Abnormal Psychology: Neurotransmitters and Brain Structure

Vocabulary flashcards covering neurotransmitters, cortical structures, subcortical regions, and systems related to abnormal psychology.

Serotonin and dopamine

Neurotransmitters that may be involved in depression, mania, and schizophrenia.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter that communicates with the sympathetic nervous system and is involved in producing states of high arousal, anxiety disorders, and stress-related conditions.

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A neurotransmitter that inhibits nerve impulses throughout most areas of the brain and may be involved in anxiety disorders.

Gray Matter

The cortex of the human brain which is composed of the neurons that form the thin outer covering of the brain.

Cortex

Composed of $6$ layers of tightly packed neurons with an estimated number close to $16$ billion.

Gyri

The ridges of the vastly convoluted human brain cortex.

Sulci

The depressions between brain ridges that define different regions of the brain and act as guide points of a map.

Frontal lobe

The region of the brain that lies in front of the central sulcus.

Parietal lobe

The brain lobe located behind the central sulcus and above the lateral sulcus.

Temporal lobe

The brain lobe located below the lateral sulcus.

Occipital lobe

The brain lobe that lies behind the parietal and temporal lobes.

Prefrontal Cortex

Located in the very front of the cortex, this area helps regulate the amygdala and is important in many different disorders.

White Matter

Made up of large tracts of myelinated (sheathed) fibers that connect cell bodies in the cortex with those in the spinal cord and other brain areas.

Ventricles

Cavities deep within the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid.

Cerebrospinal Fluid

Fluid that circulates through the brain through ventricles and is connected with the spinal cord.

Hippocampus

A subcortical structure associated with memory.

Hypothalamus

A structure that regulates metabolism, temperature, perspiration, blood pressure, sleeping, and appetite.

Amygdala

An important area of the brain for attention to emotionally salient stimuli.

Pruning

The process where a number of synaptic connections begin to be eliminated.

Brain Networks

Clusters of brain regions connected so that activation is reliably correlated during rest or when performing certain tasks.

Autonomic Nervous System

Innervates the endocrine glands, heart, and smooth muscles; it operates quickly, generally without awareness, and figures prominently in anxiety disorders.

Sympathetic NS

A component of the Autonomic Nervous System that prepares the "fight or flight" response.