Neuroscience and Consciousness
Neurons Neurons vary in size and shape All are specialized to receive and transmit information
Synapse
The Neural Impulse
Take it to the Web Synapses The Neural Process Online Quiz
Types of Messages Excitatory messages Inhibitory messages
Types of Neurons
The Nervous System Central Nervous System (CNS) Peripheral Nervous System Somatic Nervous System Autonomic Nervous System Sympathetic division Parasympathetic division
The Nervous System and Beyond… Endocrine System Hormones Pituitary gland Adrenal glands Gender effects
Medulla Thalamus Reticular formation Cerebellum Amygdala Hypothalamus Get into small groups and determine how each of the following parts of the brain may be active while driving a car. Keep in mind that some structures might be more active under certain driving conditions, whereas others may be active regardless of conditions. Medulla Thalamus Reticular formation Cerebellum Amygdala Hypothalamus Hippocampus Frontal lobes Parietal lobes Occipital lobes Temporal lobes Motor cortex Sensory cortex
The Brain
Web Information Brain model tutorial
Brainstem Thalamus Medulla
Cerebellum
Substantia Nigra Plays an important role in reward, addiction, and movement
The Limbic System The Limbic System is a doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebrum, associated with emotions such as fear, aggression and drives for food and sex. It includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus. Preview Question 6: What are the functions of limbic system structures?
Amygdala The Amygdala [ah-MIG-dah-la] consists of two lima bean-sized neural clusters linked to the emotions of fear and anger.
Hypothalamus The Hypothalamus lies below (hypo) the thalamus. It directs several maintenance activities like eating, drinking, body temperature, and control of emotions. It helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.
Hippocampus
Neuroplasticity Neurogenesis
The Cerebral Cortex The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres. It is the body’s ultimate control and information processing center.
Lobes
The Motor Cortex is the area at the rear of the frontal lobes that control voluntary movements. Preview Question 8: What are the functions of the cerebral cortex?
Lobes
The Sensory Cortex (parietal cortex) receives information from skin surface and sense organs. Preview Question 8: What are the functions of the cerebral cortex?
Lobes
Lobes
Quiz Lobes of the Brain
Group Activity List the five most essential structures of the brain and the five least essential
The Setting: You are a famous neurosurgeon who specializes in brain damage involving the language system. In each of the following cases, make a “diagnosis” concerning where you believe brain damage has occurred. Case 1: A 56-year-old female has suffered a recent stroke. She speaks in a curious manner resembling fluent English but the phrases make no sense. You find that she comprehends your verbal or written instructions perfectly and can even write them down, but cannot repeat them verbally. You quickly diagnose the problem as a lesion in the _____________.
Case 2: A mother brings her 7-year-old son to you because he is having serious problems in learning to read. At age 5 his corpus callosum was sectioned to prevent epileptic seizures. She points out that he is a very intelligent child and she cannot understand why reading is so difficult for him. You explain that his reading difficulties are probably related to the fact that _________. Case 3: An intelligent businessman comes to you and explains rather agitatedly that he awakened yesterday morning to find, much to his dismay, that he could no longer read. Your tests determine the following: a) He is totally blind in the right visual field. b) He speaks fluently and comprehends speech. c) He can write with his right hand but cannot read what he has written. d) He can copy written words but only with his left hand. You turn to your puzzled assistant and remark that this is indeed a tough one, but you are willing to bet that you will find brain damage in at least two areas, which are _______________ and __________________.
Methods of Studying the Brain p. 35 http://www.bic.mni.mcgill.ca/
Consciousness An organism’s awareness of itself and surroundings Not all-or-none; rather, more on a continuum
Attention Selective Attention
Dichotic Listening Technique
Attention Selective Attention Cocktail-Party Effect
Attention Selective Attention Cocktail-Party Effect Automaticity Divided attention task
Sleep Brain processes external information Brain processes internal information Body remains active In general, can be easily awakened
Stages of Sleep Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stages of sleep
Sleep Deprivation REM deprivation Delta deprivation
Why do we sleep? Restorative/recuperative therapy (sleep protects) Evolutionary/Circadian theory (sleep helps us recover) Sleep helps us remember Sleep may play a role in the growth process
Sleep Disturbances Parasomnias Nightmares Night Terrors Sleepwalking Sleeptalking Insomnia Sleep Apnea Narcolepsy
Nature and Function of Dreams Psychodynamic view Freud Wish fulfillment Unconscious Manifest content Latent content
Nature and Function of Dreams Information Processing Dreams of absent-minded transgression DAMIT Physiological/Biological View Activation-synthesis hypothesis Cognitive View
The Brain and Sleep REM pons/acetylcholine Initiation/duration serotonin Wakefulness/arousal norepinephrine, dopamine