ALL AP PSYCH QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS
neuron ---a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
sensory neurons ---neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory reseptors 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 the sensory inputs and motor outputs
myelin sheath ---A lack of this is attributed to Multiple Sclerosis.
action potential ---a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
neurotransmitters ---chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When
released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to reseptor
sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural
impulse
reuptake ---a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron
endorphins ---"morphine within" - natural . opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control
and to pleasure
nervous system ---the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all
the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
central nervous system (CNS) ---the brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system ---the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous
system to the rest of the body
nerves ---bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with
muscles, glands, and sense organs
somatic nervous system ---the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's
skeletal muscles.
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). Its sympathetic division arouses; its
parasympathetic division calms.
,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
reflex ---a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response
hormones ---chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through
the bloodstream, and affect other tissues
refractory period ---in neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has
fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state
all-or-none principle ---a neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not
firing.
agonists ---a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter's action - it mimics the neurotransmitter
antagonist ---a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's action
acetylcholine ---A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle
contraction.
adoption study ---A research design that investigates the relationships among genetic and
environmental factors in the development of personality, behavior, or disorder by comparing the
similarities of biological parent-child pairs with those of adoptive parent-child pairs.
adrenaline ---A hormone whose major action is to increase heart rate, blood pressure, and blood
sugar, providing a surge of energy to power our fight-or-flight respose.
depolarization ---The process leading up to the height of action potential when sodium is rushing
into the cell causing the interior to become more positive.
dopamine ---A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's
pleasure and reward system.
eugenics ---A much-criticized nineteenth-century movement that proposed measuring human
traits and using the results to encourage only smart and fit people to reproduce
evolutionary psychology ---An approach to psychological inquiry that views human cognition
and behavior in a broadly Darwinian context of adaptation to evolving physical and social
environments and new intellectual challenges.
,excitatory ---The function of a neurotransmitter which results in a greater likelihood of an action
potential.
family study ---Research conducted among siblings, parents, or children to assess evidence for
genetic links for characteristics or outcomes, often related to health or disease.
GABA ---Most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter; regulates daily sleep-wake cycles.
ghrelin ---A hunger-arousing hormone.
glutamate ---A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory.
heredity ---The transmission of traits from parents to their offspring.
inhibitory ---The function of a naturally occuring chemical which results in a reduced likelihood
of an action potential.
leptin ---A hunger-suppressing hormone.
melatonin ---A hormone produced mainly by the pineal gland that is implicated in the initiation
of sleep and in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle.
multiple sclerosis ---A disease due to the degeneration of the myelin sheath in which
communication to muscles and brain regions slow, resulting in diminished muscle control and
sometimes impaired cognition.
myasthenia gravis ---A neuromuscular disease in which the muscles cannot contract, resulting in
muscle weakness, difficulties with muscle control, or paralysis.
natural selection ---The principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those that
lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to the succeeding
generations.
nature ---The innate, presumably genetically determined, characteristics and behaviors of an
individual. In psychology, the characteristics most often and traditionally associated with nature
are temperament, body type, and personality.
neural transmission ---The movement of the action potential down the length of the axon,
releasing neurotransmitters across the synaptic space to a receiving neuron.
norepinephrine ---A neurotransmitter that helps control alterness and arousal. An undersupply
can lead to a depressed mood.
nurture ---The totality of environmental factors that influence the development and behavior of a
person, particularly sociocultural and ecological factors such as family attributes, parental child-
rearing practices, and economic status.
, oxytocin ---A hormone related to love and social bonding, which enables orgasm, and in a
pregnant person, labor contractions and milk flow while nursing.
reflex arc ---A neural circuit that is involved in a self-regulated response between the central and
peripheral nervous systems.
resting potential ---The state of a neuron when it's not being stimulated or sending signals.
reuptake inhibitor ---Substance that interferes with the transport of released neurotransmitter
molecules back into the presynaptic terminal, boosting the effects of that neurotransmitter.
serotonin ---A neurotransmitter that affects hunger, sleep, arousal, and mood.
Substance p ---A neurotransmitter involved in pain perception and immune response.
threshold ---The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.
twin study ---Research with the purpose of assessing the relative contributions of heredity and
environment to some attribute. Characteristics of identical and fraternal twins and comparing
twins of both types who have been reared together or reared apart.
identical (monozygotic) twins ---develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating
two genetically identical organisms
fraternal (dizygotic) twins ---develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no
closer than ordinary brothers and sisters, but they share a prenatal environment
Glial cells ---cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
Dendrites ---Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.
Axon ---A threadlike extension of a neuron that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body.
Synapse ---the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body
of the receiving neuron
Leptin ---An appetite reducing hormone
Tolerance ---the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the
user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect
Addiction ---compulsive drug craving and use, despite adverse consequences
Withdrawal ---the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug
ANSWERS
neuron ---a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
sensory neurons ---neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory reseptors 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 the sensory inputs and motor outputs
myelin sheath ---A lack of this is attributed to Multiple Sclerosis.
action potential ---a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
neurotransmitters ---chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When
released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to reseptor
sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural
impulse
reuptake ---a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron
endorphins ---"morphine within" - natural . opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control
and to pleasure
nervous system ---the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all
the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
central nervous system (CNS) ---the brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system ---the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous
system to the rest of the body
nerves ---bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with
muscles, glands, and sense organs
somatic nervous system ---the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's
skeletal muscles.
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). Its sympathetic division arouses; its
parasympathetic division calms.
,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
reflex ---a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response
hormones ---chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through
the bloodstream, and affect other tissues
refractory period ---in neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has
fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state
all-or-none principle ---a neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not
firing.
agonists ---a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter's action - it mimics the neurotransmitter
antagonist ---a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's action
acetylcholine ---A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle
contraction.
adoption study ---A research design that investigates the relationships among genetic and
environmental factors in the development of personality, behavior, or disorder by comparing the
similarities of biological parent-child pairs with those of adoptive parent-child pairs.
adrenaline ---A hormone whose major action is to increase heart rate, blood pressure, and blood
sugar, providing a surge of energy to power our fight-or-flight respose.
depolarization ---The process leading up to the height of action potential when sodium is rushing
into the cell causing the interior to become more positive.
dopamine ---A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's
pleasure and reward system.
eugenics ---A much-criticized nineteenth-century movement that proposed measuring human
traits and using the results to encourage only smart and fit people to reproduce
evolutionary psychology ---An approach to psychological inquiry that views human cognition
and behavior in a broadly Darwinian context of adaptation to evolving physical and social
environments and new intellectual challenges.
,excitatory ---The function of a neurotransmitter which results in a greater likelihood of an action
potential.
family study ---Research conducted among siblings, parents, or children to assess evidence for
genetic links for characteristics or outcomes, often related to health or disease.
GABA ---Most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter; regulates daily sleep-wake cycles.
ghrelin ---A hunger-arousing hormone.
glutamate ---A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory.
heredity ---The transmission of traits from parents to their offspring.
inhibitory ---The function of a naturally occuring chemical which results in a reduced likelihood
of an action potential.
leptin ---A hunger-suppressing hormone.
melatonin ---A hormone produced mainly by the pineal gland that is implicated in the initiation
of sleep and in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle.
multiple sclerosis ---A disease due to the degeneration of the myelin sheath in which
communication to muscles and brain regions slow, resulting in diminished muscle control and
sometimes impaired cognition.
myasthenia gravis ---A neuromuscular disease in which the muscles cannot contract, resulting in
muscle weakness, difficulties with muscle control, or paralysis.
natural selection ---The principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those that
lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to the succeeding
generations.
nature ---The innate, presumably genetically determined, characteristics and behaviors of an
individual. In psychology, the characteristics most often and traditionally associated with nature
are temperament, body type, and personality.
neural transmission ---The movement of the action potential down the length of the axon,
releasing neurotransmitters across the synaptic space to a receiving neuron.
norepinephrine ---A neurotransmitter that helps control alterness and arousal. An undersupply
can lead to a depressed mood.
nurture ---The totality of environmental factors that influence the development and behavior of a
person, particularly sociocultural and ecological factors such as family attributes, parental child-
rearing practices, and economic status.
, oxytocin ---A hormone related to love and social bonding, which enables orgasm, and in a
pregnant person, labor contractions and milk flow while nursing.
reflex arc ---A neural circuit that is involved in a self-regulated response between the central and
peripheral nervous systems.
resting potential ---The state of a neuron when it's not being stimulated or sending signals.
reuptake inhibitor ---Substance that interferes with the transport of released neurotransmitter
molecules back into the presynaptic terminal, boosting the effects of that neurotransmitter.
serotonin ---A neurotransmitter that affects hunger, sleep, arousal, and mood.
Substance p ---A neurotransmitter involved in pain perception and immune response.
threshold ---The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.
twin study ---Research with the purpose of assessing the relative contributions of heredity and
environment to some attribute. Characteristics of identical and fraternal twins and comparing
twins of both types who have been reared together or reared apart.
identical (monozygotic) twins ---develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating
two genetically identical organisms
fraternal (dizygotic) twins ---develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no
closer than ordinary brothers and sisters, but they share a prenatal environment
Glial cells ---cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
Dendrites ---Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.
Axon ---A threadlike extension of a neuron that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body.
Synapse ---the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body
of the receiving neuron
Leptin ---An appetite reducing hormone
Tolerance ---the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the
user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect
Addiction ---compulsive drug craving and use, despite adverse consequences
Withdrawal ---the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug
