Transcript Ch.02
Neuroscience and Behavior 1 How do they transmit information? 2 Nerve cells ◦ Basic building blocks of the body’s information processing system. Made up of ◦ Dendrites ◦ Axons 3 Receive information 4 Transmit information to other ◦ Neurons ◦ Muscles ◦ Glands 5 6 Chemical messengers (neurotransmitters ) bridge the gap 7 Enable communicati on between neurons 8 Neurotransmitters (similar to morphine) Reduces pain ◦ E.g. Childbirth 9 What do these parts do? 10 Central nervous system ◦ Brain and spinal column Peripheral nervous system ◦ Links central nervous system (spinal cord) to sense receptors, muscles and glands 11 12 Sympathetic nervous system (Arousing) ◦ Increases heartbeat & blood pressure Parasympathetic nervous system (Calming) 13 Brain and spinal column Severed spinal cord E.g. ◦ Bill - No genital sensations, but has an erection when stimulated. 14 Simple reflex pathway ◦ Knee-jerk reaction A headless warm body could do it 15 Brainstem the oldest part of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells and enters the skull. Responsible for automatic survival functions. 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. Coordinates movements Best distinguishes us from other animals Damage to frontal lobe Transmits information from one cerebral hemisphere to the other Amygdala [ah-MIG-dah-la] two almond-shaped neural clusters linked to emotion of fear and anger. 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 31 Brain waves - Recording electrical activity ◦ CT scan ◦ PET scan ◦ MRI scan 33 Computed tomography X-ray photographs 34 Magnetic fields and radio waves create images of the brain’s soft tissues. Normal Schizophrenic 35 Positron emission tomography scan Radioactive glucose 36