Major Structures of the Forebrain
“Limbic” System Memory and Hippocampus Hypothalamus and Amygdala Saul Kassin, Psychology. Copyright © 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Reprinted by permission.
Hippocampus Involved in other forms of learning smaller in depressed patients adult neurogenesis exercise-induced neurogenesis
Hippocampus Morris Water Maze
Water Maze Results Return to Limbic
Hypothalamus 4 Fs (fight, fleeing, feeding,…) Suprachiasmatic nucleus (biological clock) 24 hour process reset by light linked to homosexuality/bisexuality in males (much larger) Portal to the pituitary “master” gland CRH, corticotropic releasing hormone ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone Adrenals, cortisol
LeDoux
High Road
Substantia Nigra Hindbrain
Parkinson’s Disease
Treatments Levodopa (diminishing effects over time)
Treatments Thalamotomy
Treatments Deep Electrical Brain Stimulation
More Midbrain Superior colliculus-visual switchboard eye movements Inferior colliculus-auditory switchboard Return
Cerebellum Little Brain (motor programs) Punch Drunk Alcoholism
Medulla and Reticular Formation heart rate, breathing, blood pressure Reticular Formation arousal
Cerveau isolaté (comatose) Encephale isolaté (normal cycles) Midpontine (always awake)
Small Molecule Neurotransmitters
Other Classes of Neurotransmitters
Methods: Human Brain See table 2.1 in 3/e text, p.58
EEG Electroencephalogram Technique: Multiple electrodes are pasted to outside of head. What it shows: A single line that charts the summated electrical fields resulting from the activity of billions of neurons.
EEG
EEG (cont’d) Advantages Disadvantages Detects very rapid changes in electrical activity. Disadvantages Very poor localization of the source of electrical activity.
PET Positron Emission Tomography Technique: Active areas take up radioactive substances. What it shows: What brain areas are most active during a specified period of time (e.g., 30 seconds).
PET
PET (cont’d) Advantages Disadvantages Allows brain in action studies (functional). Provides visual image corresponding to anatomy. Disadvantages Exposure to low levels of radioactivity. Better localization than EEG, but poorer than that of MRI. Cannot follow rapid changes (faster than 30 seconds).
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technique: Exposes the brain to magnetic field and measures radio frequency waves. What it shows: MRI high resolution image of brain anatomy fMRI shows changes in blood flow over time. DTI shows water flow in neural fibers. Magnetic Resonance Imaging © Dan McCoy
Advantages of MRI Disadvantages Provides a lovely photograph-like picture. fMRI gives an “action shot” Disadvantages fMRI “action shot” is the world’s slowest video camera
The Endocrine System: Coordinating the Internal World How can my hormones help me in a crisis?
Some Major Glands of the Endocrine System