The Central Nervous System Chapter 3 Biological Basis of behavior

The Central Nervous System The CNS receives sensory information and controls the body’s response. The CNS has two parts: the brain and the spinal cord

The Brain The brain weighs about 3 pounds. It has 3 main sections: the forebrain, the midbrain, and the hindbrain.

The Forebrain Largest part of the brain Consists of the CEREBRUM and other structures Responsible for intelligence, memory, personality, emotion Contains LOBES Frontal Lobe – higher thinking, voluntary movements, language Parietal Lobe – sensory information Temporal Lobe – hearing, memory Occipital Lobe – visual processes Has left and right Hemispheres The left side is logical and analytical The right is intuitive, creative, and subjective

The Midbrain The midbrain sits just above the brain stem. It is associated with vision, hearing, movement, being asleep/awake, arousal, and temperature regulation.

The Hindbrain The hindbrain consists of the cerebellum, pons, and medulla. It controls balance, movement, and coordination. The pons and medulla are also called the brain stem and they control automatic functions like breathing , heart rate, blood pressure, etc.

Psychological Problems Mental Illnesses: Could be due to structural or chemical problems Genetics Alcohol or other drug abuse Head injuries: Repeated concussions can lead to permanent brain injury

Methods of Studying the Brain - Experiments Brain injuries and accidents can show changes in behavior and mental processes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y XbAMHzYGJ0

Methods of Studying the Brain - Experiments Experiments with animals have shown that damaging one part of the hypothalamus causes rats to overeat. Damaging another part of the hypothalamus causes them to stop eating.

Methods of Studying the Brain - Experiments Because the brain has no receptors for pain, surgeons have been able to stimulate parts of the brain with electrical probes. It is called deep brain stimulation. Helps patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Methods of Recording – Electroencephalograph (EEG) Used to detect natural electrical activity of the brain (brain waves) Certain brain waves are associated with relaxation, stages of sleep, and neurological problems

Brain Imaging – CAT Scan/CT Scan Computerized Axial Technology X-rays pass through the head and give a 3D image of the shape and structure of the skull

Brain Imaging – PET Scan Positron Emission Tomography Uses a radioactive dye that shows diseases such as cancer

Brain Imaging - MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging Uses a magnetic field and radio waves to make pictures