AP Psychology:: Unit 2 - Biological Bases Flashcards (50 Cards) — Study Online

Curriculum Overview

Comprehensive, high-yield AP Psychology study deck focusing on Unit 2 - Biological Bases. Features 50 rigorous, curriculum-aligned flashcards designed for intermediate-level mastery. Core concepts covered include Roger Sperry, Distractor Analysis, Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Michael Gazzaniga, key problem-solving heuristics, foundational formulas, and exam-tested application scenarios. Ideal for active recall review, spaced repetition study, and scoring in the top percentile.

Topics & Key Concepts

GABA Unit 2 Analysis Dopamine Distractor Psychology Epigenetics Explanation Hippocampus Heritability

Sample Flashcard Questions & Answers

Showing 8 of 50 cards

Question #1 Active Recall

Which component of a neuron is primarily responsible for receiving incoming chemical signals from neighboring neurons and conducting electrical impulses toward the soma?

**A)** Axon terminal
**B)** Myelin sheath
**C)** Dendrite
**D)** Node of Ranvier

Answer & Explanation:

**Correct Answer: C) Dendrite**

**Explanation:**
- **Dendrites** are branching extensions of a neuron that receive chemical messages (neurotransmitters) from adjacent presynaptic neurons and conduct graded electrical impulses toward the cell body (soma).

**Distractor Analysis:**
- **A is incorrect:** Axon terminals release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.
- **B is incorrect:** The myelin sheath insulates the axon to speed up electrical transmission.
- **D is incorrect:** Nodes of Ranvier are gaps in the myelin sheath facilitating saltatory conduction.

Question #2 Active Recall

During the generation of an action potential, the rapid depolarization of the neuronal membrane is primarily caused by the sudden rush of which ions into the intracellular space?

**A)** Potassium ions ($K^+$)
**B)** Sodium ions ($Na^+$)
**C)** Chloride ions ($Cl^-$)
**D)** Calcium ions ($Ca^{2+}$)

Answer & Explanation:

**Correct Answer: B) Sodium ions ($Na^+$)**

**Explanation:**
- When a neuron reaches its excitation threshold (approximately $-55\text{ mV}$), voltage-gated **sodium channels open**, allowing a massive influx of positively charged **$Na^+$ ions** into the cell, rapidly shifting the membrane potential from $-70\text{ mV}$ to $+30\text{ mV}$ (depolarization).

**Distractor Analysis:**
- **A is incorrect:** Potassium ($K^+$) ions rush *out* of the neuron during repolarization.
- **C is incorrect:** Influx of $Cl^-$ causes hyperpolarization (inhibitory postsynaptic potentials).
- **D is incorrect:** Calcium ($Ca^{2+}$) influx at the axon terminal triggers neurotransmitter vesicle exocytosis.

Question #3 Active Recall

What is the 'all-or-none' law of neural transmission?

**A)** A neuron either fires at full strength or does not fire at all; stimulus intensity is encoded by firing frequency, not action potential size.
**B)** All neurotransmitters in a vesicle must bind to receptors or none will have an effect.
**C)** Both hemispheres of the brain must be stimulated simultaneously to produce conscious awareness.
**D)** Every neuron in a neural network must fire together to produce muscle contraction.

Answer & Explanation:

**Correct Answer: A) A neuron either fires at full strength or does not fire at all; stimulus intensity is encoded by firing frequency, not action potential size.**

**Explanation:**
- The **all-or-none response** dictates that if a neuron reaches threshold, an action potential is triggered at constant amplitude and speed. Stronger physical stimuli do not produce 'bigger' action potentials; instead, they trigger **more frequent action potentials** across more neurons.

**Distractor Analysis:**
- **B, C, & D are incorrect:** These are distractor statements that mischaracterize the electrophysiological principle.

Question #4 Active Recall

A patient suffering from Alzheimer's disease exhibits progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. This neurodegenerative disorder is most directly linked to the deterioration of neurons that produce which neurotransmitter?

**A)** Dopamine
**B)** Acetylcholine (ACh)
**C)** Serotonin
**D)** Endorphins

Answer & Explanation:

**Correct Answer: B) Acetylcholine (ACh)**

**Explanation:**
- **Acetylcholine (ACh)** plays a vital role in learning, memory formation, and voluntary muscle contractions. The progressive destruction of ACh-producing neurons in the hippocampus and basal forebrain is a primary neurochemical hallmark of **Alzheimer's disease**.

**Distractor Analysis:**
- **A is incorrect:** Dopamine deficits cause Parkinson's disease, while excess dopamine is linked to schizophrenia.
- **C is incorrect:** Serotonin deficits are associated with major depressive disorder.
- **D is incorrect:** Endorphins are natural pain-relieving opioids.

Question #5 Active Recall

Excessive activity of which neurotransmitter system is most strongly implicated in the positive symptoms of schizophrenia (e.g., hallucinations, delusions), whereas a deficit of the same neurotransmitter causes the motor tremors of Parkinson's disease?

**A)** GABA
**B)** Dopamine
**C)** Glutamate
**D)** Norepinephrine

Answer & Explanation:

**Correct Answer: B) Dopamine**

**Explanation:**
- **Dopamine** regulates voluntary motor movement, motivation, reward, and pleasure. According to the dopamine hypothesis, hyperactivity of dopamine pathways in the mesolimbic tract is associated with **schizophrenia**, while degeneration of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra causes **Parkinson's disease**.

**Distractor Analysis:**
- **A is incorrect:** GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter (deficits linked to seizures/anxiety).
- **C is incorrect:** Glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter (excess linked to excitotoxicity/migraines).
- **D is incorrect:** Norepinephrine controls alertness and arousal.

Question #6 Active Recall

Which neurotransmitter serves as the primary **inhibitory** neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, helping to reduce neural excitability and prevent anxiety and seizures?

**A)** Glutamate
**B)** GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
**C)** Norepinephrine
**D)** Substance P

Answer & Explanation:

**Correct Answer: B) GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)**

**Explanation:**
- **GABA** is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. It hyperpolarizes postsynaptic membranes, dampening neuronal firing. Antianxiety medications (benzodiazepines) and alcohol act as GABA agonists to increase inhibitory action.

**Distractor Analysis:**
- **A is incorrect:** Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter.
- **C is incorrect:** Norepinephrine is an excitatory/modulatory monoamine.
- **D is incorrect:** Substance P mediates pain transmission in the spinal cord.

Question #7 Active Recall

A pharmacological agent that binds to a postsynaptic receptor site and blocks or inhibits the normal biological action of a neurotransmitter is classified as an:

**A)** Agonist
**B)** Antagonist
**C)** Reuptake inhibitor
**D)** Endorphin

Answer & Explanation:

**Correct Answer: B) Antagonist**

**Explanation:**
- An **Antagonist** binds to postsynaptic receptors without activating them, thereby blocking the endogenous neurotransmitter from binding and exerting its effect (e.g., curare is an ACh antagonist that causes paralysis; naloxone is an opioid antagonist).

**Distractor Analysis:**
- **A is incorrect:** An agonist mimics or enhances the effect of a neurotransmitter.
- **C is incorrect:** Reuptake inhibitors block presynaptic reabsorption, increasing neurotransmitter availability in the synapse (acting as indirect agonists).
- **D is incorrect:** Endorphins are endogenous opioid peptides.

Question #8 Active Recall

While walking in the woods, a hiker suddenly spots a bear. The hiker's heart rate accelerates, pupils dilate, digestion ceases, and adrenaline surges into the bloodstream. This physiological response is orchestrated by the:

**A)** Parasympathetic nervous system
**B)** Sympathetic nervous system
**C)** Somatic nervous system
**D)** Central nervous system exclusively

Answer & Explanation:

**Correct Answer: B) Sympathetic nervous system**

**Explanation:**
- The **Sympathetic nervous system** (a division of the autonomic nervous system) mobilizes the body during emergencies (the 'fight-or-flight' response), increasing cardiac output, dilating airways, and releasing epinephrine while inhibiting non-essential vegetative processes like digestion.

**Distractor Analysis:**
- **A is incorrect:** The parasympathetic nervous system calms the body ('rest-and-digest').
- **C is incorrect:** The somatic nervous system governs voluntary skeletal muscle movement.
- **D is incorrect:** The response is executed through peripheral autonomic nerves and endocrine hormones.

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