Lecture 4 Flashcards
How is the nervous system divided?
What is the difference between the ANS and SNS?
SNS interacts with the external environment, while the NAS participates in the regulation of the internal environment
-BOTH have an afferent and efferent component
What is the difference in the afferent and efferent components of the ANS and SNS?
SNS
-Afferent: carry sensory signals from the skin, skeletal muscle, joints, eyes, ears, into the CNS
- Efferent: carry motor signals from the CNS out to the skeletal muscle
ANS
- Afferent: carry sensory signals from internal organs to the CNS
- Efferent: carry motor signals from the CNS to internal organs
What division of the nervous system has the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions? What are their differences?
ANS efferent
Sympathetic: state of arousal, mobilize energy resources in threatening situations
Parasympathetic: calming situation; act to conserve energy
What is the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain? What are their functions?
Forebrain: composed of cerebral cortex and limbic system (subcortical structures)
- Controls complex cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor functions
Midbrain: important for orientation and movement (helps orient organism toward sensory stimuli)
Hindbrain: composed of reticular formation, medulla, cerebellum, pons,
- Coordinates information coming into and out of the SC
What are the functions of the cerebral cortex and what are the 2 main characteristic features we find in it?
Responsible for most complex aspects of perception, emotion, movement, and thought (the lobes)
Gyrus (Gyri): smooth surface
Sulcus (sulci): indentations
Occiptal lobe
Process visual information (eyes –> thalamus –> occipital lobe)
Temporal lobe
Hearing and language
- Contains primary auditory cortex and Wernicke’s area (understanding language)
Parietal lobe
Process information about touch
- Contains somatosensory cortex (homunculus)
Frontal lobe
Abstract thinking, movement, planning, memory, and judgement
- Includes motor cortex and Broca’s area (language production)
Insular lobe
Taste perception, perceives internal organ states, linked to emotions of compassion and empathy
What are the 7 major subcortical structures found within the forebrain?
- Basal ganglia
- Limbic system
- Hippocampus
- Amygdala
- Thalamus
- Hypothalamus
- Pituitary gland
Basal ganglia
Direct intentional movement, controls posture and movement
Limbic system
Subcortical structures meet the cortex; includes the hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, and hypothalamus
- Four F’s (feed, fight, fleeing, fuck)
Hippocampus
Critical in creating new memories and integrating them into a network of knowledge to be stored into other parts of the cortex
Amygdala
Central role in many emotional processes, particularly the formation of emotional memories (especially in fear)
Thalamus
Relays and filters information from the senses and transmits the information to the cortex (except smell)
Hypothalamus
Regulates body temeprature, hunger, thirst, sexual behaviour
Pituitary galnd
Master gland of the body’s hormone producing system, which releases hormones which direct the functions of many other glands in the body
Reticular formation
Responsible for regulation of sleep, wakefulness, and arousal
Medulla
Extension of the SC that coordinates heart rate, circulation, and respiration
Cerebellum
Largest structure of the hindbrain and controls fine motor skills
Pons
Structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain (key in sleep and dreaming)
What are the 3 mechanisms regulating the concentration of NT on the synaptic cleft?
- Autoreceptors
- Reuptake
- Degrading enzymes
Glutamate
Major excitatory NT
- Learning, enhanced memory, relay sensory information
GABA
Major inhibitory NT
- Learning, memory, sleep
ACh
PNS
- Voluntary muscle control, internal irgans
Brain
- Regulation of attention, learning, memory, sleeping and dreaming
Dopamine
Motivation and pleasure, emotional arousal, motor behvaiour
Serotonin
Regulates sleep and wakefulness
NE
Involved in states of vigilance or heightened awareness of dangers in the environment
Endorphins
Acts within pain pathways (reduce pain)
Acts within emotional centers of the brain (elevates mood)