The Biology of Behavior and Consciousness

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts and vocabulary related to the biology of behavior and consciousness as outlined in the lecture notes.

Hindbrain

The main division of the human brain responsible for essential survival functions such as breathing, sleeping, and coordination.

Midbrain

The brain region that controls some motor movement and transmits auditory and visual information.

Forebrain

The part of the brain that manages complex cognitive activities, sensory and associative functions, and voluntary motor activities.

Medulla

The hindbrain structure that controls heartbeat and breathing.

Pons

The brain structure that helps coordinate movement and control sleep.

Thalamus

The brain's sensory control center that directs sensory messages to the cortex.

Cerebellum

The part of the brain that coordinates voluntary movement and is involved in emotional control.

Limbic system

A neural system associated with emotions and drives, which includes structures like the amygdala and hippocampus.

Amygdala

A pair of almond-shaped neural clusters in the limbic system that are linked to emotions such as aggression and fear.

Hypothalamus

A brain structure that governs maintenance activities and is linked to emotion and reward.

Hippocampus

A brain structure that helps process conscious memories of facts and events.

Cerebral Cortex

The brain’s outer layer that handles higher-level functions like perception, language, and voluntary movement.

Motor Cortex

The area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.

Somatosensory Cortex

The area at the front of the parietal lobes that processes body touch and movement sensations.

Visual Cortex

The area in the occipital lobes that receives input from the eyes.

Auditory Cortex

The area in the temporal lobes that receives information from the ears.

Association Areas

Regions of the cerebral cortex involved in higher mental functions, including learning, thinking, and remembering.

Corpus Callosum

A large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres.

Consciousness

Subjective awareness of the self and the environment, enabling voluntary control and communication of mental states.

Selective Attention

The focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus, often causing the failure to notice other stimuli.

Circadian Rhythm

The internal biological clock that regulates bodily rhythms on a 24-hour cycle.

REM Sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep, during which vivid dreams commonly occur and the body is paradoxically relaxed.

Insomnia

A sleep disorder characterized by trouble falling or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder marked by sudden uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep.

Sleep Apnea

A sleep disorder where breathing stops repeatedly during sleep, leading to brief awakenings.

Night Terrors

Episodes of intense fear during sleep, primarily affecting children, and differing from nightmares in that the person is not fully awake.

Dreams

Sequences of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person's mind, often occurring during REM sleep.