Brain Structures• Hindbrain

– Functions essential to maintaining life• Medulla, pons, cerebellum

• Midbrain– Connects hindbrain to forebrain

• Reticular formation

• Forebrain– Higher functioning (thinking, decisions,

dreaming)• Thalamus, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, amygdala

http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2008/09/episode-72-video-memorize-the-parts-of-the-brain/

• Corpus Callosum: Connects the right and left brains to allow integration of information between the brain hemispheres

• Association Areas: Interpreting, integrating, and acting on info processed by other parts of the brain

• Thalamus: Relay system to the cerebral cortex for most of the senses (not smell) and pain

• Hypothalamus: Controls body temperature, food intake, drink, sex drive

• Pituitary Gland: Stimulates or inhibits the release of hormones

• Amygdala: Aggression and fear

• Hippocampus: Short-term memory, spatial navigation

• Medulla: Involuntary actions, heartbeat, blood pressure, breathing, swallowing

• Reticular Formation: Screens incoming sensory information, habituation, and controls arousal (being awake / alert / paying attention)

• Pons: Waking and sleeping, dreams • Cerebellum: Balance, coordination, fine motor

movement, learned motor skills • Nucleus Accumbens: Reward, laughter, pleasure,

addiction, fear

Discussion

• In order to save your life, one part of your brain must be removed. Which part are you willing to live without and why?

Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex

• Frontal Lobe– Thinking, reasoning, emotions, judgment,

decision-making, complex mental tasks, voluntary movement (motor cortex), and speech production (Broca’s Area)

• Parietal Lobe– Interprets information from the senses

(somatosensory cortex: pressure, pain, touch, temperature), recognizing objects

Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex

• Temporal Lobe– Some kinds of memory, hearing, speaking,

remembering, language comprehension (Wernicke’s Area), some emotional control (includes hippocampus)

• Occipital Lobe– Vision, visual perception, reading ability

Left Hemisphere specialization

Right Hemisphere specialization

Frontal lobe

Frontal lobe

Occipital lobe

Occipital lobe

Parietal lobe

Parietal lobe

Temporal lobe

Temporal lobe

Cerebral Cortex

Music, art, spatial skills, expression of emotion, recognition of: faces,

patterns, and melodies, and analyzing by combining wholes; motor cortex

controls left side of body

Speaking, reading, writing, analyzing step-by-step;

motor cortex controls right side of body

Somatosensory cortex interprets senses of right side of body

Somatosensory cortex interprets

senses of left side of body

interprets left visual

field

interprets right visual

field

Language comprehension

Parietal lobe

Parietal lobe

Frontal lobe

Frontal lobe

Occipital lobe

Occipital lobe

Temporal lobe

Temporal lobe

Brain Damage

• Localization of function: parts are specialized

• Neuroplasticity: brain can grow and change

• Coma vs. “Brain dead”– Reticular formation vs. cerebral cortex

MRI fMRI

Looking Inside the Brain

Sex of a Brain

• Females: lateralization, perceptual speed & reasoning, language & emotion centers

• Males: spatial skills, relationship between body parts, hypothalamus

Endocrine System: Hormones

Neuron

(incoming messages start electrical process of action potential)

Dendrites

Cell body

Nucleus

Axon

Myelin sheath

Axon terminal

Receptors

Vesicle

(outgoing chemical messages go to other neurons, muscles, glands)

Synapse / Synaptic Gap

Neurotransmitters

Synaptic knobs / Terminal buttons

Neuron Communication• Action potential animation

– Neurons are negatively charged in a resting state– With enough excitatory messages, sodium

channels open which lets in positively charged sodium ions and positively charges the neuron

– With enough charge (depolarization), the action potential (message) begins and travels down the axon, opening sodium channels along the way

– Sodium channels close behind the action potential and potassium ions leave the cell

– Inside of cell is restored to the resting state

Neuron Communication

• Neurotransmitter release animation– When the action potential (electrical message)

reaches the terminal button, the vesicles release neurotransmitters (chemical messages) into the synaptic gap

– Neurotransmitters bind to the receptors in the receiving cell, causing its sodium channels to open and begin another action potential

– The neurotransmitter is broken down by enzymes in the synaptic gap or brought back into the terminal button, ending its action

Your Body as a Neuron

• Your body: Arms (dendrites), head (cell body), face (nucleus), torso (axon), fatty layer around torso (myelin sheath), legs (axon terminal), feet (synaptic knobs), neurotransmitters shoot out of the bottom

Questions about Drugs

• Write down your questions about drugs

Normal Neurotransmitter Action

• Action potential triggers release of NT

• NT spreads message to next neuron

• NT is either broken down in the synapse by enzymes or pumped back into the neuron (reuptake), ending its action

Drugs Change Normal NT Action

• Agonist: mimics neurotransmitter action– Ex. Black widow venom ACh agonist

• Antagonist: blocks neurotransmitter action– Ex. Curare ACh antagonist

• Can interfere with 1) NT release, 2) NT reuptake, 3) NT breakdown

Response to Interference

• Homeostasis: maintaining preferred state• Example: temperature increases = sweat

Response to Interference

• Side effects: unintended NT action

• Prolonged use: neurons will 1) change NT production, 2) change number of receptors

• Tolerance: need more & more for effects

• Withdrawal: physical & emotional symptoms felt when drug is not used

• Dependence: lack of normal functioning without drug; use required to avoid w/d– Example: Heroin use vs. withdrawal– overdose

Example: Amphetamines block Dopamine reuptake. Alcohol?

Classes of Drugs• Depressants: reduce tension, euphoria,

disinhibition, drowsiness, muscle relaxation– alcohol, barbiturates, anti-anxiety, Rohypnol

• Stimulants: exhilaration, euphoria, high energy, reduced appetite, sociability– cocaine, (meth)amphetamine, MDMA

• Opiates: euphoria, rush of pleasure, pain relief– Heroin, morphine, Oxycodone

• Hallucinogens: distorted sensations, euphoria, mild delusions, hallucinations– LSD, mescaline, psilocybin (mushrooms), marijuana

Altered Consciousness

• Meditation: focus attention, block out distractions– Video: Meditation changes brain– Can change brain waves, heart rate, oxygen

consumption, sweat gland activity– Increases emotional control, positive emotions,

hopefulness

Nervous System Demonstration

• Count your heartbeats for 10 seconds

Stress

• Mental and physical condition that occurs when a person must adjust or adapt to the environment

– Good vs. bad stress

• Stress Reaction:

– Physical reaction to stress

• Autonomic Nervous System is aroused

• Short-term vs. long-term stresses

General Adaptation Syndrome (G.A.S.)• Alarm Reaction:

– Increased hormones (adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol)

• Stage of Resistance:– Bodily adjustments stabilize– Symptoms of alarm reaction disappear but still

using resources• Stage of Exhaustion:

– Continuous stress leads to draining of the body’s resources and depletion of stress hormones

$ spent in the last week on:

• 1) fruits and vegetables

• 2) working out

• 3) cigarettes and alcohol

• 4) junk food or “fast food”

Death of a spouse 100 Son or daughter leaving home 29Divorce 73 Trouble with in-laws 29Marital Separation 65 Outstanding Personal achievements 28Jail term 63 Spouse begins or stops work 26Death of a close family member 63 Begin or end school 26Personal injury or illness 53 Change in living conditions 25Marriage 50 Revision of personal habits 24Fired at work 47 Trouble with boss 23Marital reconciliation 45 Change in work hours or conditions 20Change in health of family member 45 Change in residence 20Retirement 44 Change in school 20Pregnancy 40 Change in recreation 19Sex difficulties 39 Change in religious activities 19Gain of a new family member 39 Change in social activities 18Business readjustments 39 Loan less than 50,000 17Change in financial state 38 Change in sleeping habits 16Death of a close friend 37 Change in no. of family get- togethers 15Change to different line of work 36 Change in eating habits 15Change in # of arguments w spouse 35 Vacation 13Mortgage over $ 50,000 31 Holidays 12Foreclosure of mortgage 30 Minor violation of laws 11Change in responsibilities at work 29

Dealing with Stress

• Emotion-focused coping: change emotions

• Problem-focused coping: change situation

• Control: children 6-14 yrs, Thailand & U.S.– went to a doctor's office to get a shot

• ran away, screamed vs. thought it was good for me

– had an accident and was physically hurt• Clean the wound vs. try to relax

– a peer said unkind things• Corrected them vs. thought about favorite things