HOSA Behavioral Health 2026

behavioral neuroscience

the study of connections between the nervous system and behavioral/mental processes

Central Nervous System (CNS) key parts

Brain and Spinal chord (continuous tissue; spinal chord is brain’s “tail”

Spinal Tap

Removes some cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) around spinal chord; used for diagnosis

Spinal chord

Information conduit with sensory information and muscle commands

Motor, sensory, and interneurons

move, feel, and neither; bridge between motor and sensory

Brainstem

Part of brain with midbrain, pons, & medulla

Medulla

Brainstem structure just above spinal chord; nerve fibers. Manages heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.

Pons

Brainstem part between medulla and midbrain; bridge between higher and lower and connects cerebellum to the brain

Cerebellum

Attached to brainstem; handles balance, motor coordination, and cognitive processing

Midbrain

Brainstem structure above pons (below cerebral hemispheres); handles sensory reflexes, movement, pain, and contains endorphin receptors

Reticular Formation

Structures along brainstem midline; handle mood, arousal, and sleep

Thalamus

Subcortical Structure involved with processing sensory information, states of arousal, and learning + memory (you have 2! one on either side)

Subcortical Structures

Structures below cerebral cortex

Basal Ganglia

Collection of subcortical structures that help control voluntary movement. It’s circuits are located in the brainstem, thalamus, and cerebral cortex.