Unit 3 AP Psychology

Mutations

random errors in gene replication that lead to errors

Dendrites

receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

Visual cortex

receives written words as visual stimulation

Resting Potential

Axons have positively charged ions outside and negatively charged ions inside, this condition is "normal" and causes no action

Medulla

base of the Brainstem that controls heartbeat and breathing

Wernicke's area

controls language reception, usually in the left temporal lobe, involved in comprehension and expression

Identical Twins

develop from a single fertilized egg that splits into two (the two eggs are genetically identical)

Fraternal Twins

develop from separate fertilized eggs

Virtual Twin

refers to people who are unrelated but of the same age

Association areas

the areas around your cerebral cortex that correlates with intelligence the bigger it is

Central Nervous System

the brain and spinal cord

Plasticity

the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

Terminal Branches of the Axon

the branchlike structures at the end of the Axon that forms junctions with other cells

Sympathetic Nervous System

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

Parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

Somatic Nervous System

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles.

Axon

the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons

Selective Permeability

the fact that the ion does not allow "just anything" to affect it

Neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons

Genotype

the genetic in the cells (DNA)

Pituitary Gland

the most influential endocrine gland (the master gland

Autonomic Nervous System

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs. It has a sympathetic and parasympathetic division

Heritability

the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes

Peripheral Nervous System

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

Behavior Genetics

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

Phrenology

theory developed by Francis Gall that claimed studying bumps on the skull could reveal our mental abilities and our character traits

Chromosomes

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain genes

Lesion

to destroy tissue of the brain either naturally or experimentally

Angular gyrus

transforms visual representations into an auditory code

All or none response

when the neuron fires it either fires

Frontal Lobe

associated with reasoning, planning, speech, emotions, and problem solving

Occipital Lobe

associated with visual processing

Sensory cortex

(parietal cortex) receives information from skin surface and sensory organs

Phineas Gage

-He was packing gunpowder when it ignited and a rod shot up through his left cheek and out the top of his skull -damaged frontal lobes -he was able to sit up, speak, and breathe on his own -the only thing that was different was his personality

MRI

-Magnetic Resonance Imaging -uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images that distinguish among different types of brain tissue

EEG

-amplified recording of electrical waves sweeping across the brain's surface -can be measured by electrodes placed on the scalp

Thalamus

-brain's sensory switchboard -located on top of the Brainstem -regulates all sense EXCEPT smell -directs messages to the sensory areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

Glial cells

-cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons -act as "glue cells" to making everything work

CT Scan

-computed tomography -series of X-Rays taken from different angles and combined by a computer into a "slice" through the body

Limbic System

-doughnut shaped system of neural structures at the border of the Brainstem and cerebrum -associated with emotions such as fear, aggression, and drives for food and sex -includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus

Pons

-help coordinate movement -located just above the medulla

Cerebral Cortex

-intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres -the body's ultimate control and information processing center

Cerebellum

-known as the "little brain" -attached to the rear of the Brainstem -helps coordinate voluntary movements and balance such as walking, keeping balance, shaking hands... -enables nonverbal learning and memory

Hypothalamus

-lies below the thalamus -directs several maintenance activities like eating, drinking, body temperature, and control of emotions -has important pleasure or reward centers that govern our behavior -also helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland

PET

-positron emission tomography -visual display of brain activity that detects a radioactive form of glucose while the brain performs a given task

Molecular Genetics

-subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and functions of genes -seeks to identify specific genes influencing behavior

Genes

-the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes -segments of DNA capable of synthesizing protein -can either be active (expressed) or inactive

Brainstem

-the oldest part of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells and enters the skull -responsible for automatic survival functions

Phenotype

-the visible expression of a trait -influenced by genes as well as environment -ex. hair color, eye color, weight

Neurosurgeons cut the corpus callosum in the brain disrupting communication between the right and left hemispheres to A. prevent the spread of epileptic seizures B. reduce anxiety attacks and phobic reactions C. reduce the incidence of violent behaviors D. treat schizophrenia E. reduce mood swings

A

Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system most frequently results in which the following? A. Acceleration of heart and breathing rates and dilation of pupils B. Stimulation of tearing, salivation, and peristalsis C. Calming of the body D. Contraction of the muscles of the hands and feet E. Raising the perceptual threshold of olfactory and gustatory receptors

A

The brain scans of people with amnesia are most likely to show damage to the A. hippocampus B. hypothalamus C. medulla D. reticular formation E. cerebellum

A

Which of the following is the correct sequence of the neural chain of events set in motion by an environmental stimulus? A. Receptors, afferent neurons, interneurons, efferent neurons, effectors B. Receptors, efferent neurons, interneurons, afferent neurons, effectors C. Interneurons, effectors, receptors, afferent neurons, efferent neurons D. Effectors, interneurons, receptors, afferent neurons, efferent neurons E. Effectors, receptors, afferent neurons, efferent neurons, interneurons

A

A person who has a brain injury is having difficulty seeing and hearing. These symptoms indicate that damage has occurred in the A. Parietal and occipital lobes B. Occipital and temporal lobes C. Frontal and temporal lobes D. Temporal lobe only E. Frontal lobe only

B

Brain damage that leaves a person capable of understanding speech but with an impaired ability to produce speech most likely indicates injury to which of the following? A. The basal ganglia B. Wernicke's area C. The substantia nigra D. Broca's area E. The inferior colliculi

B

The correlations between the IQ scores of identical twins reared apart are lower than those of identical twins reared together. This difference is best explained by which of the following? A. Heredity plays an important role in determining IQ. B. Environment plays an important role in determining IQ. C. Heredity plays no role in determining IQ. D. Environment plays no role in determining IQ. E. Heredity and environment play an equal role in determining IQ.

B

The section of the brain considered most vital to the initiation of feeding behaviors is the A. Hippocampus B. Hypothalamus C. Superior olive D. Suprachiasmatic nucleus E. Substantia nigra

B

Which of the following are most involved in the action potential of a neuron? A. Calcium and sodium B. Sodium and potassium C. Potassium and calcium D. Chloride and calcium E. Chloride and sodium

B

Which of the following systems produces, circulates, and regulates levels of hormones in the body? A. Circulatory system B. Endocrine system C. Limbic system D. Sympathetic nervous system E. Parasympathetic nervous system

B

Neurotransmitters are typically stored in which of the following parts of a neuron? A. The nodes of Ranvier B. The myelin sheath C. The terminal buttons D. The soma E. The axon

C

The human brain differs from the brains of most other animals by the relative amount of brain mass devoted to which of the following? A. The occipital lobe B. The cerebellum C. The cerebral cortex D. The homunculus E. The pituitary gland

C

Computer-generated color images of the brain that provide information about glucose metabolism are produced by which of the following techniques? A. Electroenephalography (EEG) B. Electromyography (EMG) C. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) D. Positron-emission tomography (PET) E. Computerized axial tomography (CAT)

D

The area of the brain stem that is important in controlling breathing is the A. suprachiasmatic nucleus B. cerebellum C. limbic system D. medulla E. hippocampus

D

The sequence of shifts in the electrical charge of a neuron is called A. neural integration B. refraction C. synaptic transmission D. the action potential E. differential conduction

D

Which gland of the endocrine system controls the activity of other glands? A. Pancreas B. Thyroid C. Adrenal D. Pituitary E. Pineal

D

Which of the following neurotransmitters is most directly associated with Alzheimer's disease? A. Dopamine B. Serotonin C. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) D. Acetylcholine (Ach) E. Glutamate

D

Recent Understandings of Biological Psychology

The body communicates electrochemically; Brain systems serve specific functions; We integrate information processed in the different brain systems to construct our experience; Our adaptive brain is wired by experience

Neurons

The body's information system is built from billions of interconnected nerve cells

DNA

a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes

Synapse

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

Neural Impulses (action potential)

a neural impulse consisting of a brief electrical charge that travels down the axon

Adrenal Glands

a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress

Temperament

a person's stable emotional

Constraint induced therapy

aims to rewire the brain by restraining a fully functional limb and forcing the use of the "bad" limb

Temporal Lobe

associated with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli, memory, and speech

Natural Selection

an evolutionary process through which adaptive traits are passed on to ongoing generations because these traits help animals survive and reproduce

Hormones

are chemicals synthesized by the endocrine glands that are secreted in the bloodstream

Motor cortex

area at the rear of the frontal lobe that controls voluntary movements

Parietal Lobe

associated with movement, orientation, recognition, perception of stimuli

Antagonist

blocks neurotransmitters

neurotransmitters

chemicals released from sending neuron, travel across synapse and bind to receptor sites on receiving neuron, influencing receiving neuron to generate action potential

Corpus collosum

connects 2 hemispheres

Nervous System

consists of all the nerve cells. It is the body's "speedy" electrochemical communication system

Amygdala

consists of two lima bean sized neural clusters linked to the emotions of fear, aggression, and anger

Cell body

contains the nucleus and acts as the life support center of the neuron

Broca's area

controls language expression, usually in the left frontal lobe, directs the muscle movement involved in speech

Hypocampus

helps process explicit memories for storage

Dual Consciousness (processing)

information is processed simultaneously on separate conscious and unconscious tracks in the brain -ex: perception, memory, and thinking

Endocrine System

is the body's "slow" chemical communication system

Myelin Sheath

layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons -enables greater transmission speed

Agonist

mimics neurotransmitters

Reticular Formation

nerve network in the Brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

Sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

motor neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs

Lock and Key Mechanism

neurotransmitters bind to receptors of receiving neuron

Reuptake

neurotransmitters that are in synapse that are reabsorbed into the sending neurons

Right Brain vs Left Brain

right: -sense of self (personality) -making inferences -creativity -visual/spatial left: -language -quick literal interpretations -analytical -logical

Split Brain

severed corpus callosum

Gazzaniga

split brain "he" and "art" study

Cognitive Neuroscience

studies the way in which our brain activity is linked with our thoughts

Evolutionary Psychology

studies why we as humans are alike -studies evolution of behavior and mind using principles of natural selection

fMRI

technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans