Neuroscience and Behavior

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The Biology of the Mind

How do they transmit information?

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What are neurons?

Nerve cells◦Basic building

blocks of the body’s information processing system.

Made up of ◦Dendrites◦Axons

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Neurons

Receive information

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Dendrites

Transmit information to other ◦Neurons◦Muscles◦Glands

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Axon fibers

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Chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) bridge the gap

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Synapse (Synaptic gap)

Enable communication between neurons

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Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters (similar to morphine)

Reduces pain◦E.g. Childbirth

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Endorphins

What do these parts do?

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What are the parts of your nervous system?

Central nervous system◦Brain and spinal column

Peripheral nervous system◦Links central nervous system

(spinal cord) to sense receptors, muscles and glands

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Nervous system

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Nervous system

Sympathetic nervous system (Arousing)◦ Increases

heartbeat & blood pressure

Parasympathetic nervous system (Calming)

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Peripheral Nervous System

Brain and spinal column Severed spinal cord E.g.◦Bill - No genital sensations, but

has an erection when stimulated.

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Central Nervous system

Simple reflex pathway◦Knee-jerk reaction A headless warm body could do it

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Reflex

Older Brain Structures

Brainstem the oldest part of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells and enters the skull.

Responsible for automatic survival functions.

Brain Stem

Medulla [muh-DUL-uh] base of the brainstem, controls heartbeat and

breathing.

Reticular Formation a nerve network in the

brainstem that plays an important role in

controlling arousal.

Cerebellum Coordinates movements

Cerebral cortex

Cerebral cortex comparison Best distinguishes us from other

animals

Association areas of cortex

Phineas gage

Damage to frontal lobe

Sensory & Motor cortex

Visual & auditory cortex

Reading out loud

Hearing, Seeing,Speaking

Corpus Callosum Transmits information from one

cerebral hemisphere to the other

Internal brain Overview

Amygdala

Amygdala [ah-MIG-dah-la] two almond-shaped

neural clusters linked to emotion of fear and

anger.

Hypothalamus

Hypothalamus lies below (hypo) the thalamus;

directs several maintenance activities

like eating, drinking body temperature, and

emotions. Helps govern the endocrine system via

the pituitary gland.

Creating images of the brain’s activity

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Recording the brain’s activity

Electroencephalogram (EEG) Brain waves - Recording electrical

activity

◦ CT scan◦ PET scan◦ MRI scan

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Brain imaging techniques (creating images)

Computed tomography

X-ray photographs

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CT Scan

Magnetic fields and radio waves create images of the brain’s soft tissues.

Normal Schizophrenic

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MRI Scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Positron emission tomography scan

Radioactive glucose

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PET Scan