AP Psychology

the study of the links between biology and behavior

• nerve cell
• basic building block of the nervous system

carry info. and instructions for action from the central nervous system for processing

carry info. and instructions for action from the CNS to muscles and glands

neurons of the CNS that link sensory and motor neurons in the transmission of sensory inputs and otor outputs

• in a neuron
• bushy, branching extensions that recieve messages from other nerve cells adn conduct impulses toward the cell body

extension that sends impulses to toher nerve cells or to muscles or to glands

layer of fatty tissue that segmentally covers many axons and helps speed neural impulses

neural impulse gereated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in axon's membrane

the level of stimulation that must be exceeded in order for neuron to fire, or generate an electrical impulse

• the junction between axon tip of sending neuron and dendrite or cell body of the recieveing neuron
• tiny gap at this junction is called synaptic gap or cleft

chemicals that are released into synaptic gaps and so transmit neutral messages from neuron to neuron

• natural, opiatelike neurootransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
• Endorphins end pain

the absorption of excess neurotransmitters by a sending neuron

speedy, electrochemical communication system, consisting of all the nerve cells in the PNS and CNS

• consists of the brain and spinal cord
• located at the center, or internal core, of the body

• the sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the body's sense receptors, muscles, and glands
• located at the periphery of the body relatie to the brain and spinal cord

bundles of neural axons, which are part of the PNS, that connect the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs

the division of the PNS that enables voluntary control of the skeletal muscles

• divivsion of the PNS that controls the glands and muscles of internal organs and thereby controls internal functioning
• regulates the automatic behaviors necessary for survival

division of autonomic nervous system that arouses the body mobolizing its energy in stressfull situations

divivsion of the autonomic nercvous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

• simple, sutonomic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus
• governed by a very simple neutral pathway

body's "slower" chemical communication system, consists of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and circulate through the bloodstream to their target tissues, on which they have specific effects

produce epinephrine and norepinephrine that prepare the bosy to deal with emergencies or stress

• under the influence of the hypothalamus
• regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
• "master gland"

• destruction of tissue
• helps researchers to determine the normal functions of these regions

an amplified recording of waves of electrical activity of brain

measures levels of activity of different areas of brain by tracing their consumption of a radioactive form of glucose, brain's fuel

uses magnetic fields to radio waves to produce computer-genrated images that show brain structures more clearly

MRI scans taken less than a second apart are compared to reveal blood flow and therefore brain sturcture and function

• an extension of the spinal cord and is the central core of the brain
• sturctures direct sutimatic survival function

controls breathing and heartbeat

nerve network that play an important role in controlling arousal

routes incoming messages to the appropriate cortical centers and transmits replies to medulla dn cerebellum

processes sensory input and coordinates movement output and balance

neural system associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and basic physiological drives

part of the limbic system ad influences the emotions of fear and aggresion

• regulates hunger, thrist, body temp., sexual beh.
• helps govern endocrine system via pituitary gland and contains the so called reward centers of brain

thin intricate covering of interconnected neural cells atop the cerebral hemispheres

guide neural connections, provide nutrients and insulating myelin and help remove excess ions and neurotransmitters

involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements

contain sensory cortex

contain visual cortex

contain auditory cortex

controls voluntary movement

registers and processes bdy touch and movement sensations

involved in higher mental functions such as learning. remembering and abstract thinking

brain's capacity for modification, as evidenced by brain reorganization following damage

formation of new neurons

large band of neural fibers that links right and left cerebral hemispheres

condition in which major connections between two cerebral hemispheres are severed