Brain Anatomy
This part of the brain is responsible for decision-making, planning, impulse control, and problem-solving.
Pre-frontal cortex
This brain system helps you wake up in the morning and stay alert throughout the day.
Reticular Activating System
This system releases neurotransmitters when engaging in pleasurable or motivating activities.
Reward system
This branch of the nervous system helps you feel safe, connected, and social.
Ventral vagal system
This system is also known as "fight or flight."
Sympathetic
This part of the brain is responsible for controlling emotions and fear.
Amygala
When the RAS is underactive, a person may feel...
Groggy, unfocused, inattentive
This is the main chemical messenger involved in reward and reinforcement.
Dopamine
The following are symptoms of vagus nerve dysfunction.
Dizziness, change in heart rate or blood pressure
This system helps the body slow down and recover.
Parasympathetic
This part of the brain is involved in both long-term and short-term memory.
Hippocampus
Danielle walks into a crowded room, and the RAS helps her tune out the background noise. This is called...
Filtering
The use of substances activates this reward system, leading to...
Repeated behaviors
Chronic alcohol exposure causes ____ to vagus pathways.
An active sympathetic NS may cause these symptoms:
Rapid heart rate, sweating, increased alertness
This part of the brain controls basic life functions, like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Brainstem
Meditation, deep breathing, and grounding can calm an overactive RAS by reducing this response.
Stress/Hyperarousal response
When Ben hears the sound of a can opening, he instantly wants a beer due to his drinking history. What type of learning is this?
Conditioning/Associative learning
Smiling, maintaining eye contact, and having relaxed facial muscles are all part of this system.
Social engagement system
This action happens to the pupil when our "fight or flight" is activated.
Dilation
This is located deep in the brain and helps regulate emotional responses, memory, motivation, and survival behaviors.
The awake and alert cycle is controlled by the cortex and this structure.
Thalamus
Long-term substance use may cause the reward system to be less sensitive, making everyday activities feel dull.
Dopamine deficiency
Name some ways to stimulate the vagus nerve.
Breathing, meditation, exercise
The PS and S systems are part of this broader system, where we don't have to think about automatic body functions.
Autonomic nervous system