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The Physical Basis of Behavior
Perceived social isolation or connectedness can produce changes in the cells of our immune system.
Human brains weigh about 3 pounds and contain approximately 100 billion neurons.
Not only does biology influence behaviors, but behavior affects biology.
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Pons
A part of the brainstem located between the medulla and the midbrain.
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Cerebellum
A structure attached to the brainstem that participates in skilled movements, and in humans complex cognitive processing.
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Midbrain
The part of the brainstem that lies between pons and the cerebral hemisphere.
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Reticular formation
A collection of structures located along the midline of the brainstem that participates in mood, arousal, and sleep.
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Thalamus
A subcortical structure involved with processing of sensory information, states of arousal, learning and memory.
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Basal ganglia
A collection of subcortical structures that participate in the control of movement.
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Hippocampus
A subcortical structure that participates in memory.
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Cingulate cortex
A subcortical structure above the corpus callosum. It`s anterior (forward) segment participates in decision making and emotion and its posterior (rear) segment participates in memory and visual processing.
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Nucleus accumbens
A subcortical structure that participates in reward and addiction.
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Corpus callosum
A wide band of nerve fibers connecting the right and the left cerebral hemispheres.
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Cerebral cortex
The thin layer of neurons covering the outer surface of the cerebral hemisphere.
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Frontal lobe
The most forward of the four lobes of the cerebral cortex: location of the primary motor cortex and areas responsible for some of the most complex cognitive process.
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Partial lobe
The lobe of the cerebral cortex that lies at the top off the head between the frontal and the occipital lobes; location of the primary somatosensory cortex.
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Occipital lobe
The lobe of the cerebral cortex located at the back of the brain; location of the primary visual cortex.
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Temporal lobe
The lobe of the cerebral cortex that curves around the side of each hemisphere; location of the primary auditory cortex.
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Prefrontal cortex
The most forward part of the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex.
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Orbitofrontal cortex
A part of the prefrontal cortex located right behind the eyes that participates in impulse control.
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Somatic nervous system
The part of the peripheral nervous system that brings sensory information to the central nervous system and transmits commands to the muscles.
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Autonomic nervous system
The division of the peripheral nervous system that directs that activity of glands, organs, and smooth muscles.
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parasympathic nervous system
The part of the autonomic nervous system associated with rest, repair, and energy storage.
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Enteric nervous system
A division of the autonomic nervous system consisting of nerve cells embedded in the lining of the gastrointestinal system.
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Endocrine system
A system responsible for the release of hormones into the bloodstream.
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Neuron
A cell of the nervous system that is specialized for sending and receiving neural messages.
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cell body
The large, central mass of a neuron, containing the nucleus.
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Axon
The branch of a neuron that is usually responsible for transmitting information to other neurons.
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dendrite
A branch from the neural cell body that usually receives input from other neurons.
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myelin
The insulating material covering some axons.
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action potential
The electrical signals arising in a neurons axon.
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resting potential
The measure of the electrical charge across a neural membrane when the neuron is not processing information.
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synapse
A point of communication between two neurons.
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neurotransmitters
A chemical messenger that communicates across a synapse.
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receptor
A special channel in the membrane of a neuron that interacts with neurotransmitters released by other neurons.
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reuptake
A process in which molecules of neurotransmitters in the synaptic gap are returned to the axon terminal from which they were released.
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