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Psych test
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Nature-nurture issue | Debate over genes versus environment shaping behavior. |
| Natural selection | Traits aiding survival are passed to offspring. |
| Evolutionary psychology | Study of behavior evolution using natural selection. |
| Behavior genetics | Study of genetic and environmental impacts on behavior. |
| Mutation | Random error in gene replication causing change. |
| Environment | Every non-genetic influence surrounding us. |
| Heredity | Genetic transfer of traits from parents to offspring. |
| Genes | Biochemical units of heredity making up chromosomes. |
| Genome | Complete genetic instructions for making an organism. |
| Identical twins | Twins from a single fertilized egg splitting. |
| Fraternal Twins | Twins from separate fertilized eggs sharing 50% genes. |
| Interaction | Interplay when one factor depends on another. |
| Epigenetics | Environmental influences on gene expression without DNA changes. |
| Nervous system | Body's electrochemical communication network. |
| CNS | Brain and spinal cord. |
| PNS | Sensory and motor neurons connecting CNS to body. |
| Nerves | Bundled axons linking CNS with muscles and glands. |
| Sensory neurons | Carrying incoming information to brain and spinal cord. |
| Motor neurons | Carrying outgoing information from brain to muscles. |
| Interneurons | Neurons within CNS communicating internally between inputs/outputs. |
| Somatic Nervous System | PNS division controlling voluntary skeletal muscle movement. |
| ANS | PNS division controlling involuntary glands and muscles. |
| Sympathetic nervous system | ANS division activating body during stressful situations. |
| Parasympathetic nervous system | ANS division calming body and conserving energy. |
| Reflex | Automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus. |
| Neurons | Nerve cells; basic building blocks of nervous system. |
| Cell body | Neuron's life-support center containing the nucleus. |
| Dendrites | Branching extensions receiving messages from other neurons. |
| Axon | Neuron extension passing messages to other neurons or muscles. |
| Myelin sheath | Fatty tissue layer insulating axons to speed impulses. |
| Glial cells | Cells supporting, nourishing, and protecting neurons. |
| Action potential | Brief electrical charge traveling down an axon. |
| Threshold | Level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse. |
| Refractory period | Resting pause after a neuron fires before refiring. |
| All or none response | Neuron's reaction of firing fully or not at all. |
| Synapse | Junction between sending axon tip and receiving dendrite. |
| Neurotransmitter | Chemical messengers crossing synaptic gaps between neurons. |
| Reuptake | Neurotransmitter reabsorption by the sending neuron. |
| Endorphins | Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control. |
| Agonist | Molecule stimulating a response by binding to receptors. |
| Antagonist | Molecule inhibiting or blocking a neurotransmitter's response. |
| Endocrine system | Body's slow chemical communication system of glands. |
| hormones | Chemical messengers manufactured by endocrine glands into bloodstream. |
| psycho active drugs | Chemical substance altering perceptions and moods. |
| substance use disorder | Continued substance craving and use despite life disruption. |
| depressant | Drug reducing neural activity and slowing body functions. |
| Tolerance | Diminished effect with regular use, requiring larger doses. |
| addiction | Compulsive craving of drugs or behaviors despite consequences. |
| withdrawal | Discomfort and distress following discontinuing an addictive substance. |
| barbiturates | Depressant drugs reducing anxiety but impairing memory. |
| Opioids | Pain-relieving drugs depressing neural activity like endorphins. |
| Stimulants | Drugs exciting neural activity and speeding up body functions. |
| Hallucinogens | Psychedelic drugs distorting perceptions and evoking sensory images. |
| Biopsychosocial approach | Integrated viewpoint incorporating biological, psychological, social-cultural levels. |
| Levels of analysis | Differing complementary views for analyzing any given phenomenon. |
| Neuroplasticity | Brain's ability to reorganize after damage or experience. |
| Lesion | Tissue destruction; naturally or experimentally caused brain damage. |
| EEG | Amplified recording of brain surface electrical waves. |
| MEG | Imaging technique measuring brain's natural magnetic fields. |
| CT | X-ray photos taken from different angles showing structure. |
| PET | Visual display tracking radioactive glucose during brain tasks. |
| MRI | Technique using magnetic fields to produce brain structure images. |
| fMRI | Technique revealing brain blood flow and functional activity. |
| Hindbrain | Lower brain region controlling automatic, essential survival functions. |
| Midbrain | Small central brain region processing sensory and motor information. |
| Forebrain | Top brain region controlling complex thought, emotion, sensory processing. |
| Brainstem | Oldest brain region responsible for automatic survival functions. |
| Medulla | Base of brainstem controlling heartbeat and breathing. |
| Thalamus | Brain's sensory control center directing messages to cortex. |
| Reticular formation | Nerve network in brainstem controlling arousal and alertness. |
| Cerebellum | Brain region coordinating voluntary movement, balance, sensory learning. |
| Limbis system | Neural system associated with emotions and drives. |
| Amygdala | Neural clusters in limbic system linked to emotion. |
| Hypothalamus | Neural structure directing eating, drinking, temperature, endocrine system. |
| Hippocampus | Neural center helping process explicit memories for storage. |
| Cerebral cortex | Fabric of interconnected neural cells covering cerebral hemispheres. |
| Frontal lobes | Cortex region involved in speaking, muscle movements, judgments. |
| Parietal lobes | Cortex region receiving sensory input for touch and position. |
| Occipital lobe | Cortex region receiving visual information from opposite eyes. |
| Temporal lobes | Cortex region receiving auditory information from opposite ears. |
| Motor cortex | Area at rear of frontal lobes controlling voluntary movements. |
| Somatosensory cortex | Area at front of parietal lobes processing body sensations. |
| Association areas | Cortex areas involved in higher mental functions like learning. |
| Neurogenesis | Formation of new neurons within the brain. |
| corpus callosum | Axon fibers connecting left and right brain hemispheres. |
| split brain | Condition from surgery severing corpus callosum fibers. |
Created by:
smythj