AP Psychology
Biology
Spring 2015
Biological Bases of Behavior
(8-10% of Test)
Chapter 2 (pgs. 47-83)
Chapter 4: (pgs. 133-149; 162-163)
Neural Communication
Neuroanatomy
Neurons
Multiple Sclerosis
Sensory/Afferent Neurons
Action Potential
Motor/Eferent Neurons
Resting Potential
Interneurons
Depolarization
Cell Body/Soma
Refractory Period
Terminal Branches
Excitatory Signal
Dendrite
Inhibitory Signal
Axon
Threshold
Myelin Sheath
Synapse
The Nervous System
Nerves
Peripheral Nervous System
-Somatic Nervous System
-Autonomic Nervous System
-Sympathetic Nervous System
-Parasympathetic Nervous System
Central Nervous System
-Spinal Cord
-Reflexes
Barron’s Book
Chapter 3 (75-95)
Neurotransmitters
Synaptic Gap
Receptor Sites
Reuptake
Endorphins
Acetylcholine (Ach)
Dopamine
Serotonin
The Endocrine System
Hormones
Adrenal Glands
Epinepherine
Pituitary Gland
The Brain
Lesion
*Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) Scan*
Electroencephalogram
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Functional MRI (fMRI)
Older Brain Structures
Newer Brain Structure (Cerebral Cortex)
Brainstem
Areas/Functions of Cerebral
Hemispheres
-Medulla
Cortex
-Pons
Glial Cells
Hemispheric Specialization
-Reticular Formation
Fissures
Corpus Callosum
Thalamus
Lobes
Split Brains
Cerebellum
-Frontal Lobes
Right Hemisphere
Limbic System
Left Hemisphere
 *Prefrontal Cortex*
-Hippocampus
-Parietal Lobes
-Amygdala
-Occipital Lobes
-Hypothalamus
-Temporal Lobes
Cortical Areas
-Motor Cortex
-Sensory Cortex
Association Areas
Plasticity
Neurogenesis
Neural Communication:
 Know the different parts of a Neuron and their function.
 Be able to explain what happens when a Neuron fires.
 Understand the role that Neurotransmitters play in neural communication.
 Know the function of key Neurotransmitters (Endorphins, Acetylcholine (Ach), Dopamine, Serotonin).
 How do drugs alter Neurotransmission (Agonists & Antagonists)?
The Nervous System:
 What is the relationship between the Central Nervous System & the Peripheral Nervous System?
 Know the difference between the Somatic Nervous System and the Autonomic Nervous System.
 What is the difference between the Sympathetic Nervous System & the Parasympathetic Nervous System?
 What is the importance of the Spinal Cord to the Central Nervous System?
The Endocrine System:
 How do the endocrine system and it’s hormones affect our behavior?
 What role do the adrenal glands and the pituitary gland serve?
 What is the relationship between the nervous & endocrine systems?
The Brain:
 What methods do Neuroscientists use to study the brain (EEGs, PETs, MRIs, fMRIs)?
 Know the older brain structures & their functions.
 Why was the development of the Cerebral Cortex important to the evolution of mankind?
 What are the different lobes of the Cerebral Cortex & what are their key functions?
 Understand the function of the different cortical areas (Motor Cortex & Sensory Cortex). How were they
discovered?
 What is the function of association areas?
 Who is Phineas Gage & what did his accident teach us about the brain?
 How does Brain Plasticity work? Understand specific examples of how the brain can reorganize itself after
damage.
 What were the contributions of Roger Sperry & Michael Gazzaniga in split-brain research?
 What did split-brain research tell us about the brain?
 What are the differences in function between the right hemisphere & left hemisphere of your cerebral cortex?
Genetics & Evolution: (Chapter 4: Pages 133-149) (162-163)
Chromosome
Temperament
Genes
Heritability
Key
Genome
Molecular Genetics
Vocabulary
Monozygotic (Identical) twins
Evolutionary Psychology
Fraternal Twins
Natural Selection
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Mutations
X Chromosome
Y Chromosome
Testosterone
Where are genes found & how are they “turned on?”
What is the difference between fraternal twins & monozygotic (identical) twins?
What have separated twin studies & Adopted Studies shown in regards to the nature/nurture debate?
How is Heritability commonly misunderstood?
How do genes & our environment interact with each other?
How does Natural Selection work & what role do mutations play in the process?
Know how natural selection shapes human tendencies (Taste preferences, Mating Preferences, etc)
What issues have evolutionary psychologists pursued?
What are the criticisms of the Evolutionary perspective?
How is our gender determined & shaped by our biology?