16 terms
Glossary
- Action potential
- A rapid electrical impulse that travels down a neuron's axon when it fires. It is the electrochemical signal neurons use to communicate across the nervous system.
- Allostatic load
- The cumulative physical wear and tear on the body and brain caused by repeated or chronic activation of the stress response system over time.
- Amygdala
- An almond-shaped structure deep in the brain that processes emotions like fear and anger, quickly signaling a threat response before conscious reasoning kicks in.
- Chronic stress
- A prolonged, ongoing state of physical and emotional activation that occurs when stressors persist over weeks or months without relief, rather than short-term spikes.
- Cortisol
- A primary glucocorticoid hormone released by the adrenal glands during stress. It mobilizes energy quickly, though sustained high levels can impact health and brain function.
- Health equity
- The principle that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their optimal health, achieved by addressing systemic barriers and disparities.
- Hippocampus
- A seahorse-shaped brain structure in the temporal lobe that plays a central role in converting short-term experiences into long-term declarative memories.
- HPA axis
- The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which is the primary neuroendocrine system controlling the body's reaction to stress through hormonal signaling.
- Inflammation
- The immune system's biological response to injury, infection, or chronic stress. While essential for healing, prolonged systemic inflammation can negatively affect physical and mental health.
- Neuron
- An electrically excitable cell that forms the core component of the nervous system, receiving, processing, and transmitting information via electrical and chemical signals.
- Neuroplasticity
- The brain's capacity to structurally and functionally reorganize itself by forming new neural connections in response to learning, experience, or injury.
- Prefrontal cortex
- The region at the very front of the frontal lobe responsible for executive functions like working memory, impulse control, long-term planning, and decision-making.
- Social determinants of health
- Non-biological factors, such as economic stability, neighborhood environment, education, and community support, that significantly influence health outcomes.
- Synapse
- The specialized junction between two neurons where neurotransmitters are released across a microscopic gap to pass chemical signals from one cell to the next.
- Threshold
- The critical minimum level of depolarization required for a neuron to fire an action potential and pass a signal along.
- Working memory
- A cognitive system responsible for temporarily holding, updating, and manipulating limited amounts of information in mind over short intervals.