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AP Biology > AP Psych - Unit 1 > Flashcards

AP Psych - Unit 1 Flashcards

accidentally made it in bio deck

1
Q

Phrenology

A

the idea that there exists a relationship between persons head shape and their mental capacities/deficiencies

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2
Q

what is the nature-nurture issue

A

debate about the relative contributions that genes (nature) & experience (nurture) make to the development of psychological traits & behaviors

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3
Q

natural selection

A

an evolutionary process through which adaptive traits are passed on to ongoing generations because they lead animals to reproduce and survive.

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4
Q

mutation

A

random error in gene replication that leads to a change

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5
Q

Identical (monozygotic) twins

A

individuals that develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical individuals
- have 100% same genes

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6
Q

fraternal (dizygotic) twins

A

individuals who develop from separate fertilized eggs
- share only half their genes

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7
Q

epigenetics

A

study of the molecular mechanisms by which environments can influence genetic expression (without DNA change)
- drugs, diet, stress

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8
Q

nervous system

A

study of the molecular mechanisms by which environments can influence genetic expression (without DNA change)

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9
Q

what does the central nervous system consist of

A

brain + spinal cord

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10
Q

what does the peripheral nervous system consist of

A

sensory & motor neurons that connect CNS to the rest of the body

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11
Q

what are nerves

A

bundles axons that form neural cables connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, & sensory organs

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12
Q

what do sensory neurons do

A

carry incoming information from body’s tissues & sensory receptors to the brain & spinal cord

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13
Q

what do motor neurons do

A

carry outgoing information from brain & spinal cord to muscles & glands (motor = muscle movement)

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14
Q

what are interneurons

A

neurons within the brain & spinal cord; communicate internally & process information between sensory inputs & motor outputs (in between sensory & motor neurons)

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15
Q

what two components make up the peripheral nervous system

A

the somatic nervous systme and autonomic nervous system

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16
Q

somatic nervous system

A

controls the body’s skeletal muscles & enables voluntary movement

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17
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

controls involuntary systems like glands & muscles of internal organs (such as the heart); made up of sympathetic & parasympathetic nervous systems

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18
Q

what is the sympathetic nervous system

A

rouses the body, mobilizing its energy
- Our “fight or flight” system - accelerates heart rate, raises blood pressure

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19
Q

what is the parasympathetic nervous system

A

calms the body, conserving energy
- Our “rest & digest” or “feed & breed” system - slows down heart rate

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20
Q

reflex

A

simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus
- No brain involvement with reflexes - all in the spinal cord

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21
Q

what are neurons

A

nerve cell; building blocks of the brain/nervous system
- Receive, process, & transmit information between body & brain

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22
Q

what makes up a neuron

A
  • cell body
  • dendrite
  • axon
  • axon terminal
  • myelin sheath
  • glial (glue) cells
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23
Q

what is cell body

A

part of a neuron that contains the nucleus; the cell’s life-support center

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24
Q

what is the dendrite

A

bushy, branchy extensions that receive & integrate messages from other neurons
- extend off cell body, & conduct messages toward cell body

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25
what is the axon
extension that carries an electrical signal (called an action potential) & passes messages through its branches to other neurons
26
what is the myelin sheath
fatty tissue layer that enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural messages
27
glial (glue) cells
cells in nervous system that support, nourish, & protect neurons
28
what is an action potential
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon & triggers release of chemical messengers to the dendrites of other neurons
29
what is resting potential
when a neuron is inactive, the inside Is negatively charged and outside membrane is positively charged
30
what does an excitatory neural signal mean
(activate a neuron, causing depolarization)
31
what does inhibitory neural signals mean
(stopping a neuron from activating
32
what is a threshold
if excitatory signals exceed inhibitory signals, depolarization may reach a neural threshold - level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
33
what is the refractory period
brief resting pause after firing
34
what is the all-or-none response
neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing
35
what is a synapse
junction between axon tip of sending neuron (called the axon terminal or terminal button) & dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron -the junction between two neurons that allows a signal to pass between them
36
what are neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons
37
acetylcholine
enables muscle action, learning, & memory
38
possible malfunctions of acetylcholine
with Alzheimer’s disease, ACh-producing neurons deteriorate
39
dopamine
influences movement, learning, attention, & emotion
40
possible malfunctions of dopamine
oversupply linked to schizophrenia; undersupply linked to Parkinson’s disease
41
serotonin
affects mood, hunger, sleep, & arousal
42
possible malfunctions of serotonin
undersupply linked to depression (some drugs that raise serotonin levels used to treat depression
43
norepinephrine
helps control alertness & arousal (very similar to adrenaline)
44
possible malfunctions of norepinephrine
oversupply linked to mania in bipolar disorder
45
GABA
major inhibitory neurotransmitter(slow down neural transmission)
46
possible malfunctions of GABA
undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, & insomnia
47
Glutamate
major excitatory neurotransmitter (speeds up neural transmission); involved in memory
48
possible malfunctions of glutamate
oversupply linked to migraines & seizures
49
endorphins
influence the perception of pain or pleasure (“morphine-within”) - the body's natural pain killer
50
possible malfunctions of endorphins
oversupply with opioid drugs can suppress the body’s natural endorphin supply
51
agonist is
chemical that increases a neurotransmitter’s action - ex. cocaine an agonist for dopamine
52
antagonist is
chemical that inhibits (blocks) a neurotransmitter’s action ex. botox paralyzes muscle
53
Endocrine system is
body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands & fat tissue that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
54
what are hormones
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, & affect other tissues
55
pituitary gland
most influential gland (also called the “master gland”); secretes growth hormones & oxytocin - enables labor contractions, milk production
56
what are psychoactive drugs
chemical substance that alters the brain, causing changes in perceptions & moods
57
depressants
calm neural activity & slow body functions
58
examples of depressants
alcohol, barbiturates, opioids - all slow brain activity reduce judgment
59
stimulants
drugs that excite neural activity & speed up body functions
60
examples of stimulants
nicotine, cocaine, meth, MDMA/Molly - heightened sense of well-being, euphoria, excitement, and alertness, and increases in motor activity
61
hallucinogens
are psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input. can develop a tolerance, but most are not addictive
62
examples of hallucinogens
LSD, marijuana/cannabis - alter a persons perception of reality - pain killer
63
neuroplasticity is
brains ability to change + adapt and take on new functions
64
EEG
electrical waves sweeping across the brain’s surface, measured by electrodes placed on the scalp. (shows functioning)
65
CAT Scan
uses a series of X-ray beams passed through the head (shows structure)
66
PET Scan
a visual display of brain activity that detects a radioactive form of glucose while the brain performs a given task. (shows function)
67
fMRI
produces images while performing a task (reciting alphabet) **(shows structure and function)
68
MRI
uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of brain tissue (shows structure)
69
Three parts of the brain
Hindbrain, Midbrain, Forebrain
70
what does the hindbrain consist of
medulla, pons, cerebellum
71
what is the function of the hindbrain
directs essential survival functions
72
what does the midbrain consist of
connects hindbrain to forebrain
73
what is the function of the midbrain
controls some motor movement + transmits auditory and visual information
74
what does the forebrain consist of
cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus
75
what is the function of the forebrain
manages complex cognitive abilities
76
Medulla is
the base of the brainstem, controls heartbeat and breathing.
77
reticular formation is
nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling alertness.
78
thalamus is
the brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem. It directs messages to the sensory areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla. - directs messages to the sensory coretx
79
Basal Ganglia Pons are
functions as a bridge between regions and plays a role in sleep and arousal.
80
cerebellum
- “little brain” attached to the rear of the hindbrain - coordinate voluntary movements and balance. (two ll's in name- think of as balance beams) - It also plays a role in the formation of procedural memories (implicit or procedural memories, EX. riding a bike)
81
Limbic System is
neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebrum, associated with emotions such as fear, aggression and drives for food and sex
82
Amygdala is
two almond-shaped neural clusters linked to emotion of fear and anger.
83
Hypothalamus is
- lies below (hypo) the thalamus; - directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp)
84
Hippocampus is
a structure in the limbic system which is responsible for the formation of most new memories (explicit memories, EX. facts)
85
Cerebrum
- makes up 85%. of the brain Topmost layer of the brain
86
cerebral cortex
Thin gray-matter covering of the cerebrum; carries on thinking and perceiving
87
frontal lobes
Concerned with reasoning, planning, parts of speech and movement (motor cortex), emotions, and problem-solving.
88
temporal lobes
Concerned with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli (hearing) and memory (hippocampus).
89
parietal lobes
Concerned with perception of stimuli related to touch, pressure, temperature and pain.
90
occipital lobes
Located at the back of the brain, behind the parietal lobe and temporal lobe. Concerned with many aspects of vision.
91
motor cortex
area at the rear of the frontal lobes controls voluntary movements.
92
sensory cortex
receives information from skin surface and sense organs.
93
Aphasia
an impairment of language
94
brocas area
controls the physical activity of speaking
95
Wernicke’s Area
controls language comprehension
96
Corpus callosum
thick bundle of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres, allowing communication
97
split brain patients
With the corpus callosum severed, objects (apple) presented in the right visual field can be named. Objects (pencil) in the left visual field cannot.
98
depolarization
When positive ions enter the neuron, making it more susceptible to fire an action potential.
99
hyper polarization
When negative ions enter the neuron making it less susceptible to fire.
100
what does the pancreas do
secretes insulin and regulates blood sugar.
101
where is the limbic system
in the forebrain
102
what does the limbic system consist of
amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus,
103

AP Biology (6 decks)

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