Chapter 3: Neuroscience Flashcards
Central Nervous System
Brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
Autonomic NS and somatic NS
The two parts of the nervous system are:
CNS and PNS
Somatic nervous system
Interacts with external environment by conveying info from muscles to the CNS
Afferent: senses -> CNS
Efferent: CNS -> muscles
Autonomic nervous system
Involuntary commands; regulates internal environment ie. organs
Afferent: organs -> CNS
Efferent: CNS -> organs
The two parts of the autonomic nervous system are:
Parasympathetic NS and sympathetic NS
Sympathetic nervous system
Arousing; prepares the body for threatening situations
Pupils dilated; far vision Dry mouth Goosebumps Sweaty palms Dilated lungs Increased heart rate More blood to muscles Increased activity in adrenal glands Inhibited digestion
Parasympathetic nervous system
Calming; helps body return to resting state
Pupils constricted; near vision Salivating No goosebumps Dry palms Constricted lungs Decreased heart rate More blood to organs Decreased activity in adrenal glands Stimulated digestion
The hindbrain’s function and structures:
Coordinates info coming in/out of spinal cord
Pons, medulla, reticular formation, cerebellum
Medulla
Coordinates heart rate, circulation, and breathing
Reticular formation
Regulates sleep, wakefulness, and level of arousal (emotion)
Cerebellum
Controls fine motor skills, fine-tuning behaviour (not initiating)
Pons
Relays info from cerebellum to rest of the brain
The midbrain’s function and structures:
Responsible for orientation and movement
Tectum, tegmentum
Tectum
Orients an organism in its environment
Tegmentum
Movement and arousal, directs an organism towards stimuli (actual movement vs tectum)
The forebrain’s function and structures:
Controls complex cognitive, emotional, sensory and motor function
Basal ganglia, pituitary gland, thalamus, limbic system
Four Fs of the limbic system
Feeding, fighting, fleeing, sexual behaviour
Basal ganglia
Directs intentional movements; the striatum within it controls posture and movement
Cause of Parkinson’s
Damages part of midbrain that normally supplies striatum with dopamine
Pituitary gland
Master gland of body’s hormonal/endocrine system, releases messenger hormones which direct functions of other glands
Thalamus
Relays and filters info from the senses (except smell) and transmits info to the cerebral cortex
Closes pathways during sleep
Structures of the limbic system:
Hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus
Hypothalamus
Regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, sexual behaviour
Keeps body temperature, blood sugar, and metabolism within an optimal range
Signals pituitary gland to release hormones
Located below thalamus
