AP Psychology

Biopsychology

The specialty in psychology that studies interaction of biology, behavior and mental processes

Neuroscience

a newer field of study in psychology focusing on the brain and our behavior

Phrenology

study of the outer section of one's skull

Neurons

Cells that are specialized to receive, process and transmit information to other cells

Nerves

Bundles of neurons

Axon

the long threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells. It is an extension of a neuron that carries messages to the cell body

Dendrite

a short branched extension of a nerve cell, along which impulses received from other cells at synapses are transmitted to the cell body.

Motor Neuron

a nerve cell forming part of a pathway along which impulses pass from the brain or spinal cord to a muscle or gland(i.e. tells muscles to move after signal from brain)

Outer Sheath

Sensory Neuron

a nerve cell that conducts impulses from a sense organ to the central nervous system.

Inter Neurons

a neuron that transmits impulses between other neurons, especially as part of a reflex arc.

Terminal Branches of Axon

Forms junctions with other cells

Myelin Sheath

covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses

Neural Impulse

electrical signal traveling down the axon

Cell Body

the cell's life-support center

Three tasks that Neurons perform

-Receive information from the neurons that feed -Carry information down its length. -Pass the information onto the next neuron.

Sensory Neuron

act like one-way streets that carry traffic from the sense organs toward the brain.

Motor Neuron

form the one-way routes that transport messages away from the brain to the muscles, organs and glands.

Interneurons

make up the majority of our neurons, relay messages from sensory neurons to other interneurons or motor neurons in complex pathways; middle-man neuron

Dendrite

Consists of finely branched fibers. Selectively permeable listen for the neuron

cerebral cortex

thin layer of interconnected neural cells. It is the brains ultimate control and information-processing center.

Motor Cortex

Area of the brain at the back of the frontal lobe. In charge of the movement of your body parts. The motor cortex on the right side of your brain controls the movement of the left side of your body, and vice versa. PART OF PERIPHERIAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Somatic Nervous System

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles-voluntary movements

Synaptic transmission

the electrical charge is turned into a chemical message that flows easily across the synaptic cleft; an electrical message must go through a change in the terminal buttons.

Glutamate

A major excitatory neuro-transmitter; involved in memory; too much can overstimulate brain (seizures and migraines)

medulla

It regulates basic body functions including: breathing, blood pressure and heart rate; operates on autopilot without our conscious awareness, like most of our brainstem. If this suffered destruction your life would most likely be threatened

Dual Processing

Our brain processes things on separate conscious and unconscious tracks. Hard to do two things at once multitasking

Sympathetic Nervous System

The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations; causes the body to rise to the challenge it faces.

limbic system

processes memories and regulate emotions, involved in feelings of pleasure, pain, fear and rage

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Enables muscle action, learning, and memory; lack of it is a signal for Alzheimer's Disease. Motor neurons to muscles

Chromosomes

Threadlike structures consisting mostly of DNA, along which the genes are organized.

Dopamine

Influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion; too much linked to schizophrenia and too little linked to Parkinson's disease

Hormones

travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues. When they act on the brain they they influence our interest in sex, food and aggression. They are chemical messengers in the endocrine system

Terminal Buttons or Synaptic Vesicles

small sacs that contain neurotransmitters which are chemicals used in neural communication

Left hemisphere

is more active when a person deliberates over decisions, and speaks.

Pituitary gland

secretes many different hormones, some of which affect other glands

PET (Positron Emission Tomography)

An image of the amount and localization of radioactive glucose molecules (which indicates specific changes in neural activity) Follow the glucose An image of the amount and localization of radioactive glucose molecules (which indicates specific changes in neural activity) Follow the glucose

Behavior Genetics

Study of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

Right hemisphere

understands simple requests, easily perceives objects and is more engaged when quick, intuitive responses are needed; is is also more active when copying drawings, recognizing faces and perceiving emotions.

Norepinephrine

Helps control alertness and arousal; too little can depress mood

Thyroid gland

effect metabolism among other things

Action Potential

When the negative balance is upset and the cell becomes excited; reverses the charge and causes the electrical signal to race along the axon.

Glial cells

support the neuron

amygdala

job relates to memory and emotion; Plays a large role with aggression and fear

reward deficiency syndrome

leads people to crave whatever provides that missing pleasure relieves negative feelings.

Reuptake

Reabsorption of excess neurotransmitter molecules by sending neurons

fMRI

fMRI stands for functional MRI. It can reveal the brain's functioning as well as structure.

Environment

Every external influence

Somatosensory Cortex

At the front of the parietal lobe. Experiences and processes body touch and movement sensations. The sensory cortex on the right side of your brain controls the sensation of the left side of your body, and vice versa.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Exposes the brain to magnetic field and measures radio frequency waves; Traditional MRI provides high resolution image of brain anatomy, and newer functional images of changes in blood flow (which indicate specific changes in neuronal activity)

Serotonin

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal; too little linked to depression

Hypothalamus

Brain region controlling the pituitary gland

limbic system

s the middle layer of brain that wraps around the thalamus; along with the thalamus give humans/mammals the capability for emotions and memory.

Action Potential

he "fire" signal of the neuron and causes neurotransmitters to be released by the terminal buttons.

Wernicke's

interprets auditory code; Located in the temporal lobe. Controls understanding of spoken inputs.

Frontal Lobes

Portion of the cerebral cortex just behind the forehead. Involves the motor cortex. Involved in making plans and judgment.

Peripheral Nervous System

all of the nerves which feed into the brain and spinal cord; Sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS with the rest of the body

Depolarization

the initial movement of the action potential where the action passes from the resting potential in the cell body into the action potential in the axon.

EEG (Electroencephalogram)

Multiple electrodes are used to chart the electrical fields caused by neurons in your brain; Detects very rapid changes in electrical activity, allowing analysis of stages of cognitive activity

Adrenal Glands

inner part called the medulla, helps trigger the "fight" or "flight" response. Epinephrine an norepinephrine are released here

cerebral cortex

ultimate control and info-processing center Thin layer of interconnected neural cells covers the cerebrum

Temporal Lobes

The temporal lobe is involved in auditory processing. It is also heavily involved in semantics both in speech and vision. The temporal lobe contains the hippocampus and is therefore involved in memory formation as well. Auditory corte

Synapse

The gap between neurons; acts as an electrical insulator, preventing an electrical charge from racing to the next cell.

Genetics

play a role in our basic makeup including our temperament, tendency for fears and certain behavior patterns.

Association Areas

Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor/sensory functions but are involved in higher level mental functioning: learning, thinking, memory and speaking.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy; causes the body calm after the challenge

Endocrine System

the body's chemical messenger system, that relies on hormones; body's "slow" chemical communication system; A set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

major inhibitory neuro-transmitter; too little linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia

hippocampus

job is to connect your present with your past memories; if you lose this you cant form new memories

cerebellum

enables one type of nonverbal learning and memory. It helps judge time, regulate our emotions and discriminate sounds and textures; Actions we perform without consciously thinking about-walking, dancing, or drinking from a cup. Also referred to as the little brain.

Plasticity

the nervous system, and especially the brain, has the ability to adapt or modify itself as the result of experience.

Resting Potential

normal state of the neuron in which the ions have a small negative charge

Myelin Sheath

protects the axon and the electric signal that it is carrying much like the orange plastic coating does on an electrical cord.

Autonomic Nervous System

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart)

Axon

a single, larger "transmitter" fiber that extends from the soma; extension of the neuron through which the neural impulses are sent; dendrites listen, this speaks

Occipital Lobes

Portion of the cerebral cortex just at the back the brain. Responsible for visual functions. Visual cortex

Parietal Lobes

Portion of the cerebral cortex at the top of the head. Used for general processing, especially mathematical reasoning.

Pancreas

regulates the level of sugar in the blood

Central Nervous System

the brain and the spinal cord; They are so important to the human body that they are encased in bone for protection

pons

connects the brainstem with the cerebellum Deals with movement, sleep, respiration, swallowing, bladder control, hearing, equilibrium, taste, eye movement, facial expressions, facial sensation and posture.

brainstem

made up of four regions: the medulla, the pons, the reticular formation and the thalamus. also part of nerves from left side to right side of brain

Refractory Period

Each action potential is followed by a brief recharging period after which the neuron is capable of another action potential.

thalamus

like the central processing chip of a computer and directs all incoming and outgoing sensory and motor traffic. Relays information from the eyes to the visual cortex With the exception of smell

Action Threshold

Maximum amount of intensity a signal can have before the action potential is realized