1. EXC 7770 Psychoneurological & Medical Issues in Special Education Susan B. Brown, Ph.D. Kennesaw State University

2. Definitions:  Psychoneurology: of, relating to, or concerned with psychology and neurology especially in their clinical aspects http://www2.merriam-webster.com/cgi- bin/mwmednlm?book=Medical&va=psychoneurology http://www2.merriam-webster.com/cgi- bin/mwmednlm?book=Medical&va=psychoneurology  Neuropsychology : a science concerned with the integration of psychological observations on behavior and the mind with neurological observations on the brain and nervous system http://www2.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/mwmednlm http://www2.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/mwmednlm

3. Approaches to study of brain:  animal research  people with brain damage/mental illness  lab experiments with primates/humans  brain-imaging technology chemical composition CAT MRI electrical transmission EEG SQUID BEAM blood-flow patterns PET

4. Chapter 1 (Drubach, 2000)Brain  3 pints  3 pounds

5. Brain function  Receive: uses sensory/perceptual processes to take in objects/events  Process: draws on memory & problem- solving to process  Act: translates thought & decision into behavior & language  Affect: controls emotions & feelings  Control: controls body systems The Secret Life of the Brain : Mind Illusions

6. Drubach (2000) Structure of the Brain  Neurons  Neurotransmitters  Glial Cells  Brain Structure Cerebellum Brainstem Thalamus Basal Ganglia Cerebrum Hemispheres Spinal Cord

7. Neurons  Regulate cognitive activity  Specialized  Collaborative

9. Neurotransmitters Neuroscience for Kids - Neurotransmitters) Neuroscience for Kids - Neurotransmitters  Produced by enzymes  Stored in vesicles  Communication (autoreceptors – feedback)  Electrochemical Excitatory Inhibiting Depolarize  Selective  Synapse Receptor Enzymes Reuptake Glial ingestion

10. Glial cells glial cells - multiple sclerosis encyclopaedia glial cells - multiple sclerosis encyclopaedia  Support & Nourishment (astrocytes) Neurotransmitter ingestion Remove waste Mesh structure  Insulation (oligodendrocytes, Schwann cell Myelin sheath Faster conduction

11. Alterations in neuronal communication  Inadequate level of neurotransmitter production  Decrease in number of presynaptic neurons  Faulty mechanism for release of neurotransmitters  Enzyme levels in synapse  Reuptake functions  Receptors available

13. Cerebellum  Coordination of movement Motor learning  Cognition Motor planning Rate of information processing Memory

14. Brain Stem  Command Center Nuclei Muscle movements Organ control Regulating consciousness  Information highways Axons transmitting information from brain Axons transmitting information to brain

15. Reticular formation  Central core of the brain stem  Regulates attention & flow of sensory information into a general level of attention  Fluctuates in 90 minute cycles (chemical net to increase/decrease information flow)  High in AM, drop until below consciousness to sleep at night

16. ThalamusHypothalamus Censor & gatekeeper Arousal Relay sensory information to brain Coordindation of movement Sensory & motor integration Autonomic functions Memory Homeostasis, or maintaining the body's status quo  Neural signals to the autonomic system  Endocrine signals to/through the pituitary  Controls body weight and appetite

17. Basal Ganglia  Movement  Cognition

18. Amygdyla  Part of the basal ganglia  Emotional processing  Emotional memory

19. Autonomic Nervous System http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/auto.html http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/auto.html runs bodily functions without our awareness or control Sympathetic system: "fight-or-flight" response Parasympathetic system: slowing the heart, constricting the pupils, stimulating the gut and salivary glands, and other responses that are not a priority when being "chased by a tiger“ The state of the body at any given time represents a balance between these two systems.

20. Cerebrum Hierarchical Hemispheres Functional lobes: Frontal Parietal Temporal Occipital

21. Frontal Lobe  Initiators & command post for movement  Left frontal lobe – motor functions of language  Personality

22. Sensory Lobes Temporal Lobe  Processing auditory information  Left – Meaning of language Occipital Lobe  Processing visual information Parietal Lobe  Processing sensory information

23. Brain Connectivity: Hemispheres Left BrainRight Brain Logical Sequential Rational Analytical Objective Looks at parts Random Intuitive Holistic Synthesizing Subjective Looks at wholes

24. Corpus Callosum Communication between brain hemispheres

25. Spinal Cord  Information from brain to body: Fibers Roots Motor neurons Carry information in opposite direction  Information from body to brain: Sensory receptors Roots Proprioception  Reflexes

26. Attention Perception Memory Association Responses The Brain: Information Processing System

27. Information Processing System S Senses Sensory Store AttentionPerception Long- term memory Short- term memory R

28. Functional Organization Receptors Electrochemical impulses Axons to thalamus – gatekeeper forms units Primary processing – modality specific Secondary processing – modality specific Tertiary processing – integrate across modalities & affective components (limbic) Input Output