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AP Psych Vocab > Unit 1 Part 2 Terms > Flashcards

Unit 1 Part 2 Terms Flashcards

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1
Q

GABA

A

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter which is synthesized from the amino acid glutamic acid.

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2
Q

Substance P

A

A neuropeptide that functions as a neurotransmitter in both peripheral and central nervous system. Plays role in the modulation of pain

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3
Q

Acetylochline

A

A major, predominantly excitatory but also inhibitory, neurotransmitter both in the central nervous system, where it plays an important role in memory formation and learning and is implicated in Alzheimer’s disease, and in the peripheral nervous system, where it mediates skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle contraction and is implicated in myasthenia gravis and other movement disorders.

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4
Q

Adrenaline

A

Also called epinephrine, an adrenal hormone formed from dopamine secreted in large amounts when an individual is stimulated by fear, anxiety, or stress-related actions. Increases the heart rate

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5
Q

Leptin

A

A protein, manufactured and secreted by fat cells, that may communicate to the brain the amount of body fat stored and may help to regulate food intake

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6
Q

Ghrelin

A

A peptide secreted by endocrine cells in the stomach that binds to growth hormone receptors in the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary, stimulating appetite and the release of growth hormone.

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7
Q

Melatonin

A

Helps to regulate seasonal changes in physiology and may also influence puberty. It is implicated in the initiation of sleep and in the regulation of the sleep–wake cycle.

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8
Q

Oxytocin

A

A peptide produced in the thalamus and released by the posterior pituitary gland into the blood. Known for its role in stimulating contractions of smooth muscle in the wall of the uterus to facilitate labor and in the mammary glands to facilitate expression of milk—the so-called milk letdown reflex—oxytocin is present and serves important functions in both sexes. Facilitator of social affiliation

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9
Q

Pituitary gland

A

Pea-sized gland which secretes hormones which regulate the production of other hormones, has resulted in its designation as the “master gland of the endocrine system.”

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10
Q

Reuptake inhibitors

A

A substance that interferes with the reabsorption of neurotransmitters by the presynaptic neurons that released them

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11
Q

Reticular activating system

A

A part of the reticular formation thought to be particularly involved in the regulation of arousal, alertness, and sleep–wake cycles.

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12
Q

Nucleus accumbens

A

One of the largest of the septal nuclei, which receives dopaminergic innervation from the ventral tegmental area. Dopamine release in this region may mediate the reinforcing qualities of many activities, including drug use.

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13
Q

Reward center

A

Any of various areas of the brain that have been implicated in producing pleasure.

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14
Q

Cerebral Hemispheres

A

The hemispheres are separated by a deep longitudinal fissure, but they are connected by commissural, projection, and association fibers so that each side of the brain normally is linked to functions of tissues on either side of the body.

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15
Q

Wernicke’s Area

A

A brain area, usually in the left temporal lobe, involved in language comprehension and expression.

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16
Q

Broca’s Area

A

A frontal lobe brain area, usually in the left hemisphere, that helps control language expression by directing the muscle movements involved in speech.

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17
Q

Prefrontal cortex

A

The most anterior (forward) part of the cerebral cortex of each frontal lobe in the brain. Functions in attention, planning, working memory, and the expression of emotions and appropriate social behaviors

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18
Q

Aphasia

A

Impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke’s area (impairing understanding).

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19
Q

Amplitude

A

Magnitude or extent or peak value

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20
Q

Volley theory

A

The principle that individual fibers in an auditory nerve respond to one or another stimulus in a rapid succession of rhythmic sound stimuli, whereas other fibers in the nerve respond to the second, third, or nth stimulus.

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21
Q

Broca’s Aphasia

A

One of eight classically identified aphasias, characterized by nonfluent conversational speech and slow, halting speech production

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22
Q

Wernicke’s Aphasia

A

Loss of the ability to comprehend sounds or speech, in particular to understand or repeat spoken language and to name objects or qualities

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23
Q

Social jet lag

A

Mismatch between circadian rhythms and the demands of your social life or work, leading to irregular sleep patterns

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24
Q

Beta waves

A

Type of brain wave associated with alert wakefulness and intense mental activity

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25
Q

Theta waves

A

Occur during REM sleep in nonhuman animals, Stage 2 NREM sleep in humans, and the drowsy state prior to sleep onset in newborn infants, adolescents, and adults

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26
Q

Somnambulism

A

Sleepwalking disorder

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27
Q

Perception

A

The process or result of becoming aware of objects, relationships, and events by means of the senses, which includes such activities as recognizing, observing, and discriminating.

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28
Q

Just noticeable difference

A

The smallest difference between two stimuli that can be consistently and accurately detected on 50% of trials

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29
Q

Synesthesia

A

A condition in which stimulation of one sense generates a simultaneous sensation in another

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30
Q

Visual transduction

A

Biochemical and biophysical process in which light energy is converted to a neural signal in a photosensitive cell containing a retinal photoreceptor

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31
Q

Nearsightedness

A

A refractive error due to an abnormally long eye: The retinal image is blurred because the focal point of one or both eyes lies in front of, rather than on, the retina. Blurred perception of distant objects

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32
Q

Farsightedness

A

A refractive error due to an abnormally short eyeball, which causes the image of close objects to be blurred because the focal point of one or both eyes lies behind, rather than on, the retina.

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33
Q

Bipolar cell

A

A neuron with only two extensions—an axon and a dendrite—that run from opposite sides of the cell body. Found primarily in the retina and also elsewhere in the nervous system

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34
Q

Ganglion cell

A

Only type of neuron in the retina that sends signals to the brain resulting from visual stimulation.

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35
Q

Afterimage

A

The image that remains after a stimulus ends or is removed

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36
Q

Dichromatism

A

Partial color blindness in which the eye contains only two types of cone photopigment instead of the typical three: Lack of the third pigment leads to confusion between certain colors.

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37
Q

Monochromatism

A

A partial color blindness in which the eye contains only one type of cone photopigment instead of the typical three: Everything appears in various shades of a single color

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38
Q

Prosopagnosia

A

A form of visual agnosia in which the ability to perceive and recognize faces is impaired, whereas the ability to recognize other objects may be relatively unaffected

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39
Q

Eardrum

A

Separates the external ear from the middle ear and serves to transform the pressure waves of sounds into mechanical vibration of the ossicles

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40
Q

Ossicles

A

Chain of three tiny bones in the middle ear that transmit sound vibrations from the tympanic membrane (eardrum) to the oval window of the inner ear.

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41
Q

Auditory nerve

A

A nerve fiber that carries sound signals from the inner ear to the brain

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42
Q

Basilar membrane

A

In response to sound, the basilar membrane vibrates; this leads to stimulation of the hair cells

43
Q

Oval window

A

A membrane-covered opening in the bony wall of the cochlea in the ear. Vibration of the stapes (see ossicles) is transmitted to the oval window and into the cochlear fluids.

44
Q

Stereocilia

A

AKA Hair cells.
Any of the sensory receptors for hearing, located in the organ of Corti within the cochlea of the inner ear. They respond to vibrations of the basilar membrane via movement of the fine hairlike structures

45
Q

Pinna

A

The funnel-shaped part of the external ear that projects beyond the head. Consisting of cartilage, it collects and focuses sounds toward the external auditory meatus (auditory canal)

46
Q

Auditory perception

A

The organization and interpretation of sensory information received through the ear

47
Q

Olfactory cilium

A

A hairlike structure arising from an olfactory receptor

48
Q

Taste bud

A

A goblet-shaped structure which occur in the human mouth

49
Q

Papilla

A

Any of the four types of swellings on the tongue

50
Q

Gustatory cortex

A

Part of the brain that processes taste and flavor

51
Q

Gustatory transduction

A

The sequence of events involved in converting the detection of chemical molecules into taste signals

52
Q

Umami

A

“Savory” Denoting the taste of foods rich in protein (e.g., meats, fish, some vegetables, cheeses), as represented by the taste of monosodium glutamate, which is used primarily to enhance other flavors

53
Q

Oleogustus

A

The taste of fat; fatty taste

54
Q

Somatosensory cortex

A

A cerebral cortex area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.

55
Q

Gate control theory

A

The theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological “gate” that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain. The “gate” is opened by the activity of pain signals traveling up small nerve fibers and is closed by activity in larger fibers or by information coming from the brain.

56
Q

Phantom limb

A

The feeling that an amputated limb is still present, often manifested as a tingling or, occasionally, painful sensation in the area of the missing limb

57
Q

Subliminal

A

Below one’s absolute threshold for conscious awareness.

58
Q

Priming

A

The activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing one’s perception, memory, or response.

59
Q

Difference threshold

A

The minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 percent of the time. We experience the difference threshold as a just noticeable difference

60
Q

Ernst Weber

A

Father of experimental psychology. He was the first to conduct true psychological experiments that held validity

61
Q

Pitch

A

A tone’s experienced highness or lowness; depends on frequency

62
Q

Middle ear

A

The chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones that concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochlea’s oval window.

63
Q

Cochlea

A

A coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear; sound waves traveling through the cochlear fluid trigger nerve impulses.

64
Q

Inner ear

A

The innermost part of the ear, containing the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs.

65
Q

Weber’s Law

A

The principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than a constant amount).

66
Q

Sensory adaption

A

Diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation.

67
Q

Wavelength

A

The distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next

68
Q

Place theory

A

In hearing, the theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea’s membrane is stimulated

69
Q

Frequency theory

A

In hearing, the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense its pitch

70
Q

Gustation

A

Sense of taste

71
Q

Olfaction

A

Sense of smell

72
Q

Kinesthesis

A

Our movement sense- system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts

73
Q

Vestibular sense

A

Our balance sense; our sense of body movement and position that enables our sense of balance

74
Q

Sensory interaction

A

The principle that one sense may influence another, as when the smell of food influences its taste.

75
Q

Sensorineural hearing loss

A

The most common form of hearing loss, caused by damage to the cochlea’s receptor cells or to the auditory nerve; also called nerve deafness

76
Q

Conduction hearing loss

A

A less common form of hearing loss, caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea.

77
Q

Nature-nurture issue

A

The longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today’s science views traits and behaviors as arising from the interaction of nature and nurture.

78
Q

Eugenics

A

A social and political philosophy that seeks to eradicate genetic defects and improve the genetic makeup of populations through selective human breeding. Think Hitler

79
Q

Heritability

A

Contribution of inheritance to a given trait or function in a population

80
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

One of the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system. Ability to act as an integrated whole in affecting a large number of smooth muscle systems simultaneously, usually in the service of enhancing the fight-or-flight response

81
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

One of two branches of the autonomic nervous system. The system controlling rest, repair, enjoyment, eating, sleeping, sexual activity, and social dominance, among other functions

82
Q

Neuron

A

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

83
Q

Twin study

A

Research utilizing twins. The purpose of such research is usually to assess the relative contributions of heredity and environment to some attribute

84
Q

Dendrites

A

A neuron’s often bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body.

85
Q

Genome

A

The complete instructions for making an organism

86
Q

Family study

A

Research conducted among siblings, parents, or children to assess evidence for genetic links for characteristics or outcomes

87
Q

Adoption study

A

A research design that investigates the relationships among genetic and environmental factors in the development of personality, behavior, or disorder by comparing the similarities of biological parent–child pairs with those of adoptive parent–child pairs

88
Q

Axon terminal branches

A

Changes electrical impulses or action potentials within a neuron into chemical messages in the form of neurotransmitters

89
Q

Epigenetics

A

“Above” or “in addition to” (epi) genetics; the study of the molecular mechanisms by which environments can influence genetic expression (without a DNA change)

90
Q

Nervous system

A

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

91
Q

Central nervous system (CNS)

A

The brain and spinal cord

92
Q

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

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

93
Q

Axon

A

The segmented neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

94
Q

Myelin sheath

A

A fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; it enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next

95
Q

Glial cells (glia)

A

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory

96
Q

Action potential (depolarization)

A

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

97
Q

Threshold

A

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

98
Q

Refractory period (repolarization)

A

In neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state

99
Q

All or none response

A

A neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing

100
Q

Synapse

A

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft

101
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

102
Q

Reuptake

A

A neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

103
Q

Endorphins

A

Natural, opioid-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

AP Psych Vocab (8 decks)

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