Neuroscience & Brain Function Flashcards
Neurotransmitters
Brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine that influence mood and behavior.
Amygdala
The part of the brain involved in fear and emotion.
Prefrontal cortex
The brain region responsible for decision-making and impulse control.
Neuroplasticity
The brain’s ability to reorganize and adapt over time.
Endorphins
Chemicals released during exercise that improve mood.
Acetylcholine
A neurotransmitter involved in memory, associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Basal ganglia
Brain structures involved in movement and decision-making, implicated in OCD and Parkinson’s.
Cortisol
A hormone released during stress, linked to anxiety and depression.
Dopamine
A neurotransmitter involved in motivation and pleasure; imbalances are linked to schizophrenia and Parkinson’s.
Glutamate
The brain’s primary excitatory neurotransmitter, involved in learning and memory.
Hippocampus
Brain region responsible for memory formation; affected in PTSD and Alzheimer’s.
Limbic system
Brain structures involved in emotions, motivation, and memory.
Myelin sheath
Fatty layer around neurons that speeds up signal transmission, damaged in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Neurogenesis
The process of new neurons being formed in the brain
Oxytocin
A hormone linked to bonding and trust, sometimes called the “love hormone.”
Serotonin
A neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation, associated with depression and anxiety.
