Questions and Answers
What is Biological Psychology?
The scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes.
What is a Neuron?
A nerve cell.
What are Dendrites?
A neuron's bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.
What is an Axon?
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What is the Myelin Sheath?
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What is Action Potential?
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What is the Refractory Period?
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What is Threshold?
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What is the All-or-None Response?
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What is a Synapse?
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What are Neurotransmitters?
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What is Reuptake?
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What are Endorphins?
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What is an Agonist?
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What is an Antagonist?
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What is the Nervous System?
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Study Notes
Biological Psychology
- Studies the relationship between biological processes and psychological phenomena.
- Examines how biology influences thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Neuron
- Basic unit of the nervous system, functioning as a nerve cell.
- Responsible for transmitting signals throughout the body.
Dendrites
- Branching extensions of neurons that receive information.
- Conduct impulses toward the neuron’s cell body.
Axon
- Long extension of a neuron that transmits messages to other neurons, muscles, or glands.
- Involved in the relay of electrical impulses.
Myelin Sheath
- Fatty tissue layer that surrounds and insulates certain axons, improving transmission speed.
- Facilitates quicker communication between neurons by enabling the impulse to jump between nodes.
Action Potential
- Brief electrical charge that travels down the axon, serving as a neural impulse.
- Integral in neuronal communication.
Refractory Period
- Recovery phase following neuron firing where it cannot fire again immediately.
- Comprises absolute and relative refractory periods, defining the timing of subsequent impulses.
Threshold
- Minimum stimulation required to trigger an action potential in a neuron.
- Indicates the point at which a neuron will fire.
All-or-None Response
- Describes a neuron's binary reaction to stimulation: it either fires completely or not at all.
- Illustrates the decisive nature of neuronal responses.
Synapse
- Connection point between the axon tip of sending neurons and dendrites of receiving neurons.
- Serves as the site for neurotransmitter exchange.
Neurotransmitters
- Chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses.
- Play crucial roles in communication between neurons.
Reuptake
- Process where neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the sending neuron after transmitting signals.
- Essential for recycling neurotransmitters and maintaining balance in communication.
Endorphins
- Natural neurotransmitters that help control pain and promote pleasure.
- Linked with feelings of happiness and stress relief.
Agonist
- Molecule that stimulates a receptor site, enhancing a response.
- Used in treatments to increase receptor activity.
Antagonist
- Molecule that inhibits or blocks responses by binding to receptor sites.
- Functions to counteract or mitigate the effects of agonists.
Nervous System
- Comprehensive communication network of the body, encompassing central and peripheral systems.
- Facilitates all communication processes within the body, enabling response to stimuli and coordination of actions.
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Description
Explore key vocabulary terms in AP Psychology with this engaging quiz. From Biological Psychology to Neurons, each term is defined clearly and simply. Enhance your understanding of fundamental concepts that link biology and psychology.
