Behavioral Health Notes

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Comprises the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Includes nerves and ganglia outside the CNS.

Somatic Nervous System

Transmits commands for voluntary movement.

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls glands and organs, comprising the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the 'fight or flight' response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for 'rest and digest' functions.

Enteric Nervous System

Consists of nerve cells in the GI system, communicating with the endocrine system.

Pineal Gland

Releases melatonin and regulates the sleep-wake cycle.

Pituitary Gland

Known as the master gland; stimulates other glands.

Neuron

The basic unit of the nervous system; includes a cell body, axons, and dendrites.

Synapse

The point of communication between neurons.

Neurotransmitter

A chemical messenger that facilitates communication across a synapse.

Receptor

The site where neurotransmitters bind to initiate a response in the receiving neuron.

Cerebellum

Responsible for muscle control, balance, movement, and some cognitive functions.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of gray matter covering the cerebral hemispheres.

Frontal Lobe

Involves the primary motor cortex and complex cognitive processes.

Broca’s Area

Responsible for speech production, located in the left hemisphere.

Hippocampus

Essential for the formation of long-term memories.

Thalamus

Acts as a relay station for sensory information before it reaches the cortex.

Lateralization

Localization of function primarily in one hemisphere of the brain.

Action Potential

An electrical signal that arises in a neuron's axon when depolarized to threshold.

Resting Potential

The electrical charge across a neuron's membrane when it is not firing.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a stimulus that provokes a response.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process where behaviors are modified through reinforcement or punishment.

Cognitive Appraisal Theory

Suggests that emotion results from an individual's interpretation of a stimulus.

Emotion

A complex state involving physiological and psychological changes that influence thought and behavior.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

A motivational theory comprising a five-tier model of human needs.

ADHD

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking.