Lesson 3: NEUROBIOLOGICAL BASES OF BEHAVIOR Flashcards
The nervous system is composed of two main parts
• Central Nervous System (CNS)
• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Is it made up of the brain and spinal cord
Central nervous system
Encased in the skull which is very tough set of bones
Brain
The box within the skull is called?
Cranium
3 main parts of the brain
• Forebrain
• Mid - brain
• Hindbrain
Is located at the front part of the skull and regulates complex mental processes like thinking and emotional control
Also the largest region of the brain
Forebrain
Forebrain consist of
Cerebrum
Cerebral cortex
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Largest of the brain mass
Cerebrum
Seat of the higher mental processes
Cerebral cortex
Forebrain structure receives information from the senses and relays these information to cerebral cortex for processing
Thalamus
Serves as the integrating center of many kinds of physiological activities such as eating, drinking, maintaining body temperature and sex
Hypothalamus
It is the smallest division of brain. This part of the brain serves as the connecting link between the hindbrain abd sophisticated forebrain.
Mid-brain
Most interesting mid-brain structure. It is located near the pons and serves as “switch on”
Reticular formation
It is close to the spinal cord. It composed of the mendulla oblongata, pons, and cerebellum
Hindbrain
It is the connecting link between the spinal cord and the brain proper
Medulla oblongata
Lies in the brain stem just a little above the mendulla oblongata. It serves as a connection center and is involved in the motor coordination and equilibrium too
Pons
Is a large rope-like segments of nerve tissues running along the spine carrying messages between the brain and the peripheral nervous system
Spinal cord
Spinal cords divide into two roots
• Dorsal
• Ventral
Roots carries sensory nerve fiber
Dorsal
Roots carries motor nerve fibers
Ventral
A small almond structure located directly in front of the hypocampus.
Amygdala
Is a structure that wraps itself around the thalamus which plays an important role in learning and mastery
Hypocampus
It branches out from spinal cord and the brain and extended to the extremities of the body
Peripheral nervous system
PNS composed of 2 major division
• Somatic division
• Autonomic division
Specializes in the control of voluntary movements of the skeletal muscles and the communication of information to and from sense of organs
Somatic division
Is concerned with the parts of the body that makes it alive.
Autonomic division
2 subdivision of Autonomic
• sympathetic subdivision
• parasympathetic subdivision
Is the part that prepares the body to respond to stressful emergency situation like fight or flight responses.
Sympathetic subdivision
Acts to calm and relax the body after the emergency situation is resolved.
Parasympathetic subdivision
Is composed of more than 100 billion cell known as neurons
Nervous system
They are cluster of fibers at one end of a neuron that receives messages from other neurons
Dendrites
It is a tube like long extension from the end of a neuron that carries messages to other cells through the neuron
Axon
They are small branches at the end of axon
Terminal buttons
Is it the axon protected coating made of fat and protein
Myelin sheath
Are points of connection between the dendrites of some neurons and the axon of others
Synapses
Involved in movement motivation, and emotion. It produces feeling of pleasure
Dopamine
Released in response to behaviors such as vigorous exercise
Endorphins
The major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain
GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)
The most common neurotransmitter
Glutamate
Involved in many functions, including mood, appetite , sleep, and aggresision
Serotonin
Carries messages from receptors to spinal cord and brain
Sensory of efferent neurons
Transmit messages from the brain and spinal cord and send them to the motor organs like muscles and glands
Motor of efferent neuron
Provide connection between sensory and motor neurons
Connector neurons
3 levels of synaptic connections
• reflex level
• Instinctive level
• cortex level
Simple, inborn, automatic responses of some parts of the body
Reflexes
Narrowing pupils of the eyes is in response
Pupillary reflex
Happens when an object is place on the back of tongue
Gagging reflex
Common to all members of species
Instinctive level
It is the most complex of 3 levels
Cortex level
