Biological Bases of Mental Life and Behaviour

Vocabulary flashcards covering the basic units of the nervous system, neurotransmitters, endocrine glands, and major brain structures and functions.

Neurons

The basic units of the nervous system, also known as nerve cells.

Sensory neurons

Neurons that carry sensory information from sensory receptors to the central nervous system.

Motor neurons

Also called efferent neurons, these transmit commands from the brain to the glands and muscles of the body.

Interneurons

Neurons that connect other neurons to each other and are found only in the brain and spinal cord.

Dendrites

Branch-like extensions of the neuron that receive information from other cells.

Axon

The long extension from the cell body of a neuron through which electrical impulses pass.

Myelin sheath

A tight coat of cells composed primarily of lipids that insulates the axon and speeds neural transmission.

Terminal buttons

Structures at the end of the neuron that receive nerve impulses from the axon and transmit signals to adjacent cells.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that transmit information across the synapse from one neuron to another.

Synapse

The space between neurons through which they communicate.

Resting potential

The voltage at which a neuron is not firing.

Graded potentials

Spreading voltage changes that occur when the neural membrane receives signals from other cells.

Action potential

A temporary shift in the polarity of the cell membrane, which leads to the firing of a neuron.

Glutamate

One of the most widespread neurotransmitters in the nervous system, which largely plays an excitatory role.

GABA

Acronym for gamma-aminobutyric acid, a widespread neurotransmitter that largely plays an inhibitory role in the brain.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in thought, feeling, motivation, and behaviour.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of mood, sleep, eating, arousal, and pain.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A neurotransmitter involved in muscle contractions, learning, and memory.

Endorphins

Chemicals in the brain similar to morphine that elevate mood and reduce pain.

Endocrine system

A collection of ductless glands that control various bodily functions by secreting hormones into the bloodstream.

Hormones

Chemicals secreted directly into the bloodstream by the endocrine glands.

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Consists of neurons that carry messages to and from the central nervous system; includes the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.

Somatic nervous system

The division of the PNS consisting of sensory and motor neurons that transmit sensory information and control intentional actions.

Autonomic nervous system

Part of the PNS that controls basic life processes such as heart rate, digestion, and breathing.

Sympathetic nervous system

A branch of the autonomic nervous system activated in response to threats, readying the body for 'fight-or-flight' reactions.

Parasympathetic nervous system

The part of the autonomic nervous system involved in conserving and maintaining the body's energy resources.

Central nervous system (CNS)

The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Medulla oblongata

An extension of the spinal cord essential to life, controlling heartbeat, circulation, and respiration.

Cerebellum

A large bulge in the dorsal area of the brain responsible for coordinating smooth movements, maintaining equilibrium, and postural reflexes.

Reticular formation

A diffuse network of neurons that maintains consciousness and regulates activity and arousal states throughout the CNS.

Tectum

A midbrain structure involved in orienting to visual and auditory stimuli.

Tegmentum

A midbrain structure involved in movement and the linking of pleasure to behaviours that help obtain reward.

Hypothalamus

A brain structure involved in regulating behaviors like eating, sleeping, sexual activity, and emotional experience.

Thalamus

A complex of nuclei that processes arriving sensory information and transmits it to higher brain centres.

Cerebrum

The 'thinking' centre of the brain, including the cortex and subcortical structures like the basal ganglia and limbic system.

Limbic system

Subcortical structures including the septal area, amygdala, and hippocampus involved in emotion, motivation, learning, and memory.

Amygdala

A brain structure associated with the expression of rage and fear and calculating the emotional significance of a stimulus.

Hippocampus

A limbic system structure involved in the acquisition and consolidation of new information in memory.

Basal ganglia

Structures involved in the control of movement, mood, and memory, requiring minimal conscious thought.

Cerebral cortex

The many-layered surface of the cerebrum that allows for flexible voluntary movements, complex sensory discrimination, and symbolic thinking.

Corpus callosum

A band of fibres that connects the right and left hemispheres of the cerebral cortex.

Occipital lobes

Brain structures located in the rear portion of the cortex, specialised for vision.

Parietal lobes

Lobes involved in the sense of touch, movement, and the experience of one's own body and objects in space.

Frontal lobes

Lobes involved in coordination of movement, attention, planning, social skills, conscience, abstract thinking, and personality.

Temporal lobes

Lobes important in hearing, language, and visual object recognition.

Broca's area

A structure in the left frontal lobe involved in mouth and tongue movements for speech production and the use of grammar.

Wernicke's area

A brain structure located in the left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension.

Neuroplasticity

The concept that the brain is a dynamic organ that continues to develop and change in response to experiences.

Neurogenesis

The process by which neurons can be produced or repair themselves structurally or biochemically in the CNS.

Heritability

The proportion of variability among individuals on an observed trait that can be accounted for by variability in their genes.

Monozygotic (MZ) twins

Identical twins who developed from the union of the same sperm and egg.

Dizygotic (DZ) twins

Fraternal twins who developed from the union of two sperm with two separate eggs.

Pituitary gland

Often called the 'master gland' because its hormones regulate the hormonal action of other endocrine glands.