Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards
One of the two broad categories of seizures; includes simple (focal area of the brain) and complex
Partial seizure
Dramatic seizures that involve convulsions throughout the body
Grand mal or tonic-clonic seizures
A type of seizure that does not usually include unusual movements; rather, it can include a blank stare, rolling of the eyes, and slight mouth movements
Petit mal seizures
Lack of awareness of a disability or the nature of one’s illness
Anosagnosia
The area of the brain that plays a central role in planning, impulse control, and socially appropriate behavior
Frontal lobe
The area of the brain responsible for integrating sensory and spatial information
Parietal lobe
The area of the brain that plays a crucial role in auditory processing, memory, and emotion
Temporal lobe
A state of global brain dysfunction with symptoms ranging from mild cognitive impairments to agitated delirium or coma. Common causes include kidney or liver failure, diabetes, and thyroid dysfunction.
Metabolic encephalopathy
A syndrome caused by damage to the parietal lobe, characterized by finger agnosia, right-left confusion, agraphia, and acalculia
Gerstmann’s Syndrome
Brief episodes of muscle weakness or paralysis triggered by strong emotions, such as laughter, anger, or surprise
Cataplexy
This structure in the limbic system moderates or decreases aggression. Damage to this structure can result in rage.
Septum
Lack of coordination of voluntary movements. Hallmark of cerebellar disease.
Ataxia
Neurotransmitter involved in voluntary movement, memory, and cognition.
Acetylcholine
These long chains of amino acids help to regulate stress and pain.
Peptide neurotransmitters
Endorphins
Endogenous opioids
The master endocrine gland that releases hormones to activate other endocrine glands.
Pituitary gland
One of the first medical disorders to suspect when there are symptoms of anxiety or a manic episode.
Hyperthyroidism
One of the first medical disorders to suspect when there are symptoms of depression.
Hypothyroidism
Broken or choppy speech due to damage in the left frontal lobe.
Broca’s aphasia
The loss of language abilities due to damage in the brain.
Aphasia
Incomprehensible speech, inability to follow verbal commands or repeat phrases, and being unaware of the problem are features of this condition.
Wernicke’s aphasia
Receptive aphasia
Problems recalling words or names, possibly due to damage to the parietal or temporal lobe.
Anomic aphasia
Anomia
Inability to carry out voluntary or purposeful motor movements, even though there are no motor or sensory deficits.
Apraxia
The loss of ability to recognize a specific sensory stimulus, such as objects, sounds, shapes, or smells.
Agnosia
This organ metabolizes drugs and biotransforms anything that comes into it. Gatekeeper to protect the body (poison detector)
Liver
This type of drug stimulates receptors (causes the receptor to do what it’s wired to do)
Agonist
This type of drug binds with receptors like a cork, blocking them from doing their job
Antagonist
What is the mechanism of action for early antipsychotic drugs such as Thorazine and Haldol?
Dopamine 2 antagonist
Theory is that the dopamine 2 receptor is overactive in schizophrenia
A movement disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive, and uncontrollable movements that develop as a side effect of long-term use of antipsychotics (dopamine antagonists).
Tardive dyskinesia
A neurological disorder characterized by severe memory loss (both anterograde and retrograde), and confabulation (making up stories to fill memory gaps).
Korsakoff’s syndrome
Name the brain waves associated with:
1) Wakefulness
2) Relaxed wakefulness
3) Light sleep
4) Deep sleep
1) Beta
2) Alpha
3) Theta
4) Delta
The physiological process by which short-term memories become long-term memories.
Long-term potentiation (LTP)
A learning rule that describes how neuronal activities influence the connection between neurons (i.e., synaptic plasticity). Provides a biological basis for the pairing of stimulus and response in classical conditioning
Hebbian rule
A brain structure in the limbic system that plays a significant role in the influence of reinforcement on behavior where dopamine is central to the reinforcing quality of events.
Nucleus accumbens
The time between injury and drug treatment during which the treatment is still effective.
Therapeutic window
Excess of this neurotransmitter can be a potent neuronal “excitotoxin,” triggering either rapid or delayed death of neurons. This can lead to seizures and stroke-related brain damage, Huntington’s disease, and Alzheimer’s.
Glutamate
