Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

AP Psychology > Terms And Concepts To Remember > Flashcards

Terms And Concepts To Remember Flashcards

0
Q

Neuron

A

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

Biological psychology

A

A branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Sensory neurons

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Motor neurons

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Interneurons

A

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Dendrite

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Action potential

A

A neural impulse, a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Threshold

A

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Synapse

A

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Reuptake

A

A neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Endorphins

A

Morphine within, natural opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Nervous system

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Central nervous system

A

The brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system the rest of the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Nerves

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles
Also called the skeletal nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

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

21
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

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

22
Q

Reflex

A

A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

23
Q

Endocrine system

A

The body’s slow chemical communication system , a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

24
Q

Hormones

A

Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstrean, and affect other tissues

25
Q

Lesion

A

Tissue destruction, a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

26
Q

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

An amplified the recording the of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brains surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp

27
Q

PET (positron emission tomography) Scan

A

A visual display of brain activity thy detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

28
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 activity

29
Q

fMRI (functional MRI)

A

A technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans, fMRI scans show brain function

30
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 instructions

31
Q

Medulla

A

The base of the brainstem controls heartbeat and breathing

32
Q

Reticular formation

A

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

33
Q

Thalamus

A

The brains sensory switchboard located on top of the brainstem, it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

34
Q

Cerebellum

A

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

35
Q

Limbic system

A

Neural system including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus located below the cerebral hemispheres associated with emotions and drives

36
Q

Amygdala

A

two lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system

37
Q

Hypothalamus

A

A neural structure lying below the thalamus, it directs several maintenance activities, (eating,drinking, body temperature)

38
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres, the body’s ultimates control and information processing center

39
Q

Glial cells (glia)

A

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

40
Q

Frontal lobes

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead, involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements

41
Q

Parietal lobes

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear receives sensory input for touch and body position

42
Q

Occipital lobes

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

43
Q

Temporal lobes

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears, includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

44
Q

Motor cortex

A

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

45
Q

Sensory cortex

A

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

46
Q

Association areas

A

Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions

47
Q

Plasticity

A

The brains ability to change especially during childhood by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

48
Q

Corpus callosum

A

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

49
Q

Split brain

A

A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brains two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them

AP Psychology (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions