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AP Psychology > Unit 2 > Flashcards

Unit 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

Neuron

A

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

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2
Q

Cell body

A

Part of a neuron; contains the nucleus.

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3
Q

Dendrites

A

Neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages.

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4
Q

Axon

A

Neuron extension; passes messages through branches to other neurons/muscles/glands.

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5
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

The fatty tissue layer encasing axons; enables greater transmission speed (looks like hotdog buns).

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6
Q

Multiple Sclerosis
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A

Myelin sheath degenerates; communication to muscle slows and eventual loss of muscle control.

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7
Q

Glial Cells

A

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

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8
Q

Action potential

A

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

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9
Q

Threshold

A

Level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

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10
Q

Refractory period

A

A brief resting period that occurs after a neuron has fired (goes down like a chain).

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11
Q

All-Or-None response
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A

Neuron’s reaction of either firing (with full strength) or not firing.

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12
Q

Synapse

A

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

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13
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

Chemical messengers that cross synaptic gaps between neurons.

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14
Q

Reuptake

A

Neurotransmitter reabsorption by sending neurons.

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15
Q

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

Enables muscle action, learning, and memory (Increased secretions, memory, and muscle contractions. Decreased heart rate).

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16
Q

Dopamine

A

Influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion (Increased alertness and happiness. Decreased hunger).

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17
Q

Serotonin

A

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal (Increased happiness and fullness. Decreased pain).

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18
Q

Norepinephrine

A

Helps control alertness and arousal (Increased heart rate, alertness, happiness. Decreased blood circulation and pain).

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19
Q

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter (Increased sleepiness. Decreased anxiety, alertness, memory, muscle tension).

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20
Q

Glutamate

A

A major excitatory neurotransmitter is involved in memory (most common).

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21
Q

Endorphins

A

Natural opiates - Neurotransmitters that influence the perception of pain and pleasure.

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22
Q

Agonist

A

A molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action

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23
Q

3 ways agonists can work

A
  1. Increase neurotransmitter action.
  2. Increase production/release neurotransmitters, or block reuptake in synapse.
  3. May be similar enough to neurotransmitters to bind to its receptor and mimic its ex/in effects.
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24
Q

Antagonist

A

A molecule that inhibits/blocks the action of a neurotransmitter (causes paralysis by blocking ACh release).

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25
Q

Nervous System

A

The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network.

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26
Q

Central Nervous system (CNS)

A

Brain and spinal cord.

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27
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

Sensory and motor neurons connect the CNS to the rest of the body.

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28
Q

Nerves

A

Bundles of axons form cables connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs.

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29
Q

Sensory (aff.) Neurons

A

carry messages from tissue/sensory receptors inward to the brain/spinal cord for processing.

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30
Q

Motor (eff.) Neurons

A

carry instructions from CNS outward to muscles/glands.

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31
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

Enables VOLUNTARY control of our skeletal muscles.

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32
Q

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

A

AUTOMATICALLY controls our glands and our internal organs.

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33
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

Arouses and expands energy (fight or flight)

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34
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

Conserves energy as it calms you (rest and digest).

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35
Q

Spinal cord
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A

The body’s decision maker -> runs along the spine (2-way info highway connecting ParaNS and brain.

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36
Q

Reflexes

A

Simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus (The brain doesn’t have time to respond; Spinal cord does the response).

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37
Q

Oxytocin
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A

Enables contractions associated with birthing, milk flow during nursing, and orgasm.

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37
Q

Cortisol
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A

Stress hormone that increases blood sugar.

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38
Q

Lesion

A

Tissue destruction

39
Q

Stimulate
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A

Electrically, chemically, and magnetically excite the body (variable).

40
Q

EEG (electroencephalogram)

A

Records electrical ACTIVITY; electrodes placed on the scalp to measure activity.

41
Q

MEG (magnetoencephalography)

A

Records magnetic fields from the brain’s natural electrical currents.

42
Q

CT (computed tomography)

A

Can only show structure; an X-ray of the head generates images that may locate brain damage

43
Q

PET (positron emission tomography)

A

Identifies what parts are active during certain tasks; tracks where a temporarily radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs tasks.

44
Q

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A

Detailed picture of structure; people sit/lie down in a chamber that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to provide a map of brain structure.

45
Q

fMRI (functional MRI)

A

Shows structure and activity; measures blood flow to brain regions by comparing continuous MRI scans.

46
Q

Brainstem

A

The oldest part and the central core of the brain begins at the spinal cord and ends at the brain. Responsible for automatic survival functions.

47
Q

Medulla

A

The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.

48
Q

Pons

A

These help coordinate movement and controls sleep.

49
Q

Thalamus

A

The brain’s sensory control center; sends messages to receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla. (Located at the top of the brainstem)

50
Q

Reticular formation

A

The nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus plays an important role in controlling arousal.

51
Q

Cerebellum

A

The “little brain” is at the rear of the brainstem; the functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.

52
Q

Limbic system

A

The neural system is located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.

53
Q

Amygdala

A

Two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; are linked to emotion (fight or flight) + (fear and anger).

54
Q

HYPOthalamus

A

The neural structure lying below (HYPO) the thalamus; directs several maintenance activities (eating), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, linked to emotion and reward (drinking/body temp).

55
Q

HIPPOcampus

A

The neural center located in the limbic system; helps process for storage of explicit (conscious) memories of facts and events.

56
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering cerebral hemispheres; is the body’s ultimate control and info-processing center.

57
Q

Frontal Lobe

A

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; is involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans/judgements/decision-making.

58
Q

Parietal Lobes

A

The portion of the cerebral cortex lies on top of the head and towards the rear; this receives sensory input for touch and body positions.

59
Q

Occipital Lobes

A

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive info from visual fields.

60
Q

Temporal Lobes

A

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes auditory areas, each receiving info primarily from the opposite ear.

61
Q

Fissures
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A

The lobes are separated by these.

62
Q

Motor cortex

A

An area at the rear of teh frontal lobes that controls VOLUNTARY movements.

63
Q

Somatosensory Cortex

A

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

64
Q

Association areas

A

Areas of the cerebral cortex that are NOT included in primary motor/sensory functions; they ARE involved in higher mental functions (learning, remembering, thinking, speaking).

65
Q

Prefrontal cortex
XXXXX

A

The forward part of the frontal lobe; controls judgements, planning, and processing new memories.

66
Q

Phineas Gage
XXXXX

A

25-year-old railroad worker who got a rod shot through his left cheek and skull; his personality changed and his moral judgments were unrestrained.

67
Q

Broca’s area

A

Disrupts speaking

68
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

Disrupts understanding

69
Q

Plasticity

A

The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage/by building new pathways based on experience.

70
Q

Neurogenesis

A

The formation of new neurons.

71
Q

Corpus Callosum

A

A large band of neural fibers connects the two brain hemispheres and carries messages between them.

72
Q

Split brain

A

The condition results from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting fibers that connect them.

73
Q

Consciousness

A

Subjective awarness of ourselves and our environmant

74
Q

Sleep

A

Periodic, Natural loss of consciousness.

75
Q

Circadian Rhythm

A

Biological Clock, regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24 hour cycle.

76
Q

REM Sleep

A

Rapid Eye Movement. Sleep stage in which vivid dream commonly occur.

77
Q

Alpha Waves

A

Relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state.

78
Q

NREM Sleep

A

Non-Rapid Eye Movement. Encompasses all sleep stages except REM Sleep.

79
Q

Hallucinations

A

False sensory experiences, such as seeing something in absence of an external visual stimulus.

80
Q

Hypnagogic Sensations

A

Bizarre experiences while falling asleep, such as jerking, feeling of falling, floating.

81
Q

Delta Waves

A

Large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep.

82
Q

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

A

Pair of cell clusters in Hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm and adjusts melatonin production.

83
Q

Insomnia

A

Reoccurring problems falling or staying asleep.

84
Q

Narcolepsy

A

Sleep disorder known as sleep attacks. Falls into REM Sleep often at inopportune times.

85
Q

Sleep Apnea

A

Sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings (mask like pump to sleep).

86
Q

Night Terrors

A

Sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified, occur during NREM-3 sleep.

87
Q

Dream

A

Sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind.

88
Q

Manifest Content

A

The remembered story line of the dream (Literal).

89
Q

Latent Content

A

The underlying meaning of a dream (interpretation).

90
Q

REM Rebound

A

Tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation.

91
Q

Psychoactive Drug

A

Chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods.

92
Q

Substance Use Disorder

A

Continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk.

93
Q

Tolerance

A

Diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses.

94
Q

Withdrawal

A

Discomfort or distress that follow discontinuing an additive drug.

95
Q

Alcohol Use Disorder

A

Marked by tolerance, withdrawal, and a drive to continue problematic use.

96
Q

Near-death Experience

A

AP Psychology (1 decks)

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