Unit 1 - Biological Bases of Behavior review

Frontal Lobes

Involved in speaking, muscle movements, and making plans; control planner

Prefrontal Cortex

Part of the frontal lobes involved in decision making and cognitive behavior; decision maker

Executive Functioning

Higher order thinking processes that include planning, organizing, inhibition, and decision-making; brain’s CEO

Motor Cortex

Area at the rear of the frontal lobes responsible for voluntary movements; movement manager

Parietal Lobes

Located in the upper back area of the skull, responsible for processing sensory information; sensation central

Somatosensory Cortex

Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations; touch processor

Occipital Lobes

The back part of the brain involved in visual processing; eyes in the back of your head!

Temporal Lobes

Lower part of the cerebral cortex that plays a role in hearing, understanding language, memory; sound and memory

Corpus Callosum

The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres; brain bridge

Brainstem

The oldest part of the brain, responsible for automatic survival functions; survival core

Medulla

The base of the brainstem that controls heartbeat and breathing; life control

Reticular Activating System

Network of neurons in the brainstem essential for arousal and attention; alert system

Cerebellum

Part of the brain that coordinates movement and balance

Limbic System

Brain region involved in emotions and drives

Thalamus

Brain relay for sensory info

Pituitary Gland

Master gland of the endocrine system; hormone master

Somatic Nervous System

Controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles

Glial Cells

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

Motor Neurons (PNS)

Neurons that carry outgoing info from the brain and spinal cord (CNS) to the muscles and glands (ANS)

Sensory Neurons (PNS)

Neurons that carry incoming info from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord (CNS); sensation reporters

Interneurons (CNS→PNS)

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

Reflex Arc

A neural pathway that controls a reflex action/automatic response

Neural transmission

The process of transferring information from one neuron to another at a synapse

Threshold

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

Action Potential

A brief electrical charge that travels down a neuron; neural firing

All-or-Nothing Principle

A neurons reaction of either firing (full strength)