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AP Psychology > Unit 3A-3B Vocab > Flashcards

Unit 3A-3B Vocab Flashcards

1
Q

Phrenology

A

Franz Gall: Belief that bumps on the skill can reveal mental abilities.

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2
Q

Biological Psychology

A

a branch of psychology concerned with all the links between biology and behavior (Some biological psychologists call themselves behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psychologists, or biopsychologists)

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3
Q

Neuron

A

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

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4
Q

Sensory Neurons

A

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

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5
Q

Motor neurons

A

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

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6
Q

interneurons

A

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

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7
Q

dendrite

A

the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses towards the cell body

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8
Q

Axon

A

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

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9
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

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

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10
Q

Action potential

A

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

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11
Q

Threshold

A

a level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

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12
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

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13
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 receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.

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14
Q

Reuptake

A

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

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15
Q

Endorphines

A

“morphine within”– natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

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16
Q

Nervous System

A

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

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17
Q

CNS

A

the brain and the spinal cord

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18
Q

PNS

A

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

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19
Q

Nerves

A

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

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20
Q

SNS

A

the division of the PNS that controls the body’s skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system.

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21
Q

ANS

A

the part of the PNS that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (like the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.

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22
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

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

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23
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

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

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24
Q

Reflex

A

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

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25
Q

Endocrine system

A

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

26
Q

Hormones

A

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

27
Q

Adrenal Glands

A

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.

28
Q

pituitary glands

A

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

29
Q

lesion

A

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

30
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 the scalp.

31
Q

CT (computed tomography) scan

A

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

32
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.

33
Q

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A

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

34
Q

fMRI (functional MRI)

A

a technique for revealing bloodflow and therefore brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scance show brain function

35
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

Ex: heartbeat, lungs, movement coordination

36
Q

Medulla

A

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing. (Lowest part, below the pons)

37
Q

Reticular Formation

A

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

38
Q

Thalamus

A

the brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; directs messages to the sensory receiving areas of the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.

All sensory information except smell

39
Q

Cerebellum

A

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

Ex: sensory processing, movement, balance at the back of the brain.

40
Q

Limbic system

A

the donut-shaped neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; is associated with emotions and drives.

Includes: hippocampus, amygdala, and the hypothalamus.

41
Q

Amygdala

A

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

42
Q

Hypothalamus

A

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

43
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

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

44
Q

Glial cells

A

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

45
Q

Frontal lobes

A

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

46
Q

Parietal lobes

A

receives sensory input for touch and body position

47
Q

Occipital lobes

A

includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

48
Q

Temporal lobes

A

includes auditory areas, each receiving information from the opposite ear.

49
Q

Motor cortex

A

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

50
Q

Sensory Cortex

A

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

51
Q

Association Areas

A

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.

52
Q

Aphasia

A

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

53
Q

Broca’s area

A

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

54
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

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

55
Q

Plasticity

A

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

56
Q

neurogenesis

A

the formation of new neurons

57
Q

Corpus Callosum

A

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

58
Q

split brain

A

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fivers connecting them.

59
Q

Consciousness

A

our awareness of ourselves and our enviornment

60
Q

cognitive neuroscience

A

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

61
Q

Dual Processing

A

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

AP Psychology (4 decks)

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