Terms
Improve Mental Health and Mental Illness
Abnormal – Something that is not usual, different from what is normal.
Aerobic Exercise – Moving large muscle groups (legs, core, etc.) for extended periods of time to increase oxygen intake.
Amygdala – Two almond-shaped organs located in the brain, near the hippocampus and the hypothalamus, that are involved in emotions.
Antidepressants –Medications used to treat mood disorders, pain, and addiction.
Antipsychotics –Medication that helps reduce symptoms of psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia.
Anxiety – Feeling of unease and distress that can lead to varying disorders. Often caused by fear and stress.
Audio Frequency – Repeating vibration that is audible to the human ear.
Biochemical – Chemicals produced within a living organism.
Benzodiazepines – A psychoactive drug that induces sleep and provides relief to anxiety.
Beta-Blockers – Medications that lower blood pressure by decreasing heart contractions.
Cardiac Arrest – Loss of heart function caused by heart disease.
Cognition – The mental process of knowing, including perception and reasoning.
Deficiency – The lack of a substance.
Depression – Common mood disorder where people feel distressed and extreme sadness. Causes vary by person, but stress and chemical imbalance within the body increase risk.
Dementia – General term for impaired ability to remember and decision-making; an example is Alzheimer’s disease. Poor health and aging increase the risk for dementia.
Empathy – The ability to sympathize and understand another’s feelings.
Endorphins – Natural pain relievers produced by the central nervous system and pituitary gland.
Fatality – Referring to death caused by an event.
Fatigue – The feeling of tiredness.
Genetics – The study of hereditary, includes DNA molecules that provide variance between organisms.
Gray Matter – Matter composed of neuronal cells and unmyelinated axons which process information in the brain.
Heart palpitations – The feeling of pounding or a fluttering heart.
Insecurity – The lack of confidence and assurance.
Insomnia – Common sleep disorder where you have trouble sleeping. Often caused by stress or changes in schedule or environment.
Irritability – The state of being more sensitive to stimuli. A feeling of agitation.
Mass – Amount of matter in an object.
Matter – Any substance or object that takes up space.
Melatonin – Natural hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain that controls your sleep cycle.
Migraines – Type of headache that causes pulsing pain. Causes vary by person, but most commonly caused by stress, strong smells, and skipped meals.
Myelin Sheath – A lipid-rich substance that surrounds nerve cell axons to speed up impulses and to provide insulation
Neurotransmitters – Chemical messengers in the body that help control body functions: digestion, mood, and muscle movement.
Pessimistic – Attitude or mindset where you expect the worst and are not hopeful.
Phobia – Type of anxiety disorder where you have a deep fear of objects or situations.
Psychological – Referring to the mind or one’s emotions.
Remorse – The feeling of guilt or regret from one’s actions.
Serotonin – Neurotransmitter that helps mood and promotes healthy digestion.
Social Network – A web of connections between a person and all their friends, family, and other contacts.
Thyroid – A gland in the neck that releases hormones within the body.
White Matter – Deep tissue in the brain that contains nerve cells covered in myelin allows to process and send information faster.
Parts of the Brain
Frontal lobe — Most anterior section of the cerebrum whose primary role is in cognitive functions.
Involuntary — An action that requires no consciousness, occurs autonomously.
Medulla — Inferior to the pons and anterior to the cerebellum whose function is to the serve as a conduit for nerves. controlling reflexes, and involuntary body actions.
Occipital lobe — Most posterior section of the cerebrum whose primary role is in visual perception and mapping.
Parietal lobe — Most superior area to the cerebrum whose primary role is in sensory perception.
Pons — Superior to the medulla which connects to the cerebellum and the cerebrum.
Temporal lobe — Inferior to the parietal lobe whose primary role is speech production and auditory perception.
Anatomical Terms
Anterior — Refers to the area in front of a body part.
Inferior — Refers to the area under or below another body part.
Posterior — Refers to the area behind a body part
Superior — Refers to the area above another body part.
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