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Psychology & Behavioral Science

Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience

85 lessons · 750 glossary terms — Covers Structure and Function of the Nervous System: Cells and Anatomy, Neurophysiology and Basic Neurochemistry, and 16 more chapters.

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Structure and Function of the Nervous System: Cells and Anatomy5 lessons

Chapter page

  1. Building a Nervous System
  2. Organization of the Nervous System
  3. The Central Nervous System: CNS
  4. The Brain: Structure and Function
  5. The Peripheral Nervous System: PNS

Neurophysiology5 lessons

Chapter page

  1. Neural Communication
  2. Neural Circuits
  3. Principles of Bioelectricity
  4. Mechanisms of Neural Signaling
  5. Our Deep but Still Incomplete Understanding of Neural Signaling

Basic Neurochemistry3 lessons

Chapter page

  1. General Neurochemistry Principles
  2. Neurotransmitters Made from Amino Acids
  3. Neurotransmitters Made from Fats

Comparative Neuroscience6 lessons

Chapter page

  1. How Do We Choose a Model System?
  2. How Do We Compare Brains?
  3. How Do Brains Vary in Size?
  4. How Do Connections Differ Across Species?
  5. How Can Diverse Species Help Us Make Inferences about Human Neurobiology?
  6. How Can Brain Organoids Help Us Make Inferences about Brain Evolution?

Neurodevelopment4 lessons

Chapter page

  1. Gastrulation and Formation of the Neural Tube (Neurulation)
  2. Growth and Development of the Early Brain
  3. Synapse Formation and Maturation
  4. Experience Dependent Plasticity

Vision6 lessons

Chapter page

  1. An Overview of the Visual System
  2. The Retina
  3. Visual Processing Begins in Bipolar, Horizontal, Amacrine and Ganglion Cells
  4. The Thalamus and Primary Visual Cortex
  5. Extrastriate Cortex
  6. Unsolved Questions in Visual Perception

Hearing and Balance4 lessons

Chapter page

  1. Acoustic Cues and Signals
  2. How Does Acoustic Information Enter the Brain?
  3. How Does the Brain Process Acoustic Information?
  4. Balance: A Sense of Where You Are

The Chemical Senses5 lessons

Chapter page

  1. The Chemical Senses are Several Distinct Sensory Systems
  2. The Gustatory System
  3. The Olfactory System
  4. Chemethesis, Spices, and Solitary Chemosensory Cells
  5. Influences That Shape Perception of Smell and Flavor

Touch and Pain4 lessons

Chapter page

  1. Somatosensory Receptors
  2. Somatosensation in the Central Nervous System
  3. Pain and Itch
  4. Pain Relief

Motor Control3 lessons

Chapter page

  1. The Physiological Actions Implementing Movement – Contraction of Muscles
  2. Eliciting Contractions from Lower Levels – Lower Motoneurons and Reflex Arcs
  3. Our Brain Gets Involved – Responsibilities of Upper Motor Systems

Sexual Behavior and Development4 lessons

Chapter page

  1. Understanding Sexual Reproduction and Sexual Dimorphism
  2. Mechanisms of Sexual Determination and Differentiation
  3. Sex Differences in Brain and Behavior: Genetic, Hormonal, and Environmental Mechanisms
  4. Sex Differences in Brain Circuits and Susceptibility to Psychiatric Disease

Stress4 lessons

Chapter page

  1. What Is Stress?
  2. Neural Mechanisms and Circuitry of the Stress Response
  3. Interindividual Variability and Resilience in Response to Stress
  4. Clinical Implications of Stress

Emotion and Mood4 lessons

Chapter page

  1. Foundational and Contemporary Theories of Emotion
  2. What Category of Feelings Are Considered as the “Basic Emotions”?
  3. What Is the Contribution of Brain Structures in Emotional States?
  4. Mood and Emotional Disorders Associated with Depression

Psychopharmacology4 lessons

Chapter page

  1. Basic Principles of Pharmacology
  2. Psychotherapeutics
  3. Neural Circuitry of Drug Reward
  4. Neurobiology of Addiction

Biological Rhythms and Sleep5 lessons

Chapter page

  1. What Are Circadian Rhythms?
  2. Where Are Rhythms in the Brain?
  3. Regulation of Sleep
  4. Disorders of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
  5. Circadian Rhythms and Society

Homeostasis5 lessons

Chapter page

  1. Principles of Homeostasis
  2. Neural Control of Blood Oxygenation Levels
  3. Neural Control of Core Body Temperature
  4. Neural Control of Feeding Behavior
  5. Neural Control of Drinking Behavior

Neuroimmunology4 lessons

Chapter page

  1. Cells and Messengers of the Immune System
  2. What Does Your Immune System Have to Do with Your Behavior?
  3. How Does the Brain Talk to the Immune System?
  4. What Do Immune System Signals Do Once They Reach the Brain?

Learning and Memory4 lessons

Chapter page

  1. Memory is Classified Based on Time Course and Type of Information Stored
  2. Implicit Memories: Associative vs. Nonassociative Learning
  3. Explicit Memories: Episodic and Semantic Memories
  4. Synaptic Mechanisms of Long-Term Memory

Attention and Executive Function6 lessons

Chapter page

  1. What are the Different Psychological Processes Associated with Attention?
  2. How is Attention Implemented in the Brain?
  3. What Happens to Unattended Information?
  4. What is the Relationship between Attention and Eye Movements?
  5. How Do Clinical Disorders Affect Attentional Function?
  6. How Do We Use Executive Functions to Make Decisions and Achieve Goals?