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AP Psychology > Unit 2 - Terminology > Flashcards

Unit 2 - Terminology Flashcards

1
Q

neuron

A

nerve cell
basic building block of nervous system

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2
Q

dendrites

A

bushy, branching extensions on a neuron
receive and integrate messages by conducting impulses toward the cell body

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3
Q

cell body

A

part of neuron that contains the nucleus

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4
Q

axon

A

part of neuron that passes impulses from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands

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5
Q

myelin sheath

A

covers axon of some neurons
enables much faster transmission speed as impulses hop from one node to the next

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6
Q

neural impulse

A

action potential
electrical signal that travels down the axon of a neuron

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7
Q

terminal branches of axon

A

form junctions with other cells to send out impulses from neuron

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8
Q

glial cells/glia

A

cells in nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
assist in learning, thinking, memory

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9
Q

action potential

A

neural impulse
brief electrical charge that travels down the axon

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10
Q

threshold

A

level of stimulation necessary to trigger a neural impulse

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11
Q

refractory period

A

brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired

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12
Q

all-or-none response

A

neuron either fires a full strength impulse or fires nothing at all

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13
Q

synapse

A

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

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14
Q

synaptic cleft

A

tiny gap at the synapse

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15
Q

neurotransmitters

A

cross the synaptic clefts between neurons
when released by sending neuron, they bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron
influences whether or not a neuron will generate a neural impulse

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16
Q

reuptake

A

when extra neurotransmitters get reabsorbed by the sending neuron

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17
Q

types of neurotransmitters (7)

A

acetylcholine (ACh), dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA, glutamate, endorphins

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18
Q

acetylcholine (ACh)

A

enables muscle action, learning, memory
malfunction: undersupply —> Alzheimer’s disease

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19
Q

dopamine

A

influences movement, learning, attention, emotion
malfunction: oversupply —> schizophrenia; undersupply —> tremors/decreased mobility in Parkinson’s

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20
Q

serotonin

A

affects mood, hunger, sleep, arousal
malfunction: undersupply —> depression

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21
Q

norepinephrine

A

helps control alertness and arousal
malfunction: undersupply —> depressed mood

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22
Q

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A

inhibitory neurotransmitter
malfunction: undersupply —> seizures, tremors, insomnia

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23
Q

glutamate

A

excitatory neurotransmitter, memory
malfunction: oversupply —> migraines/seizures

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24
Q

endorphins

A

influence perception of pain and pleasure
malfunction: oversupply from opiates —> suppression of natural endorphin supply

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25
Q

agonist

A

molecule that increases action of a neurotransmitter

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26
Q

antagonists

A

inhibits the action of a neurotransmitter

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27
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

brain and spinal cord

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28
Q

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
contains somatic and autonomic nervous systems

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29
Q

types of neurons (3)

A

sensory, motor, inter-neurons

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30
Q

sensory neurons

A

carry messages from body tissues and sensory receptors inward (afferent)

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31
Q

motor neurons

A

carry instructions for muscles and glands out from CNS (efferent)

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32
Q

inter-neurons

A

within brain and spinal cord
process info between sensory and motor neurons

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33
Q

somatic nervous system

A

voluntary control of skeletal muscles

34
Q

autonomic nervous system (ANS) (2)

A

controls glands and muscles of internal organs
sympathetic division arouses, parasympathetic calms

35
Q

adrenal glands

A

above kidneys
secrete hormones that arouse body in times of stress

36
Q

hypothalamus

A

controls pituitary gland

37
Q

pituitary gland

A

control center of endocrine system
top of brain stem

38
Q

thyroid gland

A

affects metabolism
in neck

39
Q

parathyroids

A

regulate calcium in blood
in neck

40
Q

pancreas

A

regulates sugar in blood
by kidneys

41
Q

EEG (electroencephalogram)

A

records waves of electrical activity across surface of brain
measured with electrodes

42
Q

MEG (magnetoencephalography)

A

measures magnetic fields from natural electrical activity of brain

43
Q

CT (computed tomography) scan, CAT scan

A

x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer to see slice of brain’s structure

44
Q

PET (positron emission tomography) scan

A

detects where radioactive form of glucose goes while brain performs a task

45
Q

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A

uses magnetic fields and radio waves to generate images of soft tissue

46
Q

fMRI (functional MRI)

A

reveals blood flow (brain activity) by comparing successive MRI scans

47
Q

brainstem

A

automatic survival functions

48
Q

medulla

A

base of brainstem
heartbeat and breathing

49
Q

thalamus

A

top of brainstem
sensory control center

50
Q

reticular formation

A

nerve network that travels thru brainstem
controls arousal

51
Q

cerebellum

A

rear of brainstem
processes sensory input, coordinates movement output/balance, nonverbal learning and memory

52
Q

limbic system (3)

A

neural system that controls emotions and drives
amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus

53
Q

amygdala

A

linked to emotion
two small neural clusters

54
Q

hypothalamus

A

directs maintenance (eating, etc)
linked to emotion and reward

55
Q

hippocampus

A

processes for storage explicit memories

56
Q

cerebral cortex (4)

A

ultimate control and information processing center
frontal lobes, parietal lobes, occipital lobes, temporal lobes

57
Q

frontal lobes

A

just behind forehead
speaking, making plans and judgements

58
Q

parietal lobes

A

top rear of head
receives sensory input for touch and body position

59
Q

occipital lobes

A

back of head
receives visual info

60
Q

temporal lobes

A

above ears
receives auditory info

61
Q

motor cortex

A

behind frontal lobes
controls voluntary movements

62
Q

somatosensory cortex

A

in front of parietal lobes
processes body touch and movement sensations

63
Q

association areas

A

part of cerebral cortex
higher mental functions (learning, memory, etc)

64
Q

plasticity

A

brain’s ability to adapt and change after damage or experiences

65
Q

neurogenesis

A

formation of neurons

66
Q

corpus callosum

A

large band of neural fibers connecting brain hemispheres

67
Q

split brain

A

isolates the hemispheres of brain by cutting the corpus callosum

68
Q

consciousness

A

subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment

69
Q

cognitive neuroscience

A

interdisciplinary study of brain activity linked to cognition

70
Q

blindsight

A

condition where a person can respond to visual stimulus without consciously perceiving it

71
Q

evolutionary psychology

A

uses natural selection principles

72
Q

manifest content

A

symbolic, remembered storyline of a dream
freud

73
Q

latent content

A

underlying meaning of a dream
freud

74
Q

REM rebound

A

tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM deprivation

75
Q

psychoactive drugs

A

alters perceptions and moods

76
Q

substance use disorder

A

continued substance use despite life disruption or risk

77
Q

barbiturates

A

depress nervous system activity
tranquilizers

78
Q

opiates

A

depress neural activity to temporarily lessen anxiety and pain

79
Q

cocaine

A

stimulant
increases alertness and euphoria

80
Q

amphetamines

A

drugs like meth
stimulants

81
Q

methamphetamine

A

amphetamine, stimulant
reduces baseline dopamine levels

82
Q

hallucinogens

A

LSD
distort perceptions

AP Psychology (8 decks)

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