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VCE Psychology Unit 3 AOS 1

Terms in this set (58)

Autonomic nervous system
a self-regulating sub-division of the peripheral nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the body's visceral muscles (internal organs and glands) to regulate function and provide feedback to the brain about their activities
Axon
a single, tubelike, extension that carries neural information away from the neuron
Axon terminal
the end part of an axon collateral where terminal buttons that store and secrete neurotransmitter are located
Central nervous system
the brain and spinal cord; receives, processes and transmits messages to and from the peripheral nervous system/body to control human functioning
Conscious response
a reaction to a sensory stimulus that involves awareness; compare with unconscious response
Dendrite
an extension of a neuron that detects and receives information from other neurons
Excitatory effect
when a neurotransmitter stimulates or activates a postsynaptic neuron to perform its functions; compare with inhibitory effect
Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)
the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system
Glutamate (Glu)
the primary excitatory neurotransmitter for information transmission throughout the brain; plays crucial roles in the growth and strengthening of synaptic connections during learning and memory formation
Inhibitory effect
when a neurotransmitter blocks or prevents a postsynaptic neuron from firing and therefore performing its functions; compare with excitatory effect
Interneuron
carries messages between sensory and motor neurons within the central nervous system
Lock-and-key-process
describes chemical neurotransmission as involving neurotransmitter with a distinctive shape that precisely matches the shape of the receptor site on the postsynaptic neuron where it will bind or attach to its receptors
Motor neuron
carries messages from the central nervous system to cells in skeletal muscles, organs and glands to stimulate activity
Myelin
white, fatty substance covering and insulating an axon
Neural pathway
one or more circuits of interconnected neurons that forms a communication network; also called a tract
Neurodegenerative disease
a disorder characterised by a progressive decline in the structure, activity and function of brain tissue
Neuron
individual nerve cell
Neurotransmitter
a chemical substance produced by a neuron that carries a message to other neurons or cells in muscles, organs or other tissue
Parasympathetic nervous system
a sub-division of the autonomic nervous system that decreases the activity of most visceral muscles (internal organs and glands) to lower bodily arousal back to a relaxed homeostatic state after a threat has passed
Parkinson's disease
a CNS neurodegenerative disorder characterised by both motor and non- motor symptoms, such as tremor, muscle rigidity, postural instability and problems with cognitive function
Peripheral nervous system
an outlying network of neurons that carries information to and from the CNS and body
Sensory neuron
receives and carries sensory information from both the external and internal environments and transmits to the central nervous system
Somatic nervous system
a sub-division of the peripheral nervous system that carries sensory information from the body to the CNS and motor information from the CNS to the body
Spinal cord
the long, thin bundle of nerve tissue that extends from the base of the brain to the lower back; carries information to and from the brain and PNS. enables the spinal reflex
Spinal reflex
an unconscious, involuntary and automatically occurring response to certain stimuli, sourced within the spinal cord and without any involvement of the brain; also called reflex arc
Sympathetic nervous system
a sub-division of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for action by increasing the activity of most visceral muscles (internal organs and glands) at times of vigorous activity, stress or threat
Synapse
the site of communication between adjacent neurons
Synaptic gap
the tiny space between the axon terminal of a presynaptic neuron and the dendrite of a postsynaptic neuron
Terminal button
structure at an axon terminal that stores and secretes neurotransmitter; also called synaptic knob or synaptic button
Unconscious response
a reaction to a sensory stimulus that does not involve awareness; compare with conscious response
Acculturative stress
the stress people experience in trying to adapt to a new culture when living in it for a considerable period of time
Adrenaline
a hormone produced within the adrenal gland that is secreted during stress and may also affect memory consolidation of emotionally arousing experiences; also called epinephrine
Alarm reaction
the first stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome in which the body goes into a temporary state of shock, then rebounds (counter shock), following initial exposure to a stressor
Approach coping strategy
an effort to confront a stressor and deal directly with it and its effects; compare with avoidant coping strategy
Avoidant coping strategy
an effort that evades a stressor and which indirectly deals with the stressor and its effects; compare with approach coping strategy
Catastrophe
an unpredictable event that causes widespread damage or suffering. As a stressor, the event is one that the majority of people involved would interpret as being stressful
Context-specific effectiveness
in relation to coping with stress, when there is a match or 'good fit' between the coping strategy that is used and the stressful situation
Coping
in relation to stress management, attempting to manage the demands of a stressor in some effective way
Coping flexibility
the ability to effectively modify or adjust one's coping strategies according to the demands of different stressful situations
Coping strategy
a specific method, behavioural or psychological, that people use to manage or reduce the stress produced by a stressor
Cortisol
a hormone secreted from the adrenal cortex to primarily energise the body in response to a stressor
Daily pressure
a type of stressor involving little problems of everyday living that are irritants; also called hassles
Distress
a negative psychological response to a stressor, indicated by negative psychological states such as anger, anxiety, nervousness, irritability or tension; compare with eustress
Eustress
a positive psychological response to a stressor, as indicated by the presence of positive states such as feeling enthusiastic, excited, active and alert; compare with distress
Exercise
physical activity that is usually planned and performed to improve or maintain one's physical condition, and which may also be useful for stress management or as a relaxation technique
Exhaustion stage
the third stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome when the body can no longer sustain resistance and the effects of a stressor can no longer be dealt with, resulting in the organism becoming weak and more vulnerable to physical and mental disorders
Fight-flight-freeze response
an involuntary, physical response to a sudden and immediate threat (or stressor) in readiness to confront, escape or avoid detection
Fight-flight reactions
reactions initiated by the sympathetic nervous system that prepare the body to fight off a threat or escape from it
Freeze reaction
reaction that results in an organism being in a physiological state involving high arousal of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, resulting in a condition characterised by both energy conservation and a mobilised state ready for action
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
a three-stage physiological response to a stressor involving alarm reaction (shock/countershock), resistance and exhaustion
Life event
in relation to stress, a type of stressor in everyday life involving change that forces an individual to adapt to new circumstances
Major stressor
a type of stressor involving an event that is extraordinarily stressful or disturbing for almost everyone who experiences it
Primary appraisal
in the transactional model of stress and coping, an evaluation of the significance of a potential stressor resulting in a decision that it is either irrelevant, benign-positive or stressful
Resistance stage
the second stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, when the body's resistance to the particular stressor develops and rises above its normal levels
Secondary appraisal
in the transactional model of stress and coping, an evaluation of coping options and resources that may be available for dealing with a stressor
Stress
a state of physiological and psychological arousal produced by internal or external stressors that are perceived by the individual as challenging or exceeding their ability or resources to cope
Stressors
a stimulus that causes or produces stress; may be internal or external
Transactional Model of Stress and Coping
proposes that stress involves an encounter between an individual and their environment, and that a stress response depends upon both the appraisal of the stressor and the ability to cope with it
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