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AP Psych Unit 3 A-B
Unfinished (Missing C)
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Phrenology | Nineteenth century theory that bumps on the skull reveal a person's abilities and traits. |
| Franz Gall | Founder of phrenology |
| Biological Psychology | Study of links betw. biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes. Some are known as "behavioural neuroscientists", "neuropsychologists", "behaviors geneticists", "physiological psychologists" or "biopsychologists". |
| Neuron | Basic building block of the nervous system; Specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses. Electrical signals travel from dendrites > to cell body > to axon |
| Dendrite | Bushy, branching extensions receiving messages and conducting impulses towards the cell body. Receive incoming signals from other neurons. |
| Axon | Extension of a neuron carrying messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands. Longest part of the cell body. |
| Myelin Sheath | Fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing axons of neurons. Enables speed as neural impulses hop from one sausage-like node to the next |
| Multiple Sclerosis | Degeneration of the myelin sheath causing multiple sclerosis |
| Action Potential | Neural impulse; brief electrical charge traveling down the axon of a neuron. Caused by the depolarization of neural membrane |
| Depolarization | Movement of positively charge ions across the neuron membrane. Travels in one direction (toward axon terminal) |
| Threshold | Minimal level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse |
| All-Or-None Response | Neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing. Characteristic of the initiation of neural impulses. Increased excitatory signals do not affect intensity |
| Selective Permeability | Axon of a resting neuron has gates that do not allow positive sodium ions to pass through the cell membrane. (potassium + sodium) |
| Refractory Period | Time interval in which dendrites transmit more electrical signals to axons. Action potential not possible during this time. |
| Neurotransmitter | Chemical messengers crossing synaptic gaps between neurons. Released from vesicles on the end of the axon. They bind to receptor sites and influence the generation of neural impulses. |
| Reuptake | Absorption of excess neurotransmitter molecules by a sending neuron |
| Synapse | Junction between the axon tip of a sending neuron and the dendrite/cell body of the receiving neuron. Gap is known as synaptic gap/cleft |
| Acetylcholine (ACh) | Muscle movement, attention, arousal, memory, emotion |
| Dopamine | Voluntary movement, learning, memory, emotion |
| Seratonin | Sleep, wakefulness, appetite, mood, aggression, impulsivity, sensory perception, temperature regulation, pain suppression |
| Endorphins | Pain relief, pleasure |
| Norepinephrine (hormone functioning as a neurotransmitter) | Learning, memory, dreaming, awakening, emotion, stress-related increase in heart rate, stress-related slowing of digestive processes |
| GABA | Main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain |
| Glutamate | Main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain |
| Agonists | Molecules similar enough to neurotransmitters to bind to receptor sites on a dendrite and mimic the neurotransmitters effects |
| Antagonists | Molecules similar enough to neurotransmitters to bind to receptor sites on a dendrite and block the neurotransmitter's effects |
| Nervous System | Electrochemical information system + communication network. Consists of nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems. |
| Nerves | Bundled axons forming neural "cables" connection nervous system + muscles, glands, and sense organs. |
| Central Nervous System (CNS) | Brain and spinal cord |
| Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) | Sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body |
| Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) | Part of the PNS; controlling the glands and muscles of the internal organs (e.g. heart) |
| Somatic Nervous System (SoNS) | Part of the PNS; controlling the body's skeletal muscles (skeletal nervous system) |
| Sympathetic Nervous System | Part of the ANS; arousing the body, mobilizing energy in stressful situations |
| Parasympathetic Nervous System | part of the ANS; calming the body, conserving energy. |
| Sensory Neuron (Afferent) | part of the SoNS; neurons carry incoming information from sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord. External stimuli is converted into electrical impulses |
| Motor Neuron (Efferent) | part of SoNS; neurons carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands |
| Interneuron | Neuron transmitting impulses betw. other neurons esp. as part of a reflex arc. Located exclusively withing brain and spinal cord |
| Reflex | Simple, automatic, inborn response to sensory stimulus (e.g. knee-jerk response) Enable us to respond to stimuli before it does harm |
| Neural Networks | Interconnecting clusters of neurons in the central nervous system. Formation facilitated by the strengthening of synaptic connections. |
| Endocrine System | Body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands secreting hormones into the bloodstream |
| Hormones | Chemical messengers o the endocrine system; influence growth, reproduction, metabolism, and mood. |
| Pituitary Gland | Endocrine system "master" gland. Influenced by the hypothalamus. Regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands |
| Brain Lesion | Tissue destruction; naturally or experimentally caused. |
| Electroencephalogram (EEG) | Amplified recording of electrical activity waves sweeping across the brain's surface. Measured with electrodes on the scalp. |
| CT Scan | Series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by a computer to represent a slice of the brain's structure |
| MRI | Uses magnetic fields and radio wakes to produce CGI of soft tissue; shows brain anatomy |
| PET | Visual display of brain activity detecting a radioactive form of glucose and where it goes when the brain performs tasks (e.g. movement and speech) |
| Structural MRI | Used to study brain anatomy. Measures glucose levels. |
| Functional MRI | Revealing blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. Studies brain structure and function. Measures oxygen levels in the brain. |
| Brainstem | Oldest part / central core of the brain. Begins where the spinal cord swells and enters the skull. Responsible for automatic survival functions (which we are least consciously aware of). Crossover point for nerves. |
| Medulla | Base of the brainstem controlling heartbeat and breathing |
| Pons | Above medulla; Helps coordinate movements |
| Reticular Formation | Nerve network travelling through the brainstem and thalamus. Plays a role in controlling arousal. |
| Thalamus | Top of brainstem; Brain's sensory control center. Receives info from all sense except smell. Directs messages to the sensory receiving areas of the cortex + transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla |
| Cerebellum | Back of brainstem; "little brain". Processes sensory input and coordinates movement output, balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory. |
| Limbic System | Below the cerebral hemispheres; Invol. several areas near the edge of the cortex. Concerned w/ instinct and mood. Controls basic emotions (fear, pleasure, anger) and drives (hunger, sex, dominance, care of offspring) |
| Hippocampus | Processes memory of new information and recent events |
| Amygdala | Lima-bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system. Play a role in emotions (aggression and fear) |
| Hypothalamus | Neural structure below the thalamus. Directs maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp). Governs endocrine system via pituitary gland + linked to emotion and reward. |
| Cerebrum | Two large hemispheres contributing to 85% of the brains weight. Forms specialized work teams enabling perceiving, thinking, and speaking. |
| Cerebral Cortex | Thin surface layer of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebrum. Control and information-processing center |
| Gilal Cells | Cells in the nervous system supporting, nourishing, and protecting neurons. Play a role in learning and thinking. |
| Front Lobes | Portion of the cerebral cortex behind the forehead. Involved in speaking, muscle movements, planning, and judgement. |
| Parietal Lobes | Portion of the cerebral cortex on top of the the head toward the rear. Receives sensory input for touch and body position |
| Temporal Lobes | Portion of the cerebral cortex lying above the ears. Includes auditory areas. Each receive info from opposite ears |
| Occipital Lobes | Portion of the cerebral cortex at the back of the head. Visual processing center of the brain |
| Association Area | Areas not involved in primary motor or sensory functions. Involved in higher mental functions (learning, remembering, thinking and speaking) |
| Motor Cortex | Area at the rear of the frontal lobes controlling voluntary movement. |
| Somatosensory Cortex | Area at the front of the parietal loves registering and processing body touch and movement sensations. |
| Cortical Homunculus | Pictorial representation of primary motor cortex and primary somatosensory cortex divisions |
| Phineas Gage | Man with an injured frontal lobe. |
| Broca's Area | Brain area controlling speech |
| Angular Gyrus | Brain area involved in reading aloud |
| Wernicke's Area | Brain area involved in understanding and producing meaningful speech |
| Aphasia | Language impairment caused by damage to the left hemisphere in Broca's area (speech) or Wernicke's area (understanding). |
| Plasticity | Brain's ability to change by reorganizing after damage or building new pathways based on experience. Capacity of one brain area to take over the functions of another damaged brain area. |
| Neurogenesis | Process by which neurons are generated. Neurons are formed in the brain, and are stimulated by neurogenesis. |
| Lateralization | Localization of functions to right/left sides of the brain |
| Corpus Callosum | Band of neural fibers connection brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them |
| Left Hemisphere | Responsible for logic, analysis, sequencing, linear, mathematics, language, facts, thinking in works, words of songs, and computation. (MATH, LOGIC, SCIENCE, LANGUAGE) |
| Right Hemisphere | Responsible for creativity, imagination, holistic thinking, intuition, arts (motor skill), rhythm (beats), non-verbal, feelings, visualization, song tune, daydreaming. (ART, NON-VERBAL, EMOTIONS) |
| Split Brain | Condition resulting from a cut corpus callosum. Used to reduce epileptic seizures |
| Consciousness | Awareness of selves and our environment |
| Dual Processing | Information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks |
| Adrenal Glands | Endocrine glands sitting above the kidneys. They secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) to arouse the body during "fight or flight" response or times of stress |
Created by:
Phoebetam
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