AP Psychology Brain & Bio
Terms in this set (65)
Nature
Heredity, genetics, predisposed charateristics
Nuture
Environmental factors, experience, family interactions, education
Study of nature vs nuture
Family studies
twin studies
adoption study
Central Nervous System (CNS):-
Brain
Spinal Cord
B- receives and processes sensory information, initiates responses, stores memory, generates thoughts and emotions
S- conducts signals to and from the brain controls reflex activities
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS):-
Motor Neurons
Sensory Neurons
M- CNS to muscles and glands
S- Sensory organs to CNS
Motor Neurons:-
Somatic Nervous System
Autonomic Nervous System
S- Controls voluntary movements
A- Controls involuntary responses.
Autonomic Nervous System:-
Sympathetic Division
Parasympathetic Division
S- fight or flight
P- rest and digest or peace
Neuron
send and receive messages throughout our bodies using electric signals
Glial cells
support and protect neurons
"feed" and clean up after neurons
create myelin- protective covering for neurons
Multiple Sclerosis
Immune system damages myelin
Symptoms- feeling exhausted all over, trouble with balance and coordination, tingling and prickling sensation, difficulty with concentration or memory
Myasthenia Gravis
Problems with signals sent between nerve and muscles
Symptoms- voluntary muscles feel weak and tired easily, especially affects muscles controlling eyes, mouth, throat, and limbs, difficulty swallowing and speaking
Sensory Neurons
Send sensory info to CNS
Motor neurons
Send info from CNS to muscles and glands
Interneurons
send info between sensory and motor neurons, mostly in CNS
Action Potential
The neuron fires, sending the message down the axon to the axon terminal
All or none principle
The neuron either fires or doesn't
Refractory Period
time in which it takes neuron to repolarise
cannot fire again until repolarisation happens
Agonists
Mimic neurotransmitter- will stimulate receptor site
Morphine and endorphins
Antagonists
Block neurotransmitter's receptor sites- inhibits neuron's firing because it won;t stimulate neuron
Botox and acetylcholine
Neiurotransmitters
Chemical messengers of the nervous system
-released by neurons to pass messages along
-quick acting
Hormones
chemical messengers of the endocrine system
released by glands into the bloodstream
long lasting
Medulla
Heart rate and breathing
Pons
sleep and dreams
cerebellum
balance and coordination; memory, nonverbal learning
reticular formation
awakeness and alertness
Thalamus
relays sensory info to cortical areas (except smell)
Olfactory bulb
receive and process sense of smell
Amygdala
emotions fear and aggression
Hippocampus
new memories
hypothalamus
drives and body maintenance
Frontal lobe
making plans, judgements, personality, speaking and movements
Parietal lobe
processes body sensations; visual and spatial reasonings
Occipital lobe
controls sight
Temporal lobe
controls hearing
Broca's Area
Speech production
Wernicke's area
language comprehension
Brain plasticity
the brain's ability to change, especially in childhood
reorganization after damage
building new pathways based on experience
EEG- Electroencephalograph
-Measures electrical activity in the brain
Helpful in sleep studies
Sleep Stages- NREM
Stage 1
lightest stage of sleep
Hypnagogic sensations- false perceptions that occur between wakefulness and sleep
Stage 2
Sleep talking
Stage 3
deepest stage of sleep
sleep walking (somnambulism)
bed wetting
night terrors
growing
Sleep cycles
1-2-3-2-1 REM
90 min/cycle
4-5 cycles a night
Time in REM increases in NREM 1-3 decreases over the course of the night
REM sleep
rapid eye movement
AKA paradoxical sleep
Body paralysis sets in
Dreaming occurs
Increases as the night goes on
BUT… high-frequency brain waves, increased pulse and breathing - EEG similar to wakefulness
REM rebound
increase in frequency, depth, & intensity of REM sleep
Natural response to sleep deprivation or stress
Circardian Rhythms
biological changesÂ
occurring on a 24-hour cycle
WHY DO WE DREAM?
Activation Synthesis
The brain attempts to make sense of random neuron firing
Consolidation
Sleep is useful for organizing and solidifying memories or restoring depleted resources used throughout the day
Insomnia
trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting good quality sleep
Narcolepsy
 difficulty regulating sleep/wake cycles
Characterized by random sleep attacks (falling asleep suddenly and without warning)
Sleep Apnea
breathing repeatedly becomes shallow or stops during sleep
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
physically and vocally act out vivid, often unpleasant dreams during REM sleep
Excitatory Neurotransmitter
chemical secreted at terminal button that causes the neuron on the other side of the synapse to generate an action potential
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter
chemical secreted at terminal button that reduces or prevents neural impulses in the postsynaptic neuron
Acetylcholine
Voluntary movement and muscle contraction
learning
memory
sleep
Excess- maybe linked to depression
Deficit- Dementia and Alzheimer's disease
Dopamine
Movement, attention and alertness , REWARDS
Excess- Schizophernia
Deficit- Parkinson's disease tremors and muscular rigidity)
GABA
Inhibits excitation and anxiety (calm)
Excess- impairs leaning, motivation and movement
Deficit- anxiety disorders, seizures, insomnia
Endorphines
Pain relief
Deficit- may be involved in addiction
Serotonin
mood regulation, hunger, sleep
Excess-
Deficit- depression and some anxiety disorders OCD
Epinephrines/ Norepinephrine
Fight or flight, alertness , arousal
Excess- high blood pressure
Deficit- depression
Glutamate
memory, cognition, mood regulation
Excess- brain cell damage, death
Deficit- difficulty concentrating, insomnia, low energy, ADHD, high anxiety
Substance
Nociception (pain)
Inflammation
Excess- major depression and related disorders
Deficit- reduces pain sensitivity and mechanical stability of the bone in general
Ghrelin
Stimulates hunger; signals to the brain that the body needs food
Leptin
Suppresses appetite; signals fullness to the brain
Oxytocin
Promotes bonding, trust, and emotional connections; also involved in childbirth and breastfeeding
Melatonin
Regulates sleep wake cycles; makes u sleepy
Adrenaline
Triggers the fight or flight, increases heart rate , blood flow, and energy