Introduction Flashcards
To acquire the basic knowledge of NNB
What are the neural mechanisms of the sensory systems?
- Receptor neurons
- The anatomical pathways
- Representation in the brain
How does brain react to the world?
- Lower motor neurons initiating muscle contractions
- Upper motor neurons planning and initiating movement
- Filtering and modulating loops (basal ganglia and cerebellum)
What happens in between sensing and reacting?
- Attention
- Cognition
- Memory
- Emotion
What do you learn during the practicals?
How does activity in different neuronal networks control specific behaviors?
What are the two views on how the brain works?
Dualism: mind-body problem
Materialistic view: mind is brain
What is meant by dualism?
“Cogito ergo sum” - I think therefore I am.
René Descartes.
The body works like a machine and has material properties. The mind (or soul) is nonmaterial and does not follow the laws of nature. The mind interacts with the body at the pineal gland
What are arguments for dualism?
- Spontaneity and creativity of the human action
- Machines are primitive
How is dualism found in our culture?
- Language “my body’, ‘my arm’
- Personal identity
- Belief in the survival of the self after destruction of the body
How is the current materialistic view?
- physical things can produce very complex behavior (computers & robots)
- brain damage and personality (Phineas Gage case)
- Drugs and hormones influence the brain/,ind and behavior
- Aging changes the brain/behavior
- Evidence from neuroscience
What is the human brain built of?
The human brain is built of >100 billion (E11) neurons
- 1000-10.000 synapses per neuron
- 10^14 - 10^15 synapses
How do neurons communicate?
By synaptic transmission
How does synaptic transmission work?
- Axons release neurotransmitters
- Different neurotransmitters bind to postsynaptic receptors and determine whether the postsynaptic cell membrane will depolarize (generate EPSP) or hyperpolarize (generate IPSP)
- Synapses/neurons can be excitatory (release glutamate) and inhibitory (GABA, glycine); modulation of synaptic transmission by dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine etc.
- EPSPs increase excitability of the cell and increase the probability of AP generation
- IPSPs decrease excitability and probability of AP generation
- In the neuronal network each neuron will integrate multiple EPSPs and IPSPs, the sum will determine whether the cell fires an AP
- Frequency of AP firing conveys the signal
- Drugs can bind to the receptors and simulate the action of neurotransmitters
What is IPSP?
(Inhibitory postsynaptic potential)
What are EPSP neurotransmitters and recptors?
Neurotransmitter: Glutamate
Receptors: AMPA, NMDA
What are IPSP neurotransmitter and recptors?
Neurotransmitter: GABA.
Receptors: GABAergic receptors
What are IPSP neurotransmitter and recptors?
Neurotransmitter: GABA.
Receptors: GABAergic receptors
What is a EEG?
EEG is a read-out measure of electrical activity in the cortex
What do multielectrode recordings enable?
They enable network activity to be measured within the hippocampus (‘field’ recording)
How can drugs affect neuronal networks?
Drugs can simulate the action of endogenous neurotransmitter. E.g. cocaine blocks dopamine reuptake in reward circuitry
If you want to build a sensing machine, what would you need?
1) receiver and translator of information into the language of the machine
2) transportation of information for processing
3) Integration and processing of information
4) Giving output
What receives an translates information into the language of the machine
Sensory receptor translate the energy of the stimulus into electrical signals
What transport information for process?
Axons transport the signal to the series of relay nuclei
What integrates and processes information?
Interneurons and local circuitry in nuclei process the signal
How are sensory receptors activated?
Sensory receptors are activated by the energy of the stimulus.
