44
PET (positron emission tomography) scan
detects where radioactive form of glucose goes while brain performs a task
45
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
uses magnetic fields and radio waves to generate images of soft tissue
46
fMRI (functional MRI)
reveals blood flow (brain activity) by comparing successive MRI scans
47
brainstem
automatic survival functions
48
medulla
base of brainstem heartbeat and breathing
49
thalamus
top of brainstem sensory control center
50
reticular formation
nerve network that travels thru brainstem controls arousal
51
cerebellum
rear of brainstem processes sensory input, coordinates movement output/balance, nonverbal learning and memory
52
limbic system (3)
neural system that controls emotions and drives amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus
53
amygdala
linked to emotion two small neural clusters
54
hypothalamus
directs maintenance (eating, etc) linked to emotion and reward
55
hippocampus
processes for storage explicit memories
56
cerebral cortex (4)
ultimate control and information processing center frontal lobes, parietal lobes, occipital lobes, temporal lobes
57
frontal lobes
just behind forehead speaking, making plans and judgements
58
parietal lobes
top rear of head receives sensory input for touch and body position
59
occipital lobes
back of head receives visual info
60
temporal lobes
above ears receives auditory info
61
motor cortex
behind frontal lobes controls voluntary movements
62
somatosensory cortex
in front of parietal lobes processes body touch and movement sensations
63
association areas
part of cerebral cortex higher mental functions (learning, memory, etc)
64
plasticity
brain’s ability to adapt and change after damage or experiences
65
neurogenesis
formation of neurons
66
corpus callosum
large band of neural fibers connecting brain hemispheres
67
split brain
isolates the hemispheres of brain by cutting the corpus callosum
68
consciousness
subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment
69
cognitive neuroscience
interdisciplinary study of brain activity linked to cognition
70
blindsight
condition where a person can respond to visual stimulus without consciously perceiving it
71
evolutionary psychology
uses natural selection principles
72
manifest content
symbolic, remembered storyline of a dream freud
73
latent content
underlying meaning of a dream freud
74
REM rebound
tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM deprivation
75
psychoactive drugs
alters perceptions and moods
76
substance use disorder
continued substance use despite life disruption or risk
77
barbiturates
depress nervous system activity tranquilizers
78
opiates
depress neural activity to temporarily lessen anxiety and pain
79
cocaine
stimulant increases alertness and euphoria
80
amphetamines
drugs like meth stimulants
81
methamphetamine
amphetamine, stimulant reduces baseline dopamine levels
82
hallucinogens
LSD distort perceptions

AP Psychology (8 decks)

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