Introduction to Neuroscience Donald Allen, Ph.D. January 7, 2016

History of Neuroscience Relatively new field Most of our ideas initially developed in the late 18 th century Very technology driven field –Advances have been dependent on the ability to see or measure what happens in the nervous system

Several Main Ideas Each part has it’s own function Complex activities require different parts of the nervous system How are the cells put together in the nervous system How are they all connected

Broca Paul Broca French neurologist

Broca’s Area

Wernicke Karl Wernicke German Neurologist Speech reception

Phrenology

Wilder Penfield 1950’s At one time “the greatest living Canadian” Neurosurgery =Nu-PzIN0pFs

John Hughlings Jackson Multiple brain areas are essential for complex functions –Perception –Action –Language

Phineas Gage

Santiago Ramon y Cajal Spanish Neurologist Used Golgi stain which selectively shows only a small number of neurons in the brain Brain composed of individual neurons, not a continuous network of neurons

Charles Sherrington English physiologist Nerve cells linked by specific connections called synapses

Advances in technology 1950’s Electron microscope –Examine components of individual cells, including synapses Microelectrodes –Examine electrical activity of individual neurons

Modern imaging techniques Allow visualization of brain in a living person Can provide information about physiological and pathological condition of nervous system

Computerized Axial Tomography X-Ray of brain Analyzed by computer Generates an image based on the density of the tissue

AIDS patient Toxoplasma encephalitis Inflammatory leson

Positron Emission Tomography Inject radioactive tracer into blood Radioactive signal is measured Signal proportional to blood flow, and index of local neural activity

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Looks at effect of magnetic field on atoms Produces a 3-D image of brain Can also provide activity information about activity-related blood flow