psychology key terminology

• the human nervous system: consists of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves
• central nervous system: is the brain and spinal cord, it receives sensory info from the body and sends out motor info
• peripheral nervous system: comprised of muscles, organs and glands its the body's communication system using nerves to send sensory info and receive motor info
• somatic nervous system: carries info to muscles to initiate voluntary movement
• autonomic nervous system: controls involuntary functions of the body, such as heart rate and digestion
• sympathetic nervous system: prepares the body for action by activating the fight- flight - freeze response, may increase heart rate and blood pressure
• parasympathetic nervous system: maintains the body in a state of homeostasis by returning body to a level of calm following stress and heightened arousal
• neurons: building blocks of the nervous system that transmit messages to and from the brain
• sensory neurons: carry impulses from receptors to the CNS, done via afferent pathway (forward)
• motor neuron: a neuron that carries impulses from the CNS to the effector organs, done via efferent pathways (away)
• interneuron: transmits info between neurons, not found in the PNS as they cant be used if there's no info coming in
• the spinal reflex: automatic, unconscious response, when responding to pain, messages are intercepted by interneurons in spinal cord to create a faster reaction time which in turn helps survival
• conscious response: a deliberate voluntary reaction to stimulus that involves higher brain functions and awareness like remembering or planning in response
• unconscious response:  occurs when person is either not awake or aware they are responding, such as a reflex
• neural communication: done via a process called neurotransmission which uses electrochemical energy
• neurotransmitters: chemical messengers that are released from the presynaptic neuron and move across the synapse
• excitatory neurotransmitters: increase the likelihood of a postsynaptic neuron firing a action potential
• glutamate: excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, helps with formation and retrieval of memory enabling learning
• inhibitory neurotransmitters: decrease the likelihood that neuron will fire an action potential
• Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA): Inhibitory neurotransmitter that sends no signal but instead blocks or inhibits
• neuromodulators: work with transmitters to enhance effects and create widespread impact by regulating the activity of other neurons
• dopamine: a neurotransmitter that involves drive and motivation, has been associated with addictive behaviour like gambling which chases that "hit"
• serotonin: neurotransmitter that is stabilises mood and helps wellbeing and happiness, plays a big role in digestion, metabolism and stress
• neuroplasticity: the brain's ability to change and adapt in response to experience
• developmental plasticity: the ability of the brain to change throughout life, certain critical periods occur naturally enabling greater plasticity
• adaptive plasticity: occurs as a result of brain damage or trauma, utilising critical and sensitive periods enables better rehabillitation
• long term potentiation (LTP): is the increase in synaptic strength through high frequency stimulation
• long term depression (LTD): reduction of efficiency in synaptic connections, happens when connections are not regularly activated
• stress: a psychological or physiological response to internal or external stressors that are perceived to challenge a persons ability to cope
• stressor: stimuli that causes/produces stress which challenges our ability to cope
• cortisol: a hormone that is released in response to stress, primary role is to increase glucose to help different functions repair damage
• acute stress: brief and specific to demands of the situation
• chronic stress: ongoing demands, pressures and worries that lasts for a long time and can lead to illness
• eustress: a positive psychological response to a stressor which energises you to feel motivated to meet demands of a challenge
• distress: negative psychological response to a stressor that impends the ability to perform or cope
• alarm reaction: the initial stage of the GAS is a general defensive reaction to the stressor and results in a stage of tension and alertness and a readiness to respond to the stressor
• shock: ability to deal with stressor falls below normal level making it hard to cope with stressor
• countershock: the sympathetic NS is activated and resistance to stress increases above normal levels. the fight-flight response is activated and adrenaline and cortisol are released
• adrenaline: produced by the adrenal glands and released into the bloodstream, it is part of the "fight or flight" response. When facing a perceived stressor or threat, this hormone stimulates the NS to prepare the body for a quick response.
• resistance: bodies resistance to stressor rises above normal, and all unnecessary physiological processes are shut down. cortisol continues to be released to energise the body and repair any damage