Biochemistry of the Brain

Question 1

How do we learn

Answer 1

• Hippocampus located in Temporal Lobe (Limbic System)

Question 2

Hippocampus

Answer 2

Two interlocking grey matter U-shaped structures => Myelinated axons and cell bodies

Question 3

Pyramidal Cell

Answer 3

• Multipolar type of neuron
• All over hippocampus

Question 4

Lesions in Hippocampus

Answer 4

• Ventral lesions affect anxiety
• Dorsal lesions affect spatial memory + contextual conditioning in response to fear stimulus

Question 5

Thyroid Hormones

Answer 5

Metabolism => Deiodinases: selenoproteins, Remove I from outer phenolic ring or inner tyrosyl ring with different consequences for activity

Question 6

TH Receptors

Answer 6

Tissue Specific Expression:
- TRβ1 = ubiquitous
- TRβ2 = AP
- TRα1: skeletal/cardiac muscle; brain

Also transcription factors:
- Form homo- and hetero-dimers with TR
- Form heterodimers with RXR

Unliganded Action => Gene repression by histone deacetylation
Liganded Action (T3) => Gene activation by histone acetylation