Unit 2 AP Psych Flashcards
Receives information coming from the neuron
Dendrites
Contains genetic information and maintains the cell’s structure
Cell Body (Soma)
Passes information to other neurons, muscles, and glands
Axon
Insulates the axon, helps impulses
Myelin Sheath
the branched end of the axon that contains the neurotransmitters
Axon Terminals
the imbalance of electrical charges that exists between the interior of electrically excitable neurons (nerve cells) and their surroundings
Resting Potential
neural impulses that occur when a neuron sends information down an axon
Action Potential
the lowest point at which a particular stimulus will cause a response in an organism
Threshold
the time when the neuron can’t re-fire, it needs to be recharged
Refractory Period
chemical messengers released from axon terminals, travel across synaptic gap (synapse), bind at receptor site on dendrites, triggers action potential if threshold is reached
Axon Terminals
Endorphind, Dopamine, Serotonin, Norepinephrine, Acetylcholine, Glutamate, GABA (Examples of…)
Neurotransmitters
Released in response to pain and vigorous exercise, linked to pain and pleasure(neurotransmitter)
Endorphins
Controls motor movement (neurotransmitter)
Dopamine
Results of too much or too little dopamine
Too Much: Schizophrenia, Too little: Parkinson’s and decreased mobility
Controls mood (neurotransmitter)
Serotonin
Too much serotonin linked with…
Serotonin syndrome
Too little serotonin linked to…
Clinical Depression
Influences alertness and arousal, undersupply can depress mood (neurotransmitter)
Norepinephrine
enables cognitive skill, learning, and memory (neurotransmitter)
Acetylcholine
Too Little Acetylcholine linked to
Alzheimer’s
Has several types of receptors found throughout the nervous system, metabolism is important to maintaining optimum levels in the brain, important to memory, cognition, and memory regulation (neurotransmitter)
Glutamate
amino acid that reduces neuronal excitability by inhabiting nerve transmission, associated with anxiety, fear, and stress
GABA
compose of the brain and spinal cord (including all nerves within our bones)
Central Nervous System
all other nerves in the body not apart of the brain and spinal cord, links the CNS to the rest of the body
Peripheral Nervous System
part of the peripheral nervous system; controls voluntary movement through skeletal muscles
Somatic Nervous System
part of the peripheral nervous system; controls automatic functions of the body (heartbeat)
Autonomic Nervous System
part of the autonomic nervous system; mobilizes our body’s response to stress (fight or flight response, arousal)
Sympathetic Nervous System
part of the autonomic nervous system; slows down our body after responding to stress, calming
Parasympathetic Nervous System
take information from the senses to the brain (type of neuron)
Sensory (Afferent) Neurons
take information from the brain to the senses (type of neuron)
Motor (Efferent) Neurons
located in the CNS, communicate between sensory inputs and motor outputs (type of neuron)
Interneurons
a series of x-rays taken from different angles and combined by computer to show complete representation of the brain
CT Scan
a technique that uses a magnetic field to send radio frequencies through the brain, computer measures how these signals interact with brain cells, the computer transforms the interactions into detailed images of the structure of the brain
MRI
records waves of electrical activity across the brain’s surface, uses electrodes
EEG (Electroencephalogram)
slightly radioactive solution injected into blood and amount of radiation absorbed by brain cells, computer transforms absorption into colors that indicate neuron activity
PET Scan (Positron Emission Tomography)
technique for revealing the blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans
fMRI
includes the upper part of the spinal cord, the brainstem, and cerebellum, controls vital functions like respiration and heart rate (brain structure)
Hindbrain
bottom-most part of the brain, part of brainstem, controls blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing
Medulla
part of brainstem, links to spinal cord, controls facial expression and unconscious processes
Pons
connects spinal cord and encephalon, controls body arousal and ability to focus
Reticular Formation
sensory switchboard in forebrain
Thalamus
emotional center and drives contract abstract though, planning emotion, and judgment
Limbic system
controls hunger/thirst, sexual arousal, and body temperature(limbic system)
hypothalamus
controls formation of new memories (limbic system)
hippocampus
controls emotions (limbic system)
amygdala
controls abstract thought, planning, emotion, judgment, and decision (4 lobes)
frontal lobe
located at the rear of the frontal lobe and controls voluntary movements
motor cortex
controls speech production (association area)
Broca’s Area
causes impaired use of language
Broca’s aphasia
contains sensory cortex and receives touch sensations (4 lobes)
Parietal Lobe
the area at the front of the parietal lobe that registers and processes body sensations
Somatosensory Cortex
back of brain, controls visual cortex (optical)
Occipital Lobe
receives segments and integrates visual information
Visual Cortex
processes sounds, receives and processes contents of sound, music, or voices
Temporal Lobe, Auditory Cortex
controls language comprehension
Wernicke’s Area
disables the ability to understand language
Wernicke’s Aphasia
any areas of the cerebral cortex that don’t control muscle movements or receive sensory information, involve higher mental functions(learning, remembering, speaking, thinking)
Association Areas
connection between the two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex
Corpus Callosum
Why do they cut the corpus callosum?
to reduce seizures in patients with uncontrollable epilepsy
slow messenger system, made up of glands
Endocrine System
controls adrenaline production
adrenal gland
slow down the CNS and calm neural activity (ex. alcohol)
depressants
speed up the CNS and excite neural activity (example:cocaine)
stimulants
24 hr sleep/wake cycle that allows for human alertness
circadian rhythm
the actual storyline of dreams
Manifest Content
“dreams are meaningless and random images created by the brainstem”
Activation-Synthesis Theory
characterized by problems falling or staying asleep, most common sleep disorder (Treatment: reduce caffeine, exercise during the day, consistent sleep pattern)
Insomnia
characterized by suffering from periods of intense sleepiness, absence of alertness (Treatment: medications and naps during the day)
Narcolepsy
characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep, causes person to wake slightly and gasp for air, causes tiredness and can interfere with attention and memory (Treatment: sleep with respiration machine)
Sleep Apnea
characterized by high arousal and appearance of being terrified in first few hours of sleep during stage 3, most common in children
Night Terrors
a disturbing dream that evokes negative feelings
Nightmares
slows the function of the CNS, and can cause slurred speech, weakness, and slowed breathing (alcohol and barbiturates)
Depressants
type of depressants, very addictive, quickly develop a tolerance, withdrawal is very painful (opium and heroin)
Opiates
speed up the function of the CNS, can cause disturbed sleep, reduced appetite, anxiety, heart problems, irritability, and depression (Cocaine and Ecstasy)
Stimulants
change the perception of reality and evoke images in the absence of sensory input, stays in the body for a month or more, affects memory and emotions vary (Marijuana and LSD)
Hallucinogens
the info about yourself and your environment you are currently aware of
Conscious Level
info not in your conscious level but that could be in your conscious level
Preconscious Level
info we aren’t consciously aware of but we must know exists
Subconscious
believe that some events, feelings, emotions, and issues are unacceptable to our conscious mind
Unconscious Level
characterized by mild hallucinations (hearing voices that don’t exist) called hypnagogic sensations
Stage 1 of Sleep
characterized by sleep spindles (short bursts of rapid brain waves), asleep but can be easily awakened
Stage 2 of Sleep
slowers delta waves/deeper sleep, difficulty to wake up, sleep walking and talking, bedwetting, brain can respond to particular stimuli
Stage 3 of Sleep
detailed dreams happen, rapid breathing and heartbeat, genital arousal, face/fingers/legs twitch, muscles virtually paralyzed
Stage 4 of Sleep
