I Spy
Hormones
Synaptic Spaghetti
Neurotransmitters and Cell Biology
Potpourri
100

The "almonds" of the brain (blue).


Amygdala

(Fear center, initiates fight-or-flight response.)

100

Name three somatic symptoms of anxiety

1. Tachycardia

2. Sweating

3. Restlessness

4. Shortness of breath

5. Light headedness

6. Muscle tension

100

This is considered the "waystation" the brain, involved in filtering, processing, and distributing all sensory information to the cortex

Thalamus

100

This receptor, when stimulated, often confers anxiolytic and sedating effects

GABA

100

This brain region is involved in "rational reappraisal." (Also, what is rational reappraisal?)

1. Prefrontal cortrex

2. Reappraising a difficult situation into more favorable terms

200

The "horse sea monster" of the brain.

Hippocampus

(Involved in encoding emotional memories. Small hippo? Higher risk of PTSD, perhaps.)

200

Persistently elevated levels of this hormone are observed in individuals who are "high responders" to repetitive, stressful situations (e.g., public speaking)

Cortisol

200

This specific brain region is commonly considered the "brakes" to amygdala activation

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)

200

This area of the brain contains cell bodies that produce norepinephrine

Locus Coeruleus (Pons)

200

Symptoms of this anxiety disorder are common in individuals diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome and Parkinson's disease

OCD

300

This brain structure is involved in emotional processing (anterior) and interoception (posterior).


Insula

300

This hormone was observed as decreased initially when subjects were monitored during parachute jumping

Testosterone (also accept gonadotropins)

300

"Hedonic Hotspot" is the alliterative term for this region in the brain involved in reward, motivation, and pleasure

Nucleus Accumbens

300

This chemical can alter the structure and function of neural networks. It is implicated in fear memory formation and fear extinction.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

300

Kluver-Bucy syndrome, which can be caused by herpes encephalitis, leads to these three primary symptoms

1. Hyperorality

2. Hypersexuality

3. Passivity

(Will also accept visual agnosia)

400

Patients with treatment resistant OCD may consider surgical resection of this brain region.


Anterior cingulate gyrus.

400

Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) is released from this nucleus in the hypothalamus.

Paraventricular nucleus

400

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) attempts to disrupt this circuit, implicated in OCD

The cortico-striatal-thalamic-cortical circuit

400

Caffeine primarily antagonizes this receptor to enact its effects, which can include a feeling of anxiousness

Adenosine

400

TMS focuses on this area of the brain when treating OCD

Supplementary Motor Area

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