The Brain Every time you move a muscle & every time you think a thought, your nerve cells are hard at work. They are processing information: receiving signals, deciding what to do with them, & dispatching new messages off to their neighbors. Some nerve cells communicate directly with muscle cells, sending them the signal to contract. Other nerve cells are involved solely in the bureaucracy of information, spending their lives communicating only with other nerve cells. But unlike our human bureaucracies, this processing of information must be fast in order to keep up with the ever-changing demands of life. 2005-2006

Brain coordinating centre of the NS enclosed within the skull surrounded by meninges – form a blood-brain barrier

Cerebrospinal Fluid Meninges shock absorber carries nutrients to brain cells provides a connection between neural and endocrine systems Meninges protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord

Meningitis caused by a bacterial or viral infection of the outer membranes of the brain symptoms – fever, vomiting, intense headache, stiff neck if left untreated bacterial meningitis can lead to death

Human brain 2005-2006

Brainstem The “lower brain” Functions medulla oblongata pons cerebellum Functions homeostasis coordination of movement conduction of impulses to higher brain centers

Brainstem Controls autonomic homeostatic functions breathing heart & blood vessel activity swallowing vomiting digestion Relays information to & from higher brain centers

Midbrain Involved in the integration of sensory information regulation of visual reflexes regulation of auditory reflexes

Cerebrum Most highly evolved structure of mammalian brain Cerebrum divided hemispheres left = right side of body right = left side of body Corpus callosum major connection between 2 hemispheres 2005-2006

Lateralization of Brain Function Left hemisphere language, math, logic operations, processing of serial sequences of information, visual & auditory details detailed activities required for motor control Right hemisphere pattern recognition, spatial relationships, non-verbal ideation, emotional processing, parallel processing of information 2005-2006

Lateralization of Brain Function httpwww.ximnet.com.mythelabimagesuploadFF_70_brain1_f.jpg

Cerebrum specialization Regions of the cerebrum are specialized for different functions Lobes frontal temporal occipital parietal 2005-2006

Cerebrum specialization Frontal Lobe walking, talking - voluntary muscles (motor neuron) personality & intellect (association neurons) 2005-2006

Cerebrum specialization Temporal Lobe vision & hearing (sensory neurons) memory & Interpretation of sensory information(association neurons) 2005-2006

Cerebrum specialization Parietal Lobe touch & temperature (sensory neurons) emotions & interpreting speech (association neurons) 2005-2006

Cerebrum specialization Occipital Lobe vision (sensory neurons) interpreting visuals (association neurons) 2005-2006

Limbic system Mediates basic emotions (fear, anger), involved in emotional bonding, establishes emotional memory Amygdala involved in recognizing emotional content of facial expression 2005-2006

Any Questions??

Evolutionary older structures Evolutionary older structures of the brain regulate essential autonomic & integrative functions brainstem pons medulla oblongata midbrain cerebellum thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus

Reticular Formation Sleep & wakefulness produces patterns of electrical activity in the brain recorded as an electroencephalogram (EEG) most dreaming during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep 2005-2006