Behavioural Neuroscience Flashcards
Neuroscience
The study of how nerves and cells send and receive information from the brain, body, and spinal cord.
Cerebral Cortex
The outermost layer of the brain. Supports cognitive skills, complex emotions, and complex mental activity including your sense of mind and self. Two hemispheres. Each is separated into four sections/lobes.
Neurons
The cellular building blocks of the brain.
Genes
The basic physical and functional units of heredity. Made up of DNA.
Neurodiversity
An appreciation of the range of differences in brain function among individuals.
Nervous System
A network of neurons running throughout your brain and body.
Nerve
A collection of neurons that carries signals from the body to the brain.
Motor Neuron
A neuron that sends signals to make the body take action. Sends messages out to the body’s tissues from the brain.
Sensory Neuron
A neuron that carries information from the outside world and within the body to the brain. Carries messages from sensory organs and tissues to the brain and spinal cord.
Interneuron
A neuron that connects neurons and interprets, stores, and retrieves information about the world, allowing you to make informed decisions before you act (neurons communicate with each other within the brain and spinal cord).
Spinal Cord
The major bundle of nerves, encased in your spine, that connects your body and your brain.
Central Nervous System (CNS)
The system composed of the brain and spinal cord. Information from your body travels to the brain by way of the nerves of your spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
The system composed of the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord. Connects the parts of the body to the brain.
Somatic Nervous System (SNS)
The system that allows us to feel external sensations and control voluntary movement of the body.
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
The system that allows us to feel internal sensations from and controls automatic movements of the organs such as heartbeat.
Sympathetic Nervous System
A division of the autonomic nervous system that acts on blood vessels, organs, and glands in ways that prepare the body for action, especially in life-threatening situations (fight-or-flight response).
Parasympathetic Nervous System
A division of the autonomic nervous system that returns the body to a resting state by counteracting the actions of the sympathetic system (rest and digest).
Endocrine System
A network of glands that produces and releases hormones into the bloodstream to regulate the body’s activities. Able to coordinate hormone release with the CNS and PNS, allowing signal exchange from your brain to your body and back again.
Hormones
The blood-borne chemicals that travel through the circulatory system enabling the brain to regulate the body’s activities.
Adrenal Glands
The endocrine glands located on top of the kidneys. They produce a variety of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, that are central to the stress response. Are also best known for their role in the fight-or-flight response.
Pituitary Gland
The master endocrine gland located at the base of the brain that in addition to producing its own hormones regulates hormone production in other glands.
3 Main Structures of the Brain
1) Forebrain
2) Midbrain
3) Hindbrain
Neocortex
The evolutionarily newest cerebral cortex that is the largest part of the human brain. Supports complex functions, including language, thought, problem solving, and imagination.
Occipital Lobe
A lobe that runs along the back portion of the head. Contains the primary visual cortex and is largely devoted to vision. Distinct groups of neurons are responsible for detecting shape, colour, movement, and etc. Other parts of the brain are recruited to help put all the information back together into a coherent picture.