AP Psychology
Study Guide
Chapter 2 Neuroscience and Behavior
Key Terms
Using your own words, on this paper, write a brief definition or explanation of each of
the following.
Biological psychology
Neuron
Dendrites
Axon
Myelin sheath
Action potential
Threshold
Synapse
Neurotransmitters
Acetylcholine(Ach)
Endorphins
Nervous system
Central nervous system (CNS)
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Nerves
Sensory neurons
Interneurons
Motor neurons
Somatic nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
Sympathetic nervous system
Parasympathetic nervous system
Reflex
Neural networks
Lesion
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
CT (computed tomography) scan
PET (positron emission tomography)
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
Brainstem
Medulla
Reticular formation
Thalamus
Cerebellum
Limbic system
Amygdala
Hypothalamus
Cerebral cortex
Glial cells
Frontal lobes
Parietal lobes
Occipital lobes
Temporal lobes
Motor cortex
Sensory cortex
Association areas
Aphasia
Broca’s area
Wernicke’s area
Plasticity
Corpus callosum
Split brain
Endocrine system
Hormones
Questions
Neural Communication (pp. 58-65)
1. Explain why, at every level, our existence is both part of a larger system and a
combination of smaller systems.
2. Describe the structure of a neuron and the process by which an action potential is
triggered.
3. Discuss how nerve cells communicate, and discuss the importance of
neurotransmitters for human behavior.
4. Discuss the significance of endorphins, and explain how drugs influence
neurotransmitters.
The Nervous System (pp. 65-69)
1. Identify the major divisions of the nervous system and their primary functions,
and describe the neurons that carry information throughout the system.
2. Describe the operation of reflexes in the spinal cord and neural networks in the
brain.
The Brain (pp. 69-94)
1. Identify and explain the methods used in studying the brain.
2. Describe the functions of structures within the brainstem, as well as those of the
thalamus and cerebellum.
3. Describe the functions of the structures in the limbic system.
4. Describe the structure and functions of the cerebral cortex.
5. Discuss how damage to one of several different cortical areas can impair language
functioning, and outline the process by which the brain directs reading aloud.
6. Discuss brain plasticity and what it reveals about brain reorganization.
7. Describe research on divided and undivided brains, and discuss what it reveals
regarding normal brain functioning.
8. Discuss the brain organization of left-handed people and why left-handedness
seems to diminish with age.
The Endocrine System (pp. 94-96)
1. Discuss the functioning of the endocrine system.
2. Identify two important endocrine glands, and specify their functions.