Psychobiology Final Exam Terms

Limbic System

A complex system of nerves and networks in the brain, involving several areas near the edge of the cortex concerned with instinct and mood. It controls the basic emotions (fear, pleasure, anger) and drives (hunger, sex, dominance, care of offspring).

Stress Immunization

a technique, often used in therapy, that helps individuals build resilience and reduce anxiety by teaching them coping skills and strategies to manage stress. It's similar to how a vaccination builds immunity, preparing the mind to better handle stressors. The process involves learning about stress, acquiring coping skills, and practicing them in controlled environments before applying them to real-life situations. 

Intracranial Self Stimulation

A behavioral neuroscience technique in which animals (typically rodents) are allowed to deliver electrical stimulation to specific brain areas by performing an action, such as pressing a lever.

Wanting

A motivational state characterized by a desire or craving for certain outcomes, often associated with drive and goal-directed behavior.

Liking

Refers to the positive feelings and pleasure associated with a stimulus or reward.

Circannual

Referring to biological rhythms or processes that occur on an annual cycle, often influenced by changes in seasons and environmental factors.

Circadian

A biological rhythm that occurs over a 24-hour cycle, influencing sleep-wake patterns, hormone release, and other physiological processes.

Ultradian

A biological rhythm that occurs more than once within a 24-hour period, often influencing various physiological processes such as sleep cycles and hormonal fluctuations.

Infradian

A biological rhythm that occurs less frequently than once a day, typically spanning a period longer than 24 hours, such as monthly menstrual cycles or seasonal changes.

Zeitgeber

An external cue that helps regulate biological rhythms, such as light, temperature, or social interactions. Zeitgebers synchronize the internal clock to the environment.

Free-Running

A biological rhythm that operates independently of external cues, maintaining its cycle duration without the influence of environmental stimuli.

Phase Shift

A change in the timing of a biological rhythm, often induced by environmental factors like light exposure or changes in routine.

Entrainment

The process by which external cues, such as light and temperature, synchronize biological rhythms to align with the environment.

Nocturnal

active during the night

Diurnal

active during the day

REM Sleep

a stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements, increased brain activity, and vivid dreams.

NREM Sleep

a stage of sleep that is non-REM, characterized by slower brain waves and a lack of rapid eye movement, which includes light and deep sleep stages.

Atonia

a state of muscle weakness or paralysis that occurs during REM sleep, preventing physical movement during dreaming.

Cataplexy

a sudden loss of muscle tone often triggered by strong emotions, commonly seen in narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy

a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden sleep attacks, and often accompanied by cataplexy.

Learning

a process through which experiences change an individual's behavior, knowledge, or skills.

Memory

the ability to encode, store, and subsequently retrieve information. It plays a crucial role in learning and influences behavior.

Implicit Memory

a type of memory that does not require conscious thought, allowing individuals to perform tasks or recall information without awareness.

Explicit Memory

the conscious, intentional recall of facts and events, which contrasts with implicit memory.

Declarative Memory

A type of explicit memory that involves the recall of facts and events, which can be consciously accessed and articulated.

Procedural Memory

A type of implicit memory that enables individuals to perform tasks, skills, or actions without needing to consciously think about them.

Episodic Memory

A subtype of declarative memory that allows individuals to recall specific personal experiences and events, including contextual details such as time and place.

Reconsolidation

The process by which previously consolidated memories are recalled and potentially altered before being stored again, often influenced by new information or context.

Theory of Mind

The capacity to understand and attribute mental states, such as beliefs, intents, desires, and emotions, to oneself and others, often influencing social interactions.

Self-Recognition

The ability to recognize oneself as an individual separate from the environment and other individuals, often demonstrated through mirror tests in developmental psychology.

Self-Regulation

The ability to manage one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations, playing a crucial role in achieving personal goals and maintaining social norms.

Apraxia

A neurological disorder characterized by the loss of the ability to execute purposefully coordinated movements, despite having the desire and physical capability to perform the actions.

Synesthesia

A condition where stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory pathway, such as seeing colors when hearing music.

Dyskinesia

A disorder characterized by involuntary movements, often resulting from the side effects of certain medications, especially those used to treat Parkinson's disease.

Deep Brain Stimulation

A neurosurgical procedure that involves delivering electrical stimulation to specific brain regions to alleviate symptoms of neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and depression.

Neuroleptics

A class of antipsychotic drugs used to treat mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, primarily by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain.

Constraint-Induced Therapy

A therapeutic technique designed to improve motor function in individuals with brain injury or stroke by restricting the use of the unaffected limb, thereby encouraging the use of the affected limb.