Neuroscience and Biological Bases of Behavior

Vocabulary flashcards covering the nervous system, endocrine system, brain structures, and cerebral lobes based on the lecture transcript.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The part of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body in response to stressful or threatening situations, triggering the fight-or-flight response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The part of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body down once stressors decrease or disappear.

Interneurons

Neurons that communicate internally between sensory neurons and motor neurons.

Pain Gate

A neurological gate located in the brain that processes pain.

Reflex

A simple automatic response to a sensory stimulus that involves only the spinal cord without needing processing from the brain first.

Endocrine System

A set of glands that secrete chemical messengers called hormones directly into the bloodstream.

Hormones

Chemical messengers manufactured by endocrine glands that travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues.

Hypothalamus

A brain structure in the limbic system that controls the pituitary gland and governs drives such as eating, drinking, sleeping, sexual behavior, and body temperature.

Pituitary Gland

The most influential gland in the endocrine system, controlled by the hypothalamus, which regulates growth hormone and influences other glands.

Brainstem

The oldest part of the brain where the spinal cord enters the skull, managing crucial survival functions such as breathing and heartbeat.

Pons

A part of the brainstem that governs sensation, eye movement, hearing, and taste.

Thalamus

A structure sitting on top of the brainstem involved in attention and movement.

Cerebellum

A structure previously called the mini brain that manages balance, distance judgment, and coordinated motor movement.

Limbic System

A ring-shaped brain structure that governs drives and emotions, comprising the hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus.

Amygdala

A structure within the limbic system that governs emotions, specifically fear.

Hippocampus

A structure in the limbic system associated with consciousness, explicit memory, and spatial memory.

Frontal Lobe

The lobe of the brain associated with speaking, muscle movement, making judgments, and planning.

Parietal Lobe

The lobe located toward the rear of the brain that processes touch, body position, pain, and temperature.

Occipital Lobe

The lobe located at the back of the head containing the visual cortex that processes visual information.

Temporal Lobe

The lobe located above the ears that processes auditory information.

Audition

The technical term for the sense or science of hearing.

Broca's Area

An area located in the frontal lobe that helps produce speech.

Wernicke's Area

An area located in the temporal lobe that helps comprehend speech and process hearing.