Lecture 3: Brain

Question 0

What parts of the brain are we interested in?

Answer 0

Limbic system
Cerebral cortex
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Cerebellum 
Brain stem
Spinal cord

Question 1

Why is it important to study biological behaviour?

Answer 1

Our sensory processes make up our knowledge of our environment
We use our brain circuitry to think, reason and learn
We should understand what makes each person a unique individual

Question 2

What does the limbic system do?

Answer 2

Regulates emotions and motivated behaviour

Question 3

What does the cerebral cortex do?

Answer 3

It is involved in complex mental processes

Question 4

What does the thalamus do?

Answer 4

Relays sensory info

Question 5

What does the hypothalamus do?

Answer 5

Manages the body’s internal states

Question 6

What does the cerebellum do?

Answer 6

Regulates coordinated movement (balance)

Question 7

What does the brainstem do?

Answer 7

Sets the brain’s general alertness level and warning system

Question 8

What does the spinal cord do?

Answer 8

It provides a pathway for neural fibres travelling to and from the brain

Question 9

What are the two components of the autonomic nervous system and what are their roles?

Answer 9

Sympathetic nervous system: fight or flight response, emergency system

Parasympathetic nervous system: rest and digest, vegetative functions

The two systems act in opposition to control heart rate and act in concert to control sexual reflexes

Question 10

What are the major neurotransmitters of focus in this course?

Answer 10

Glutamate
GABA
Dopamine
Serotonin
Acetyl hone
Endorphins and enkephalins
Epinephrine and norepinephrine

Question 11

What does glutamate do?

Answer 11

Excitation of neurons throughout the nervous system

Question 12

What does GABA do?

Answer 12

Inhibits neurons in the brain

Question 13

What does dopamine do?

Answer 13

Involved in emotional arousal, pleasure, reward, voluntary movement and attention

Question 14

What does serotonin do?

Answer 14

Sleep and emotional arousal, aggression, pain and mood regulation

Question 15

What does acetylcholine do?

Answer 15

Learning and memory

Question 16

What do endorphins and enkephalins do?

Answer 16

Pain relief and elevation of mood

Question 17

What does epinephrine and norepinephrine do?

Answer 17

Emotional arousal, anxiety and fear

Question 18

What are the steps of neural transmission?

Answer 18

Neurotransmitters in the axons of a neuron are stored in synaptic vesicles waiting to be stimulated by an action potential which causes their release

The action potential stimulates the release of neurotransmitters across the synapse

The neurotransmitters bind to the receptor sites on the dendrites of the next neuron, resulting in a change in potential

Question 19

What are some further important functions of the cerebral cortex.

Answer 19

Provides flexible control of patterns of movement
Permits subtle discrimination among complex sensory patterns
Makes possible symbolic thinking

Organisation: primary and association areas

Question 20

What happens if the frontal love is destroyed?

Answer 20

The ability to plan, limit impulses and reasoning are also destroyd

Question 21

Which tasks are associated with the frontal lobe?

Answer 21

Skilled movements, emotion, behaviour, awareness, memory, smell

Question 22

What tasks are associated with the temporal lobe?

Answer 22

Hearing

Question 23

What tasks are associated with the parietal lobe?

Answer 23

Body sensations

Question 24

What tasks are associated with the occipital lobe?

Answer 24

Visual recognition, vision

Question 25

What tasks are associated with the cerebellum?

Answer 25

Balance and muscle coordination

Question 26

What is between the frontal and parietal lobes?

Answer 26

Motor cortex (next to frontal lobe) and sensory cortex (between motor and parietal)

Question 27

What is the endocrine system and what is its function?

Answer 27

A collection of glands that release hormones into the bloodstream (pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, ovaries/testes)
They send global messages to the bloodstream

Question 28

What is the role of the pituitary gland?

Answer 28

Initiation of puberty
Regulation of endocrine glands
Sends growth hormones
Causes adrenal gland to release adrenaline,
thyroid to release thyroxin
Testes to release testosterone,
Ovaries to release progesterone and estrogens

Question 29

What are the key facts regarding brain development?

Answer 29

At birth, brain is almost adult size
90% of adult brain weight is achieved by 2-6 years old
Advances: cerebellum, reticular function, corpus callosities
Cerebral cortex: consists of 85% brain weight and is the last to stop growing

Question 30

What are the sensitive periods of development?

Answer 30

Stimulation vital during growth spurts (from infancy to early adulthood)
Experience wires a child’s brain growth
Under-stimulation impairs development
Too much sensory info can overwhelm children.

Question 31

What is the general trend of brain plasticity in humans?

Answer 31

Plasticity increases from2-8 months, and declines until 10-20
It then rises a little, and slowly declines through to 70 years of age

Question 32

What is the effect of prenatal exposure to alcohol and other drugs?

Answer 32

Baby is born very preterm or very small as shown by MRI