General Psychology

Scripture Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Happy are the meek - They that hold all their passions and affections evenly balanced. They shall inherit the earth - They shall have all things really necessary for life and godliness.

The Endocrine System The Endocrine System is the body’s “slow” chemical communication system. Communication is carried out by hormones synthesized by a set of glands. Hormones act on neurons and tissues.

Hormones Hormones are chemicals synthesized by the endocrine glands that are secreted in the bloodstream. Hormones affect the brain and many other tissues of the body. Nervous system is like and the endocrine is like snail mail. It is slower but lasts longer. Feelings of excitement last after event is over. For example, epinephrine (adrenaline) increases heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, and feelings of excitement during emergency situations.

Pituitary Gland Is called the “master gland.” The anterior pituitary lobe releases hormones that regulate other glands. The posterior lobe regulates water and salt balance.

Adrenal Glands Adrenal glands consist of the adrenal medulla and the cortex. The medulla secretes hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) during stressful and emotional situations, while the adrenal cortex regulates salt and carbohydrate metabolism.

“He was no longer Gage…” Before – efficient foreman – well-balanced mind – shrewd smart business man After – Fitful – Irreverent, and grossly profane – Little deference for his fellows – Impatient and obstinate, yet capricious and vacillating – Poor planning

There is a Phineas Gage display in the Warren Medical Museum at Harvard University This is what went through his brain…

Normal Child Institutionalized Romanian Orphan Images of Brain Activity Dark tones show brain areas such as the temporal lobes, which oversee emotion among other functions, are practically inactive in the Romanian child compared to the healthy child.

The Brain Techniques to Study the Brain A brain lesion experimentally destroys brain tissue to study animal behaviors after such destruction. Hubel (1990)

Clinical Observation Clinical observations have shed light on a number of brain disorders. Alterations in brain morphology due to neurological and psychiatric diseases are now being catalogued. Tom Landers/ Boston Globe

Electroencephalogram (EEG) An amplified recording of the electrical waves sweeping across the brain’s surface, measured by electrodes placed on the scalp. AJ Photo/ Photo Researchers, Inc.

PET Scan PET (positron emission tomography) Scan is a visual display of brain activity that detects a radioactive form of glucose while the brain performs a given task. Courtesy of National Brookhaven National Laboratories

MRI Scan MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer- generated images that distinguish among different types of brain tissue. Top images show ventricular enlargement in a schizophrenic patient. Bottom image shows brain regions when a participants lies. Both photos from Daniel Weinberger, M.D., CBDB, NIMH James Salzano/ Salzano PhotoLucy Reading/ Lucy Illustrations

The Brain: The Brainstem begins where the spinal cord swells and enters the skull. It is responsible for automatic survival functions.

Brainstem The Medulla [muh- DUL-uh] is the base of the brainstem that controls heartbeat and breathing.

Brainstem The Thalamus [THAL-uh- muss] is the brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem. It directs messages to the sensory areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla. This is London to England’s trains…a hub through which traffic passes en route to various destinations.

Brainstem Reticular Formation is a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.

The “little brain” attached to the rear of the brainstem. It helps coordinate voluntary movements and balance. Cerebellum

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. The Limbic System

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.

Rats cross an electrified grid for self-stimulation when electrodes are placed in the reward (hypothalamus) center (top picture). When the limbic system is manipulated, a rat will navigate fields or climb up a tree (bottom picture). Reward Center Sanjiv Talwar, SUNY Downstate

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.

Caution One should be wary of using pictures of brain “hot spots” to create a new phrenology that locates complex functions in precise brain areas (Uttal, 2001). Mental functions don’t reside in any one place. Memory, language, and attention result from the synchronized activity among distinct brain areas (Knight, 2007).

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What Do You See ?

THE END……DNE EHT