HOSA: Knowledge Test: Behavioral Health

Phrenology

a popular theory that claimed bumps on the skull could reveal our mental abilities or character traits

Biological psychology

the branch of psychology that links biology and behavior

Neuron

a nerve cell

Sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain or spinal cord

Motor neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

Interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate with each other and regulate sensory and motor inputs

Dendrite (receive)

the branches that extend from the nerve cell body. These receive messages and conduct impulses towards the body

Axon (relay)

the extension of the neuron that has fibers on the end that pass information to other neurons or to muscles

Myelin sheath

the layer of fatty tissue that encases the fibers of neurons in segments and increases the transmission speed of impulses

Action potential

a neural impulse, or, a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

Threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse. This comes from the level of excitatory signals minus inhibitory signals

Synapse

the junction between the axon of the relaying neuron and the dendrite of the receiving neuron. This is also known as the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft

Neurotransmitter

a chemical messenger that crosses the synaptic gap between neurons, binding to receptor sites on the dendrites of the receiving neuron.

Endorphins

"morphine within," a natural opiatelike neurotransmitter linked to pain control and pleasure

Acetylcholine

a neurotransmitter that enables muscle action, learning, and memory. Lack of this causes Alzheimer's

Dopamine

a neurotransmitter that influences movement, learning, attention and emotion. An excess causes schizophrenia and a lack causes tremors and Parkinson's

Serotonin

affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal. A lack leads to depression

Norepinephrine

helps control alertness and arousal. A lack can depress

Gamma-butyric acid

an inhibitory neurotransmitter. A lack is linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia

Glutamate

major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory. An excess can cause migraines or seizures

Reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption of the sending neuron

Agonist molecules

a molecule from outside the body that is similar enough to a neurotransmitter to mimic its effects, like in certain opiate drugs

Antagonist molecules

a molecule from outside the body that blocks a neurotransmitter's function, like Botulin, which blocks ACh

Nervous system

the body's electrochemical communication network that consists of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems

Central nervous system (CNS)

the brain and spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

Nerves

axons that have been bundled together into cables that connect the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs. For instance, the optic nerve

Somatic nervous system

the division of the PNS that controls the skeletal muscles

Autonomic nervous system

the part of the PNS that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs.

Sympathetic nervous system

part of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body and mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

Parasympathetic nervous system

part of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

Reflex

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus

Endocrine system

the body's chemical communication system that is made up of a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

Hormones

chemical messengers that are made in the endocrine system, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

Adrenal glands

a pair of endocrine glands above the kidneys that secrete epinephrine and norepinephrine that help arouse the body in stressful situations

Pituitary gland

the most influential gland that controls growth and other endocrine glands. Is controlled by the hypothalamus

Lesion

tissue destruction caused either naturally or experimentally

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. Electrodes on the scalp measure these waves

Positron emission tomography scan (PET scan)

a visual display of the brain activity that detects where the radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. Show brain anatomy

Function MRI (fMRI)

a technique for revealing the blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. Shows brain function

Brainstem

the oldest part and central core of brain that starts where the spinal cord swells at the beginning of the skull and is responsible for automatic survival functions

Medulla

the base of the brainstem that controls heartbeat and breathing

Reticular formation

a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

Thalamus

the brain's sensory switchboard located on top of the brainstem that directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits relies to the cerebellum and medulla

Cerebellum

the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem that processes sensory input and coordinates movement output and balance

Limbic system

the neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres and is associated with emotions and drives.

Amygdala

two lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system linked to emotion

Hypothalamus

the structure below the thalamus that directs eating, drinking, body temperature, as well as helping govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland. Linked to emotion and reward

Cerebral cortex

the fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres and the body's ultimate control and information-processing center

Glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

Frontal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex just behind the forehead that is involved in speaking, muscle movements, and in making plans and judgments

Parietal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex at the top rear of the head that receives sensory input for touch and body position

Occipital lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex at the back of the head that receives information from the visual fields

Temporal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex above the ears that includes the auditory areas that receive info from the opposite ear

Motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements. This area of the brain is involved in the idea of neural prosthetics

Sensory cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations. The larger the area of this region used for a particular body part, the more sensitive it is (i.e. lips being more sensitive than toes have a bigger used area of this region). This also includes the visual cortex

Association areas

area of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions but in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

Plasticity

the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

Neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons

Corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

Split brain

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them

All-or-none response

A strong stimulus can trigger more neurons to fire, and to fire more often, but it does not affect the action potentials strength or speed

Lock & Key mechanism

Neurotransmitters bind to the receptors of the receiving neuron in this manner

Thyroid gland

a gland that surrounds the trachea and controls metabolism, among other things

Parathyroids

glands right next to the thyroid that help regulate the calcium level in the blood

Gonads

the sex glands

Reward center

An area of the hypothalamus that, when stimulated, provides pleasure to the organism.

Aphasia

An impairment of language, usually caused by damage to the left hemisphere of the brain

Broca's area

An area in the left hemisphere that controls language formation

Wernicke's area

An area in the left hemisphere that controls language understanding