Biopsychology

Thalamus

a structure in the brain that acts as a relay station, receiving sensory information from various parts of the body and transmitting it to the appropriate regions of the cerebral cortex for further processing.

Amygdala

a small almond-shaped structure in the brain that plays a crucial role in processing emotions, particularly fear and aggression. It is also involved in the formation and storage of emotional memories.

Cerebral cortex

the outermost layer of the brain and is responsible for higher-level cognitive functions such as thinking, perceiving, and planning. It is divided into different regions, each specialized for different functions, including motor control, sensory perception, language processing, and memory.

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Cerebellum

a structure located at the back of the brain, below the cerebral cortex. It plays a key role in coordinating voluntary movements, maintaining balance, and fine motor control.

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Corpus callosum

thick band of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain. It allows for communication and information sharing between the left and right hemispheres, enabling coordinated functioning of different brain regions.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter linked to reward, motivation, and pleasure. Also involved in mood regulation, attention, and movement coordination. Dysfunction can cause Parkinson's disease and addiction.

Frontal lobe

the largest lobe of the cerebral cortex and is involved in various higher-order cognitive functions, including decision-making, problem-solving, planning, and personality expression. It also houses the motor cortex, which controls voluntary movements.

Seretonin

A neurotransmitter that affects mood, appetite, and sleep, promoting well-being and happiness. It is a common target for antidepressant drugs.

Hypothalamus

a small but vital structure located below the thalamus. It plays a crucial role in regulating essential bodily functions such as body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep, and hormone production. It also influences emotions and behavior.

endorphins

Chemicals released by the body during exercise, excitement, or pain that help reduce stress and increase feelings of pleasure.

Hippocampus

a seahorse-shaped structure located within the temporal lobe. It is primarily associated with the formation and consolidation of new memories, particularly episodic and spatial memories.

frontal cortex teen brain

The brain region responsible for decision-making, problem-solving, and impulse control, develops during adolescence and plays a crucial role in regulating emotions and understanding consequences.

Left hemisphere

responsible for controlling the right side of the body and is often considered the dominant hemisphere for language processing, logical reasoning, and analytical thinking.

pons

brainstem region that connects different parts of the brain. It relays information between the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, and also regulates sleep, arousal, and facial expressions.

Medulla

located at the base of the brainstem. It controls vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and reflexes like swallowing and coughing.

amygdala teen brain

Occipital lobe

at the back of the brain and is primarily responsible for processing visual information. It contains the primary visual cortex, which receives and interprets visual stimuli from the eyes.

Parietal lobe

located near the top and back of the brain and is involved in processing sensory information, including touch, temperature, pain, and spatial awareness. It also plays a role in attention and perception.

Right hemisphere

controls the left side of the body and is often associated with creativity, intuition, spatial awareness, and holistic thinking. It also contributes to emotional processing.

Temporal lobe

located on the sides of the brain, near the temples. It is involved in processing auditory information, language comprehension, memory formation, and certain aspects of visual perception.