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AP PSYCH TEST 2
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Hereditary (nature) | genetic factors inherited from parents that influence behavior and traits |
| Environmental Factors (nurture) | external influences such as upbringing, experiences, and culture that shape behavior and development |
| Evolutionary Perspective | the approach that explains behavior and mental processes through natural Selection and adaptation |
| Natural Selection | the process by which organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce |
| Eugenics | a controversial practice of selectively breeding humans to enhance desired traits (now considered unethical) |
| Twin Studies | research comparing similarities between identical and fraternal twins to determine genetic influence |
| Family Studies | research examining behavioral similarities among family members to assess genetic influence |
| Adoption Studies | research comparing adopted children to biological and adoptive parents to separate nature and nurture |
| Central Nervous System | the brain and spinal cord; processes information and controls bodily functions |
| Peripheral Nervous System | nerves and ganglia outside the CNS that connect the CNS to the rest of the body |
| Autonomic Nervous System | Part of the PNS that automatically controls involuntary functions like heart rate and digestion |
| Somatic Nervous System | part of the PNS that controls voluntary skeletal muscles and transmits sensory information |
| Sympathetic Nervous System | division of the ANS that activates "fight or flight" responses during stress |
| Parasympathetic Nervous System | division of the ANS that activates "rest and digest" responses and promotes relaxation |
| Neuron | a specialized cell that transmits electrical and chemical signals throughout the nervous system |
| Glial Cells | support cells in the nervous system that insulate neurons, provide nutrients, and maintain homeostasis |
| Reflex Arc | the simplest neural pathways; allows rapid automatic responses without brain involvement |
| Sensory Neurons | neurons that transmit information from sensory receptors to the CNS |
| Motor Neurons | neurons that transmit commands from the CNS to muscles and glands |
| Interneurons | neurons that connect sensory and motor neurons; found primarily in the CNS |
| All-or-Nothing Principle | the principle that a neuron either fires completely or not at all; there is no partial firing |
| Depolarization | the process by which a neuron's membrane potential becomes less negative, moving toward an action potential |
| Refractory Period | the brief time after an action potential during which a neuron cannot fire again |
| Resting Potential | the negative electrical charge of a neuron at rest (approximately -70 mV) |
| Reuptake | the process by which neurotransmitters are removed from the synaptic cleft and recycled |
| Threshold | the minimum level of stimulation needed to trigger an action potential in a neuron |
| Multiple Sclerosis | an autoimmune disease that damages the myelin sheath, disrupting neural communication |
| Myasthenia Gravis | an autoimmune disorder affecting acetylcholine receptors, causing muscle weakness |
| Neurotransmitter | a chemical messenger that transmits signals across synapses between neurons |
| Excitatory Neurotransmitter | a neurotransmitter that increases the likelihood of an action potential in the receiving neuron |
| Inhibitory Neurotransmitter | a neurotransmitter that decreases the likelihood of an action potential in the receiving neuron |
| Dopamine | a neurotransmitter involved in movement, motivation, reward, and pleasure |
| Sertonin | a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation, sleep, and appetite |
| Norepinephrine | a neurotransmitter that increases arousal and alertness; released during stress |
| Glutamate | the primary and exicitatory neurotransmitter in the brain; involved in learning and memory |
| GABA | the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain; promotes relaxation |
| Endorphins | neurotransmitters that reduce pain and produce feelings of pleasure and well-being |
| Substance P | a neurotransmitter involved in pain perception |
| Acetylcholine | a neurotransmitter involved in muscle contraction, learning, and memory |
| Hormones | chemical messengers released by endocrine glands that regulate bodily functions |
| Adrenaline | a hormone released during stress that increases heart rate and prepared the body for actions |
| Leptin | a hormone produced by fat cells that signals fullness and reduces appetite |
| Ghrelin | a hormone produced by the stomach that increases appetite and food intake |
| Melatonin | a hormone produced by the pineal gland that regulates sleep-wake cycles |
| Oxytocin | a hormone involved in bonding, trust, and social attachment |
| Psychoactive Drug | a substance that alters mood, perception, or consciousness |
| Agonist | a drug that mimics or enhances the action of a neurotransmitter |
| Antagonist | a drug that blocks or inhibits the action of a neurotransmitter |
| Stimulants | drugs that increase neural activity and arousal |
| Caffeine | a mild stimulant found in coffee and tea that increases alertness |
| Cocaine | a powerful STIMULANT that increases dopamine levels, causing euphoria and addiction |
| Depressants | drugs that decrease neural activity and arousal; slow done the CNS |
| Alcohol | a DEPRESSANT that slows neural processing and impairs judgement |
| Hallucinogens | drugs that alter perceptions and produce hallucinations |
| Marijuana | a HALLUCINOGEN derived from cannabis; affects perception and memory |
| Opioids | a class of drugs that bind to opioid receptors and reduce pain and produce euphoria |
| Heroin | a potent OPIOID derived from morphine; highly addictive |
| Tolerance | the need for increasing amounts of a drug to achieve the same effect |
| Addiction | compulsive drug use despite negative consequences; involves physical and psychological dependence |
| Withdrawal | unpleasant physical and psychological symptoms that occur when stopping drug use |
| Brain Stem | the lower part of the Brain that controls vital functions like breathing and heart rate |
| Medulla | the part of the Brain stem that controls involuntary functions like breathing and heart rate |
| Reticular Activating System | a network in the brain stem that controls arousal and sleep-wake cycles |
| Brain's Reward Center | the area of the Brain (nucleus accumbens) that processes pleasure and motivation |
| Cerebellum | the brain structure responsible for coordination, balance, and motor learning skills |
| Cerebral Cortex | the outer layer of the brain responsible for higher-order thinking and consciousness |
| Hemispheres (2) | the two halves of the cerebral Cortex (left and right) that process different types of information |
| Limbic System | a group of brain structures involved in emotion, memory, and motivation: hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala |
| Thalamus | the brain structure that relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex |
| Hypothalamus | a small brain structure that regulates hunger, thirst, temperature, and hormone release |
| Pituitary Gland | the "master gland" that controls hormone released throughout the body |
| Hippocampus | a brain structure in the limbic system involved in forming new memories |
| Amygdala | a brain structure in the limbic system involved in processing emotions, especially fear |
| Corpus Callosum | the bundle of fibers connecting the left and right hemispheres |
| Occipital Lobes | the lobes at the back of the brain responsible for vision |
| Temporal Lobes | the lobes on the sides of the brain involved in hearing and memory |
| Parietal Lobes | the lobes at the top-back of the brain involved in sensation and spatial awareness (touch) |
| Association Areas | regions of the cerebral Cortex involved in higher-order processing like thinking and problem-solving |
| Frontal Lobes | the lobes at the front of the brain involved in planning, decision-making, and movement |
| Executive Functioning | mental processes involved in planning, organizing, decision-making, and impulse control |
| Prefrontal Cortex | the front part of the frontal lobe involved in executive functioning and impulse control |
| Somatosensory Cortex | the area of the parietal Lobe that processes touch and body sensations |
| Motor Cortex | the area of the frontal lobe that controls voluntary muscle movements |
| Split-Brain Research | studies of patients with a severed corpus callosum examining hemispheric specialization |
| Hemispheric Specialization | the division of labor between the two hemispheres; each specializes in different functions |
| Broca's Area | a brain region in the frontal lobe involved in speech production |
| Wernicke's Area | a brain region in the temporal lobe involved in language comprehension |
| Aphasia | a language disorder resulting from brain damage affecting speech or comprehension |
| Split Brain Patient | a person with a severed corpus callosum; used in research to study hemispheric functions |
| Contralateral Hemispheric Organization | the principle that each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body |
| Brain Plasticity | the brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections throughout life |
| Brain Scans (EEG, fMRI) | neuroimaging techniques used to observe brain activity and structure |
| Lesioning (Brain Surgical Procedure) | a research technique in which brain tissue is destroyed to study the effects on behavior |
Created by:
lilli.spears1