1. “The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the minute you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get to school.”
The BRAIN

2. Neuron

3. Neuron

4. Neuron

5. Neurotransmitters Chemical messengers that are produced by neurons,
cross the synaptic gap and communicate information
to the next neuron.
Important Neurotransmitters
Ach – Acetylcholine
Dopamine
Serotonin
Norepinephrine
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric-acid)
Endorphins

6. Neurotransmitters
ACh – Acetylcholine (Excitatory) : Stimulates muscles to contract, also involved with memory and learning.
Black widow spider venom: floods synapse = convulsions
Nicotine: floods synapse = increased stimulation and increased mood – mimics ACh
Curare: mimics Ach, but it fills up the receptor sites = muscles don’t contract in lungs (suffocate)
Botulin: Ach is blocked from being released from the sending neuron = stomach lining doesn’t contract = botulin multiplies in stomach
Nerve Gas: Ach is released continuously = muscle spasms, breathing stops, suffocation = Atropine blocks receptor sites

7. Neurotransmitters
Dopamine (Inhibitory): Regulates body movement (allows body to hold still), attention, pleasure or rewarding sensations ~ this is similar to cocaine which blocks the reuptake of dopamine.
Degeneration of production centers causes Parkinson's disease (uncontrolled shaking, poor balance…)
Synthetic drug, L-Dopa, converts to dopamine in the brain and temporarily reduces symptoms
Excessive levels of dopamine can create hallucinations involved with schizophrenia
Antipsychotic drugs block receptors but this can cause shaking/tremors

8. Neurotransmitters Serotonin: Regulates sleep, moods/emotional state.
Also inhibits depression, anxiety and insomnia
Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s)
Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Luvox, etc….
All block reuptake of serotonin at the sending neuron and thus may be more available to the receiving dendrites
Excessive amounts may be linked to Autism
LSD may mimic serotonin so the neurons fire

9. Neurotransmitters
Norepinephrine (Inhibitory/Excitatory): Involved with increasing heartbeat, physical arousal, learning, memory, mood - Inhibits firing of neurons in CNS but excites heart muscle
If this is deficient it can cause depression.
Excessive amounts can cause anxiety & manic states
Stress stimulates its release from the adrenal glands
Caffeine, cocaine, some amphetamines can block Norepinephrine reuptake.

10. Neurotransmitters
GABA - Gamma-aminobutyric acid (Inhibitory): Helps to balance/offset excitatory messages, regulate sleep
Alcohol increases GABA activity
When deficient possible increased anxiety
When excessive it may disrupt sleep

11. Neurotransmitters
Endorphins - endogenous morphine (Excitatory): Regulates pain control and positive mood
Endorphins are released to inhibit perception of pain.
“Runners High”/Athletes play through intense pain.
If deficient the body experiences pain.
Opiates (heroin, morphine, codeine) all mimic and have similar receptors.
Relieve pain/produce euphoria.
Naloxone blocks receptors and is used to reverse effects of narcotic overdoses

12. The Anatomy of the Brain
There are three main divisions of the brain the:
Hindbrain
Midbrain
Forebrain

13. Physical Structures
HindBrain: Connects the spinal cord with the rest of the brain
Cerebellum – “Little Brain” coordinates balance, movement, posture, muscle tone, motor skills
Pons – helps coordinate movements of left and right sides of body
Medulla – controls breathing, heart beat, digestion, coughing, sneezing
Reticular Formation – regulates attention, alertness

14. Physical Structures
Midbrain: Contains structures involved in processing visual and auditory information
Is an important relay station
Auditory sensations from the left and right ears are processed through the midbrain helping you orient toward the direction of a sound
Visual information from the eyes helps you to locate objects and track their movements

15. Physical Structures Forebrain = Largest Part of the Brain
Cerebral Cortex – 2 hemispheres located on top of brainstem; different lobes control higher level functions: memory, emotions, fear, aggression, hearing, vision, thinking, voluntary muscle control
Corpus Callosum – Located between two hemispheres, serves as communication link so the two hemispheres can share information

16. The Limbic System Located between the Brain Stem and Cerebral Cortex
Forms a border around the brain stem.

17. The Limbic System Hippocampus – forms new memories
Thalamus – routes sensory information to higher brain regions (vision, hearing, tasting, touch, etc.)
Hypothalamus – maintains homeostasis (balance within the system), involved in motivation and emotional drive
Amygdala – involved in emotion and fear, aggression, disgust. Also involved with forming memories with strong emotional components.

18. The Limbic System
Question: So what happens to the neurons to evoke emotions or produce memories? Answer: One theory is that as emotions are evoked, memories are trying to be placed into long term storage. The function of the neuron alters to produce more neurotransmitters and the structure changes as the synapses increase to allow a “neural pathway” to be established.

19. Autonomic Nervous System
Two divisions of this system
Parasympathetic
Sympathetic
This system controls involuntary functions
Breathing, heart rate, digestion, etc.

20. Parasympathetic Division
Conserves bodily resources…
Slows heart rate
Slows breathing
Supplies blood to internal organs (Increases digestion)
Helps body save a store energy
EX: Thanksgiving Dinner and Contentment

21. Sympathetic Division Mobilizes the bodies resources for emergencies
“Fight or Flight” response
Increased breathing
Increased heart rate
Slows blood supply to internal organs (slows digestion) OR
EX: Intense excitement, fear, joy, passion or STRESS!

22. Sympathetic Division and Stress
Modern day stress is different then temporary “emergency” situations.
Or stress can be long term, which lead to Stress Related Illnesses.
EX: Headaches, ulcers, strokes, colds, flu, high blood pressure, etc…

23. Sympathetic Division and Stress
There are benefits of stress:
It can satisfy the need for change, excitement, and challenge
It can relieve boredom.
It can lead to personal growth as we conquer fears or add new skills.
It can also help to buffer us from future stress ~ we may be better able to deal with stress.

24. The Brain and Language Aphasia:
An impairment of language caused by damage to the left side of the brain. Ex) strokes, lesions
Effects the ability to articulate ideas
May have problems understanding the spoken word
May have problems understanding the written word

25. The Brain and Language Broca’s Area:
An area of the left hemisphere that controls speech and the muscles that form words and process speech
Discovered by Dr. Paul Broca in 1865
Patients may be able to understand written or spoken language, but have difficulty speaking

26. The Brain and Language Wernicke’s Area
An area of the left hemisphere involved in language comprehension that when damaged, disrupt the ability to understand written or spoken language.

27. Wernicke’s Area to Broca’s Area