Psychopharmacology Flashcards
Brain stem
hindbrain and midbrain
In terms of evolution, is the oldest part of the brain
Forebrain
subcortical structures & cerebral cortex
Hindbrain
just above the spinal cord
medulla, pons, & cerebellum
Medulla
-medulla oblongata
responsible for the involuntary mouth and throat movements( swallowing, coughing, and sneezing)
regulates functions that are essential for survival(respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure)
Pons
connects the two halves of the cerebellum
helps coordinate movements on the two sides of the body
relays messages between the cerebellum and cerebral cortex
- role in respiration and the regulation of deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
Cerebellum
coordinates voluntary movements
responsible for maintaining posture and balance
involved in some non-motor cognitive functions including attention, linguistic processing, and visuospatial abilities
Damage to the cerebellum
ataxia (look drunk)
-a lack of muscle control
-impaired balance and coordination
- slurred speech
-nystagmus (jerky eye movements)
- blurred or double vision
.
Procedural memory
running, playing a musical instrument, driving a car
Implicit memory
memories that operate on an unconscious, automatic level
Midbrain
- connects the hindbrain to the forebrain
- reticular formation & substantia nigra.
Reticular Formation
-network of neurons that extend from the medulla into the midbrain
Functions of the Reticular Formation
-regulation of muscle tone
- coordination of eye movements
- control of pain.
reticular activating system (RAS)
Aka the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)
-mediates consciousness and arousal
-controls the sleep/wake cycle
-alerts the cerebral cortex to incoming sensory signals
Damage to the RAS
Lesions =acomatose state
-direct electrical stimulation or stimulation by sensory input=
awaken a sleeping person and cause an awake person to become more alert
Substantia Nigra
- reward-seeking
- drug addiction
-motor control ( through its connection to the basal ganglia)
Damage to Substantia Nigra
Degeneration of dopamine-producing cells=slowed movement, tremors, rigidity, and other motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Subcortical Forebrain Structures
- basal ganglia
-amygdala
-thalamus
-hypothalamus - hippocampus
Hypothalamus
-maintains the body’s homeostasis
-regulating body temperature
-blood pressure
- heart and respiration rates
- thirst and hunger
-growth
-sexual activity
- reproduction
- body’s response to stress
- contributesto emotions, memory, and circadian rhythms
Hypothalamus & emotions
- electrical stimulation of or damageto different areas of the hypothalamus can elicit aggressive behavior and rage or produce crying or laughter (studies)
Mammillary bodies
-play a role in memory
suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN),
- serves as the body’s biological clock
-regulates the sleep-wake cycle and other circadian rhythms
hypothalamus’s influence on the pituitary gland
-produces hormones that stimulate or inhibit the release of hormones produced by the anterior pituitary.
Hypothalamus & puberty
-initiates the development of secondary sex characteristics
- regulates the maturation andmaintenance of the reproductive system by secreting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
- sends oxytocin and vasopressin (also known as antidiuretic hormone) to theposterior pituitary, which stores these hormones and then secretes them into the bloodstream at appropriate times
gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
- stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete gonadotropins that regulate the functions of the testes and ovaries.
antidiuretic hormone
-oxytocin
- vasopressin
Oxytocin
- posterior pituitary= stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth and lactation after childbirth