BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR KEY WORDS PT 2

synaptogenesis

formation of new synapses (connections) between neurons. meant to strengthen communication between brain cells & supports learning, memory, & brain development.

• example - when you practice a skill, new synapses form to make the neural pathway more efficient.

neurogenesis

the creation of new neurons (brain cells). purpose : adds new neurons, especially in areas like the hippocampus (important for memory & learning)

• example : physical experience & enriched environments can increase hippocampal neurogenesis.

sympathetic

stress response

parasympathetic 

peace and relaxation 

automatic bodily (emotional) reactions

quick changes : heart rate, sweating, or skin conductance, controlled by the autonomic nervous system that occur when we anticipate reward or punishment

somatic 

processes related to the body, including physical or emotional bodily responses

• a racing heart or sweating palms when ur anxious are blank responses - your body expressing emotion 

somatic marker

a body-based emotional signals that tag choices as good or bad, helping steer decisions based on past experiences.

what system processes pain, temperature, touch, and body position

the body’s sensory network that detects physical sensations & sends them to the brains parietal lobe for interpretation

what are the autonomic emotional signals 

automatic body reactions (like heart rate or sweating) linked to emotions that help guide choices & predict outcomes 

“ phantom “ - sense that neurologist use

a persistent image or memory of part of the body, usually a limb, for months or years after its loss

what causes phantom sensations

from central brain activity - reorganization & abnormal activity in the parietal somatosensory cortex of the parietal lobe that keeps representing the missing limb

agnosia

neurological condition resulting from brain damage where an individual loses the ability to recognize familiar objects, people, sounds

mediodorsal thalamus

connects memory areas to the frontal lobe ; helps with organizing, retrieving, & updating memories

hippocampus circuit

conslolidates short term memories into long term storage

hypothalamus is key because…

• receives emotional threat signals (from amygdala)

• communicates with the autonomic & endocrine systems

• triggers both immediate & long lasting stress reactions

fast pathway (timeframe: within seconds)

sympathetic-adrenal medullary system [SAM]

purpose of the sympathetic-adrenal medullary system [SAM] 

immediate ‘fight or flight’ response 

the command center for stress

hypothalamus

the sympathetic-adrenal medullary system [SAM] trigger

activated by the hypothalamus 

which branch of the nervous system does the hypothalamus use to start the sympathetic-adrenal medullary system [SAM]  response

the sympathetic nervous system 

what are the two branches of the autonomic nervous system

sympathetic & parasympathetic

sympathetic is the

fight or flight - adrenaline release

parasympathetic is the 

rest and digest - calms body afterward 

somatic nervous system can…

• control voluntary movement & sensory input from the outside world

interoception

brains awareness of internal bodily states (like breath tension, need to pee)

interoception - key brain region 

insular cortex (insula) 

impaired acquisition

forming new memories

vestibular systems damage ( Mr. MacGregor )

imbalance + disorientation

temporal lobe damage

memory, language, and recognition problems 

limbic system damage

emotional, memory loss , and motivation dysregulation [ mood and behavioral changes , difficulty making decisions ]

the action of ‘ sensing ‘ in interoception

denotes communication from physiological systems outside the CNS to the CNS, through the ascending pathways

the action of ‘regulation’ interoception

communication from the brain to other physiological systems via descending pathways

CNS is primarily responsible for 

interpreting & integrating these signals into a representation of the internal world

key differences in the revised definition of interoception

• inclusion of the descending body regulation component

• include the vascular, endocrine, and immune systems (not only the peripheral nervous system & the CNS)

vascular system

carries sensory chemical & pressure signals through blood

endocrine system

uses hormones to report stress, energy, and internal state to the brain

immune system 

sends inflammation & sickness signals that change perception & behavior 

neruoplasticity 

brains ability to adapt /change/ re-organize itself by forming new neural connection [happening through learning/experience] 

hippocampus is highly

plastic and the main site of neuroplasticity

place cells

are in the hippocampus, fire when at a specific location [front door] , act like landmarks’ in the internal map [ discovered by John O’keefe 1971, Rats case]

grid cells 

fire in repeating, grid like patterns, provide distance & direction information [discovered by the Mosers in 2005] 

nervous system

made up the CNS & PNS

cribriform plate - main job

serves as a bridge or gateway for your sense of smell (olfaction). It allows smell signals to reach the brain, protects the brain while allowing communication, & provides structural support!

where did Dr P have a tumor

the ventral stream - “what” pathway for visual information

the medial temporal lobe is necessary for

semantic memory

where do interoceptive signals come from

the organs

what does it mean if a journal article is peer reviewed

quality control has been applied

where are the receptors for proprioception

in the muscles

what can’t pass through the cribriform plate 

place cells 

what translates the feeling of hunger into the mood state of being “hangry”

the insula

what is an exteroceptive stimulus

the sun shining on ur skin

what do vestibular organs sense

movement of the head

which brain region is most important for perceptual memory 

the cortex 

according to the somatic marker hypothesis, a frontal lobe injury can impair decision-making by

disconnecting brain regions involved in decision making from those involved in emotion

frontal lobe functions

working memory, processing somatic markers, declarative memory storage

temporal lobe functions

ventral stream, olfactory processing, declarative memory formation, spatial navigation 

parietal lobe functions

processing proprioception, visually guided movement (dorsal stream), processing touch

occipital lobe functions

visual processing

true or false

there are proprioceptors in the voice box & throat - this is why the disembodied lady at first could not talk

true or false 

voxel based morphometry is a neuroimaging technique that shows the volume of gray or white matter 

true

gray matter is dendrites

true or false

declarative memories are storied in the cortex

hypothalamus

coordinates the autonomic nervous system & activity of the pituitary, controlling body temp., thirst, hunger, & other homeostatic systems

hypothalamus is involved in

sleep & emotional activity since it is below the thalamus

what is the endocrine system

network of glands & organs - produce & secrete hormones to regulate the bodys functions, including me

what is the thalamus

ur sensory processing, consciousness, attention

pituitary 

the major endocrine gland - pea sized - attached to the base of the brain 

what is pituitary gland important for

controlling growth and development & the functioning of the other endocrine glands

endocrine system works with what

the nervous system to control & coordinate processes like stress response

endocrine system - main function

to use chemical messengers (hormones) to signal target cells throughout the body 

key endocrine glands

include the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyroid, & pancreas, which releases hormones like cortisol, growth hormones, & insulin to maintain homeostasis