brain parts and neurotransmitters

intro to pysch chapter 2

Neurotransmitters

Chemical substances that transmit info across synaptic gap to neurons

Acetylcholine

Stimulates the firing of neurons, learning, memory, and muscles. Alzheimer’s is caused by a deficiency of this.

GABA

Controls the precision of neuron signals, keeps neurons from overfiring. Low levels=anxiety

Glutamate

Makes neurons fire. Important for learning and memory. Too much= overstimulation of brain= migraines/seizures

Norepinephrine

Stops neurons from firing, but makes heart and intestines more active. Controls alertness. Too little=depression

Dopamine

Affects mood, sleep, attention, learning, and voluntary movement

Serotonin

Affects mood, sleep, attention, learning. Regulates sleep cycle and keeps neuroplasticity. Low levels=depression

Endorphins

Natural opiates that less pain, more pleasure

Oxytocin

Social bonding ex. Mom’s have it with newborns

Agonist

A drug the mimics or increases the neurotransmitters effects

Antagonist

A drug that kills/blocks the neurotransmitter's effects

Medulla

Breathing and reflexes. Located in the hindbrain(bottom of the brain)

Cerebellum

Motor coordination, smaller role in social thinking and social behavior. Located in the hindbrain

Brain Stem

Connects the brain to the spinal cord and keeps us alive

Reticular Formation

Involved in patterns of behavior such as walking, sleeping, and turning to listen to a noise and is located in the midbrain

Limbic System

Under the cerebral cortex- Important in memory and emotion- Contains the amygdala and hippocampus

Amygdala

Emotions are created and finds the objects that are necessary for survival

Hippocampus

Stores memories

Thalamus

Relay station for information in the forebrain

Basal Ganglia

Control and coordinate voluntary movements

Hypothalamus

Directs endocrine system and is in charge of eating and drinking, emotion, stress, and reward

Cerebral Cortex

Thinking and planning in the forebrain

Frontal Lobes

Personality, Intelligence, Control of voluntary muscles

Parietal Lobe

Spatial awareness, Attention, Motor control

Temporal Lobes

Hearing, Language processing, Memory

Occipital Lobes

Vision

Somatosensory Cortex

Body sensations and pain

Motor Cortex

Voluntary movement

Corpus Callosum

Large bundle of axons that connects the 2 hemispheres to each other and relays info between the sides