Transcript PPT on Subcortical Brain Structures

Introductory Psychology Lectures
A series of PowerPoint lectures to accompany the introductory
psychology textbooks offered by Worth publishers
Editor: Harvey G. Shulman, Ph.D.
Subcortical Structures
Joe Williams
The Ohio State University
Department of Psychology
© 1999 The Ohio State University & Worth Publishers.
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Subcortical Brain Structures
 Subcortical - underneath the cortex
hypothalamus and pituitary
basal ganglia
limbic system
hindbrain and brainstem structures
© 1999 The Ohio State University & Worth Publishers.
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Hindbrain Structures
 Cerebellum
 Brainstem
medulla
reticular
formation
pons
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3
Thalamus
 Relay station in brain
 Processes most
information to and from
higher brain centers
© 1999 The Ohio State University & Worth Publishers.
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The Limbic System
 Hypothalamus
 Amygdala
 Hippocampus
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Hypothalamus
 Contains nuclei
involved in a variety of
behaviors
 sexual behavior
hunger, thirst
sleep
water and salt
balance
body temperature
regulation
circadian rhythms
role in hormone
secretion
© 1999 The Ohio State University & Worth Publishers.
10
Hypothalamus and Hunger
 Damage to the
ventromedial
hypothalamus leads to
overeating
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Hypothalamus and Hormones
 Hypothalamus releases
hormones or releasing
factors which in turn
cause pituitary gland to
release its hormones
© 1999 The Ohio State University & Worth Publishers.
12
Amygdala
 Inputs come from all
senses
 Amygdala ‘reads’
emotional significance
of inputs
 Output influences such
functions as heart rate,
adrenaline release
© 1999 The Ohio State University & Worth Publishers.
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Amygdala and Emotion
 Identify emotion
from facial
expressions
 Amygdala damage
makes this task
difficult
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Hippocampus
 Important in forming
new memories
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15
Basal Ganglia
 Slow, deliberate
movements
 Parkinson’s disease
is the result of
abnormalities in the
basal ganglia
© 1999 The Ohio State University & Worth Publishers.
16
Dopamine
 Involved in movement,
attention and learning
 Dopamine imbalance
also involved in
schizophrenia
 Loss of dopamineproducing neurons is
cause of Parkinson’s
disease
© 1999 The Ohio State University & Worth Publishers.
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Parkinson’s Disease
 Results from loss of dopamine-producing
neurons in the substantia nigra
 Symptoms include
difficulty starting and stopping voluntary
movements
tremors at rest
stooped posture
rigidity
poor balance
© 1999 The Ohio State University & Worth Publishers.
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Parkinson’s Disease
 Treatments
L-dopa
transplants of fetal dopamine-producing
substantia nigra cells
adrenal gland transplants
electrical stimulation of the thalamus has
been used to stop tremors
© 1999 The Ohio State University & Worth Publishers.
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Copyright
Copyright 1999 by Worth Publishers, New York, NY and
by The Ohio State University. All rights reserved. No
part of the material protected by this copyright may be
reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, or by any information storage and retrieval
system, without written permission of the copyright
owners.
© 1999 The Ohio State University & Worth Publishers.
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