GENE-BRAIN-BEHAVIOUR ASSOCIATIONS IN NEURODEVELOPMENT

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from a lecture on gene-brain-behavior associations in neurodevelopment.

Psychologists

Experts in human behaviour understanding that a symptom or trait can appear the same across clients but originate from different biological origins.

Aetiologies

Arise at different levels such as genes, proteins, cells, circuits, or environment and impact brain function and behavior, providing holistic guidance.

Nervous System

The body’s communication network that rapidly transmits and processes signals between the brain, spinal cord, and the rest of the body to control movement, sensation, and automatic functions.

Glial cell

Main immune cell of the brain, helping protect it from infection and cellular damage.

Neuron

Basic unit of the nervous system that functions to process and transmit information to other neurons.

Afferent fibers

Fibers carrying information to the spinal cord.

Efferent fibers

Fibers carrying information from the spinal cord.

Cerebrum

Major structure of the brain responsible for higher-level cognitive functions.

Cerebellum

Brain region that coordinates movement and balance.

Sulcus

Fold or groove in the cerebral cortex.

Gyrus

Ridge or convolution on the cerebral cortex.

Frontal lobe

Lobe of the brain associated with reasoning, planning, and voluntary movement.

Temporal lobe

Lobe of the brain associated with auditory processing and memory.

Parietal lobe

Lobe of the brain associated with sensory perception and spatial awareness.

Occipital lobe

Lobe of the brain associated with visual processing.

Central Nervous System Benefit

Provides regulation of internal state, information about the environment, and internal state.

Homeostasis

Maintaining a stable internal environment.

Allostasis

Adapting to changing conditions to maintain stability.

Somatic Nervous System

Peripheral nervous system division for voluntary skeletal muscles

Autonomic Nervous System

Peripheral nervous system division for involuntary functions of heart muscle, smooth muscle, and glands

Parasympathetic Division

Autonomic nervous system division referred to as 'rest and digest'.

Sympathetic Division

Autonomic nervous system division referred to as 'active and alert'.

Endocrine System

System including the hypothalamus, pineal gland, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, thymus gland, adrenal glands, pancreas, and ovary/testis glands.

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis

Axis involving the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands, related to stress and emotion.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) Axis

Axis involving the hypothalamus, pituitary, and gonads, related to reproductive behaviors.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-Thyroid (HPT) Axis

Axis involving the hypothalamus, pituitary, and thyroid, related to metabolism and mood.

Pineal Gland

Gland involved in sleep and circadian rhythms.

Allele

A variant form of a gene.

Epigenetics

Changes in gene expression without alterations to the DNA sequence itself.

Biopsychosocial Model

A model which considers biological, psychological, and social factors in mental health.