Chapter 12 Flashcards
activating effects
Effects that increase the activity level or responsiveness of a system or organ.
Example: Caffeine has activating effects on the central nervous system.
amygdala
A region of the brain involved in processing emotions, especially fear and aggression.
androgens
A group of hormones, including testosterone, that are typically associated with male characteristics.
anorexia nervosa
An eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image.
aphagia
The inability or refusal to eat.
emotion
A complex psychological state involving a subjective experience, physiological arousal, and behavioral expressions.
evolutionary psychology
A theoretical approach that seeks to explain mental and psychological traits as adaptations that have evolved over time.
gender identity
An individual’s personal sense of their own gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth.
hippocampus
A region of the brain involved in memory formation and spatial navigation.
homeostatic mechanism
Processes that regulate the internal environment of the body to maintain a stable, constant condition.
hyperphagia
Excessive or extreme hunger, leading to overeating.
hypovolemic thirst
Thirst triggered by a decrease in blood volume or pressure.
innate releasing mechanism (IRM)
A neural program that triggers a specific behavior in response to a particular stimulus.
Klüver–Bucy syndrome
A neurological disorder characterized by changes in behavior, including hypersexuality and oral tendencies, due to damage to the temporal lobes.
learned taste aversion
A conditioned response in which an individual avoids a certain food or drink after associating it with negative consequences.
medial forebrain bundle (MFB)
A pathway in the brain that is involved in reward and motivation.
motivation
The processes that initiate, direct, and sustain goal-directed behavior.
nonregulatory behavior
Behaviors that are not directly related to maintaining homeostasis or survival needs.
obesity
A medical condition characterized by excess body fat that can have negative effects on health.
orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)
A region of the brain involved in decision-making, impulse control, and emotional processing.
organizing effects
Long-lasting effects of hormones that occur during critical periods of development and permanently influence behavior and anatomy.
osmotic thirst
Thirst triggered by a high concentration of solutes in the blood, leading to cellular dehydration.
pheromone
Chemical signals released by an organism to communicate with others of the same species.
pituitary gland
An endocrine gland located at the base of the brain that regulates various bodily functions and secretes hormones.
preparedness
The idea that humans are biologically predisposed to fear certain stimuli that were threats to our ancestors.
psychosurgery
Surgical procedures that target specific areas of the brain to treat mental disorders.
regulatory behavior
Behaviors that are necessary to maintain homeostasis and satisfy basic physiological needs.
reinforcer
A stimulus that follows a behavior and increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.
releasing hormone
Hormones produced by the hypothalamus that stimulate the release of other hormones from the pituitary gland.
sexual dimorphism
Differences in physical characteristics between males and females of the same species.
sexual orientation
An individual’s enduring emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to others.
transgender
An umbrella term for people whose gender identity or expression differs from the sex assigned to them at birth.
Pyriform
The function of the piriform cortex is related to sense of smell.
Orbital frontal cortex OFC
Involved in cognitive processing and decision making.
