Behavioral Neuroscience Exam 2 Taboo Terms

Optogenetics

Introducing genes that encode light-sensitive proteins into target cells that can be used to enhance or inhibit cell behavior

Glucagon

Hormone produced by the pancreas that raises blood glucose levels by stimulating the liver to release stored sugar

Masculinization

Stimulates the development of internal/external male sex characteristics; the presence of androgens determines external genitalia

Pheromones

Chemical signals secreted by an organism that trigger specific behavioral or physiological responses in other members of the same species; released into the environment and detected by the vomeronasal organ

Positive punishment

Adding an aversive stimulus to decrease behavior

Triglyceride

A more complex type of fat that is used in long-term storage, made up of a glycerol molecule and 1 of 3 fatty acids 

Pepsin

A digestive enzyme in the stomach that breaks down proteins into smaller peptides

MCH

Melano-concentrating hormone; a neuropeptide produced in the lateral hypothalamus that promotes feeding (orexigen)

NPY

Neuropeptide Y; a neuropeptide produced in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus that stimulates lateral hypothalamus activity to increase feeding; controlled by ghrelin and leptin levels

Engram

Specific patterns of synaptic connections and activity across brain regions, shows the process of reprioritization of memories and how they change over time

BNST

Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis; a group of neurons in the amygdala that’s size is connected to gender expression

Luteinizing hormone

a reproductive hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland that triggers ovulation in females and stimulates testosterone production in males

D1-Like receptors

A subgroup of dopamine receptors that are involved in excitatory signaling; these receptors inhibit pair bond formation through feelings of novelty and excitement

Glycerol

A molecule that can be turned into glucose to be used for energy by the brain, helps make up a triglyceride

Orexin

A neuropeptide - also known as hypocretin - produced in the lateral hypothalamus and increases hunger

LTP

Long-term potentiation; Long-term increase in excitability of neuron to particular synaptic input caused by repeated high-frequency activity of that input

MC4 Receptor

A receptor that is activated by a-MSH to suppress food intake and inhibited by AGRP to increase food intake

Homeostasis

Process by which the body's substances and characteristics (such as temperature and glucose level) are maintained at their optimal level

Ghrelin

A hormone produced by the stomach that stimulates appetite

CCK

Cholecystokinin; a peptide hormone and neuropeptide that promotes satiety by slowing gastric emptying; secreted by I cells in the duodenum and jejunum

Locus coeruleus

A small nucleus in the brainstem that produces norepinephrine and regulates arousal, attention, stress responses, and cognitive function

AGRP

Agouti-related peptide; a neuropeptide produced in the hypothalamus that stimulates appetite by blocking MC4 receptors

Y chromosome

One of the two human sex chromosomes, typically found only in males, and is responsible for initiating male sex determination and development

Follicle-stimulating hormone

a gonadotropin produced by the anterior pituitary gland that regulates reproductive function by stimulating ovarian follicle development in females and sperm production in males, also causes the development of secondary sex characteristics

INAH3

3rd Interstitial Nucleus of the Anterior Hypothalamus; a sexually dimorphic brain region in humans that may play a role in sexual behavior and orientation, typically larger in males than females

Nucleus Accumbens

a key brain region in the ventral striatum that regulates reward, motivation, reinforcement learning, and addiction; central to the brain’s mesolimbic dopamine pathway encoding salience and pleasure of stimuli

Glucose

a simple sugar that serves as the primary energy source for cells in the human body

X Chromosome

One of the two human sex chromosomes, found in both males and females, and is responsible for initiating female sex determination and development

Androgen

steroid hormones that regulate the development and maintenance of male characteristics and reproductive activity

Oxytocin

a neuropeptide produced in the hypothalamus that regulates social bonding, emotional behavior, reproduction, and stress responses

Insulin

a peptide hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood glucose levels by promoting cellular uptake and storage of glucose

CART

Cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript; a neuropeptide in the arcuate nucleus that inhibits LHA activity and is excited by leptin

a-MSH

alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone; a neuropeptide found in the arcuate nucleus that inhibits LHA activity and competes with AGRP to bind to MC4 receptors in the hypothalamus

Instrumental Conditioning

a learning process in which behavior is shaped by its consequences - rewards increase the likelihood of a behavior, while punishments decrease it 

Dopamine

a neurotransmitter that plays a central role in reward, motivation, mood, and cognition; reward-based eating, pair-bonding

LTD

a process by which synaptic connections are weakened over time, causes reprioritization of memories; decrease in AMPA receptors

Substance use disorder

a medical condition characterized by the compulsive use of drugs or alcohol despite harmful consequences to health, relationships, and daily functioning

Positive reinforcement

Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase/maintain behavior

Feminization

the biological process by which an organism develops physical or behavioral traits typically associated with females, often as part of sexual differentiation or due to hormonal influences; absence of androgens 

Anti-mullerian hormone

peptide secreted by testes; inhibits growth of Mullerian system

Hebb Rule

Cells that fire together, wire together; rule created by Donald Hebb

Negative reinforcement

Removing an aversive stimulus to increase/maintain behavior

Romantic love

a state of intense longing for union with another person

Glycogen

complex carbohydrate that is the stored form of glucose found in the liver

Leptin

hormone produced by the stomach that signals the brain to stop eating; inhibits NPY/AGRP neurons

GLP1

Glucagon-like peptide-1; an incretin hormone that enhances insulin secretion, slows gastric emptying, suppresses appetite, and plays a key role in glucose regulation and energy balance

Blood-brain barrier

a highly selective, semipermeable barrier formed by endothelial cells that protects the brain by regulating which substances can pass from the bloodstream into the CNS

Arcuate nucleus

a key hypothalamic region that integrates hormonal and neural signals to regulate appetite; contains CART, a-MSH, NPY, and AGRP neurons

AVP

Arginine vasopressin; a peptide hormone that regulates male-typical social behaviors such as aggression, scent-marking, and pair-bonding (receptor distribution is increased in monogamous species!)

Maternal love

Increase of activity in medial temporal lobe (cognitive and emotional memory), occipitoparietal junction (integration of dorsal/ventral streams), and lateral PFC (judgement)

Estrogen

a steroid hormone that regulates female reproductive development

Negative punishment

Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease behavior

AMPA receptor 

Ionotropic glutamate receptors; activation causes an influx of sodium which causes a larger EPSP, helping you remember things for a short amount of time

NMDA receptor

Specialized ionotropic glutamate receptor that controls calcium channel that is normally blocked by Mg2+ neurons; Ca2+ → stronger cellular response → Longer lasting memory