AP Psychology: Unit 3 Vocab

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1. action potential: a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that 20. dendrite: the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that
travels down an axon receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
2. adrenal glands: a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above 21. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid): a complex molecule containing
the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes
norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress 22. dual processing: the principle that information is often
3. amygdala: two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic simultaneously processed on separate conscious and
system; linked to emotion unconscious tracks
4. aphasia: impairment of language, usually caused by left 23. electroencephalogram (EEG): an amplified recording of the
hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's
or to Wernicke's area (impairing understanding) surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on
5. association areas: areas of the cerebral cortex that are not the scalp.
involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they 24. endocrine system: the body's "slow" chemical communication
are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the
remembering, thinking, and speaking bloodstream
6. autonomic nervous system: the part of the peripheral nervous 25. endorphins: "morphine within"--natural, opiatelike
system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its 26. environment: every nongenetic influence, from prenatal
parasympathetic division calms. nutrition to the people and things around us
7. axon: the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal 27. evolutionary psychology: the study of the evolution of
fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to behavior and the mind, using principles on natural selection
muscles or glands
28. fMRI (functional MRI): a technique for revealing bloodflow
8. behavior genetics: the study of the relative power and limits of and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI
genetic and environmental influences on behavior scans. Shows brain function.
9. biological psychology: a branch of psychology concerned with 29. fraternal twins: twins who develop from separate fertilized
the links between biology and behavior eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters,
10. brainstem: the oldest part and central core of the brain, but they share a fetal environment.
beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; 30. frontal lobes: portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind
the _____ is responsible for automatic survival functions the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and
11. Broca's area: controls language expression--an area, usually in in making plans and judgements
the left frontal lobe, that directs the muscle movements 31. genes: the biochemical units of heredity that make up the
involved in speech chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing a
12. central nervous system (CNS): the brain and the spinal cord protein
13. cerebellum: the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; 32. genome: the complete instructions for making an organism,
functions include processing sensory input and coordinating consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's
movement output and balance chromosomes
14. cerebral cortex: the intricate fabric of interconnected neural 33. glial cells (glia): cells in the nervous system that support,
cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate nourish, and protect neurons
control and information-processing center 34. heritability: the proportion of variation among individuals that
15. chromosomes: threadlike structures made of DNA molecules we can attribute to genes. The _____ of a trait may vary
that contain the genes 35. hormones: chemical messengers that are manufactured by the
16. cognitive neuroscience: the interdisciplinary study of the brain endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect
activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, other tissues
memory, and language) 36. hypothalamus: a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it
17. consciousness: our awareness of ourselves and our directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body
environment temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the
18. corpus callosum: the large band of neural fibers connecting the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward
two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them 37. identical twins: twins who develop from a single fertilized egg
19. CT (computed tomography) scan (CAT scan): a series of X-ray that splits in two, creating two genetically indentical organisms
photographs taken from different angles and combined by 38. interaction: the interplay that occurs when the effect of one
computer into a composite representation of a slice through factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such
the body as heredity)
39. interneurons: neurons within the brain and spinal cord that 58. peripheral nervous system (PNS): the sensory and motor
communicate internally and intervene between the sensory neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the
inputs and motor outputs rest of the body
40. lesion: tissue destruction; a brain lesion is a naturally or 59. PET (positron emission tomography) scan: a visual display of
experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose
41. limbic system: doughnut-shaped neural system (including the goes while the brain performs a given task
hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below 60. pituitary gland: the endocrine system's most influential gland.
the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the _____ regulates
42. medulla: the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and growth and controls other endocrine glands
breathing 61. plasticity: the brain's ability to change, especially during
43. molecular genetics: the subfield of biology that studies the childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new
molecular structure and function of genes pathways based on experience
44. motor cortex: an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that 62. reflex: a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus,
controls voluntary movements such as the knee-jerk response
45. motor neurons: neurons that carry outgoing information from 63. reticular formation: a nerve network in the brainstem that
the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands plays an important role in controlling arousal

46. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): a technique that uses 64. reuptake: a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending
magnetic fields and radio waves neuron

47. mutation: a random error in gene replication that leads to a 65. sensory cortex: area at the front of the parietal lobes that
change registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

48. myelin sheath: a layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the 66. sensory neurons: neurons that carry incoming information
fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
speed of neural impules as the impulse hops from one node to 67. somatic nervous system: the division of the peripheral nervous
the next system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. Also called
49. natural selection: the principle that, among the range of the skeletal nervous system.
inherited trait variations, those that lead to increased 68. split brain: a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the
reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to brain's two hemisphers by cutting the fibers (mainly those of
succeeding generations the corpus callosum) connecting them
50. nerves: bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting 69. sympathetic nervous system: division of the autonomic
the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in
organs stressful situations
51. nervous system: the body's speedy, electrochemical 70. synapse: the junction between the axon tip of the sending
communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.
peripheral and central nervous systems The tiny gap at this junction is called the _____ gap or _____ cleft
52. neurogenesis: the formation of new neurons 71. temporal lobes: portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly
53. neuron: a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving
system information primarily from the opposite ear

54. neurotransmitters: chemical messengers that cross the 72. thalamus: the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of
synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving
neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and
to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing medulla
whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse 73. threshold: the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural
55. occipital lobes: portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back impulse
of the head; includes areas that receive information from the 74. Wernicke's area: controls language reception--a brain area
visual fields involved in language comprehension and expression; usually
56. parasympathetic nervous system: the division of the in the left temporal lobe
autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its
energy
57. parietal lobes: portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of
the head and toward the rear; receives the sensory input for
touch and body position