Behavioral Neuroscience Glossary Flashcards

Flashcards based on Behavioral Neuroscience, Tenth Edition glossary focusing on terms related to sexual behavior, hormones, eating disorders, and regulatory mechanisms.

Sexually receptive

Referring to individuals who are in a state that allows for mating to occur.

Sperm

The male gamete or reproductive cell involved in fertilization.

Spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB)

A cluster of motoneurons in the spinal cord that innervate muscles involved in penile reflexes in rodents.

SRY gene

A gene located on the Y chromosome that initiates the development of male characteristics.

Syrinx

The vocal organ of birds, located at the base of the trachea.

Turner’s syndrome

A chromosomal disorder in females characterized by the absence of one X chromosome, leading to short stature and infertility.

Ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)

A region of the hypothalamus involved in the regulation of hunger, sexual behavior, and aggression.

Vomeronasal organ (VNO)

A chemoreceptor organ involved in the detection of pheromones.

α-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone (α-MSH)

A peptide hormone derived from pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) that influences pigmentation and appetite regulation.

Adipose Tissue

Connective tissue in which fat is stored; also called fat.

Aldosterone

A steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex that increases the reabsorption of sodium by the kidneys, thereby increasing blood pressure.

Allostasis

The process by which the body responds to stressors in order to regain homeostasis.

Angiotensin II

A peptide hormone that constricts blood vessels and increases blood pressure; also stimulates the release of aldosterone.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by self-imposed starvation and excessive weight loss.

Anorexigenic Neurons

Neurons that inhibit feeding behavior.

Aphagia

The inability or refusal to swallow food.

Aquaporins

Proteins that form channels in the membrane of biological cells, facilitating the transport of water.

Arcuate Nucleus

A nucleus of the hypothalamus involved in regulating appetite and energy balance.

Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP)

A hormone produced by the heart that reduces blood volume and pressure by increasing the excretion of sodium and water by the kidneys.

Bariatric

Relating to the treatment of obesity.

Baroreceptor

A sensory receptor that responds to changes in blood pressure.

Basal Metabolism

The rate at which the body expends energy at rest to maintain vital functions.

Binge Eating

Consuming an excessive quantity of food in a short period, often associated with a loss of control.

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by inappropriate methods to avoid weight gain, such as vomiting or excessive exercise.

Cholecystokinin (CCK)

A hormone released by the small intestine that stimulates the digestion of fat and protein.

Circumventricular Organ

A group of structures in the brain that lack a blood-brain barrier and can detect the chemical composition of the blood.

Diabetes Mellitus

A group of diseases characterized by high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period.

Diffusion

The passive movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Digestion

The process by which food is broken down into smaller components that can be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Ectotherm

An organism that relies on external environmental heat sources to regulate its body temperature.

Endocannabinoid

Naturally occurring compounds in the body that bind to cannabinoid receptors and are involved in regulating various physiological processes.

Endotherm

An organism that maintains its body temperature through internal metabolic processes.

Enterotype

A classification of individuals based on the composition of their gut microbiota.

Epigenetic Transmission

The passing of gene expression patterns from one generation to the next without changes in the underlying DNA sequence.

Extracellular Compartment

The body compartment that exists outside of cells, including interstitial fluid and blood plasma.

Fecal Transplantation

The process of transplanting fecal bacteria from a healthy individual into a patient to restore healthy gut microbiota.

Ghrelin

A hormone produced by the stomach that stimulates appetite and increases food intake.

GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1)

A hormone that enhances insulin secretion and inhibits glucagon release, playing a role in glucose homeostasis.

Glucagon

A hormone produced by the pancreas that raises blood glucose levels by promoting the conversion of glycogen to glucose.

Glucodetector

A cell that detects and informs the nervous system about levels of circulating glucose.

Gluconeogenesis

The metabolic process by which glucose is produced from non-carbohydrate precursors.

Glucose

A simple sugar that is an important energy source in living organisms.

Glycogen

A polysaccharide that serves as a form of energy storage in animals, primarily in the liver and muscles.

Glycogenesis

The process of forming glycogen from glucose.

Glycogenolysis

The breakdown of glycogen into glucose.

Gut Microbiota

The community of microorganisms residing in the digestive tract.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a stable internal environment within an organism.

Hunger

The physiological need for food, often accompanied by a desire to eat.

Hyperphagia

Excessive eating.

Hypertonic

Referring to a solution with a higher concentration of solutes compared to another solution.

Hypotonic

Referring to a solution with a lower concentration of solutes compared to another solution.

Hypovolemic Thirst

Thirst resulting from a decrease in blood volume.

Insulin

A hormone produced by the pancreas that lowers blood glucose levels by facilitating cellular glucose uptake.

Intracellular Compartment

The fluid-filled space within cells, primarily composed of water, electrolytes, and proteins, where cellular processes occur.

Isotonic

Referring to a solution that has the same concentration of solutes as another solution, resulting in no net movement of water between them.

Ketones

Organic compounds produced by the liver during periods of low carbohydrate availability, serving as an alternative energy source for tissues like the brain.

Lateral Hypothalamus (LH)

A region of the hypothalamus involved in the regulation of feeding behavior and energy balance.

Leptin

A hormone produced by adipose (fat) tissue that helps to regulate energy balance by inhibiting hunger, which in turn can regulate body weight.

Lipids

A diverse group of hydrophobic molecules, including fats, oils, and cholesterol, that serve as energy stores and are essential components of cell membranes.

Melanocortin Type-4 Receptor (MC4R)

A receptor in the brain that plays a critical role in regulating food intake and energy homeostasis.

Melanocortins

A group of peptide hormones derived from pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), including α-MSH, that are involved in various physiological functions, including appetite regulation.

Microbiome

The collective genome of the microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbes) residing in a particular environment, such as the human body.

Motivation

The internal processes that initiate, guide, and sustain goal-directed behavior.

Negative Feedback

A regulatory mechanism in which a change in a physiological variable triggers a response that counteracts the initial change, maintaining homeostasis.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY)

A peptide neurotransmitter involved in various physiological processes, including the regulation of appetite, stress response, and circadian rhythms.

NPY Neurons

Neurons that release neuropeptide Y, playing a significant role in stimulating appetite and energy intake.

Nucleus of the Solitary Tract (NST)

A cluster of neurons in the brainstem that receives sensory information from the internal organs and is involved in regulating autonomic functions.

Nutrient

A substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life.

Obligatory Losses

The minimum amount of water lost by the body through processes like respiration, perspiration, and urination, necessary to eliminate metabolic waste products.

Orexigenic Neurons

Neurons that stimulate appetite and food intake, often in response to energy deficits.

Orexins

Neuropeptides produced in the hypothalamus that regulate arousal, wakefulness, and appetite.

Organum Vasculosum of the Lamina Terminalis (OVLT)

A circumventricular organ in the brain that detects changes in blood osmolarity and plays a role in regulating thirst.

Osmolality

The concentration of solute particles in a solution, influencing water movement across cell membranes.

Osmosensory Neuron

A neuron that detects changes in the osmotic pressure of body fluids, contributing to the regulation of thirst and fluid balance.

Osmosis

The movement of water molecules across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

Osmotic Pressure

The pressure required to prevent the osmotic movement of water across a semipermeable membrane, related to solute concentration.