W3 - the brain and nervous system Flashcards
The basic assumption of all modern neuroscience and psychology:
Mental functions are the
product of activity in the nervous system
what is Cognitive neuroscience:
the scientific study of biological and neural processes underlying mental processes
Two types of nervous system
peripheral - PNS
Central -CNS
Two types of peripheral nervous system
Autonomic (internal regulation)
Somatic (skeletal muscles)
Two types of the Automatic PNS
Sympathetic (arousing)
Parasympathetic (calming)
Two types of central nervous system
Brain
Spinal cord
Functions of the autonomic nervous system
- Involuntary, automatic activity
- Controls & regulates blood vessels, organs (including the heart) and glands
functions of the Sympathetic PNS
- Increases arousal
- Prepares the body for survival-related action
- Four Fs:
- Fighting
- Fleeing
- Feeding
- Mating
* The two systems act in a coordinated manner
Functions of the Parasympathetic PNS
- Reduces arousal
- Returns the body to resting state
* The two systems act in a coordinated manner
Dorsal
the back side of the body. For humans, this means the posterior (back) side.
think dorsal finn
Ventrical
the front or belly side of the body. For humans, this means the anterior (front) side. For example, the chest is on the ventral side of the body.
Medial
a position closer to the midline of the body
Lateral
a position farther from the midline of the body.
Neuraxis
upper neuraxis = brain
lower neuraxis = spinal cord
Caudal
a position toward the tail or the lower part of the body. In humans, this generally means towards the feet
Rostral
an anatomical term used to describe a position towards the front of the body, particularly the head or nose region. In humans and other animals, it indicates a direction towards the nose or mouth.
Dorsal horn
plays a crucial role in processing sensory information.
Ventral horn
These motor neurons are responsible for initiating and controlling voluntary movements.
Gray matter:
cell bodies
White matter:
Myelinated axons
The Functions of the hindbrain
- Phylogenetically ancient
- Coordinates information flow to/from the spinal cord
Structures of the hind brain
Medulla
Reticular formation
Cerebellum
Pons
Medulla:
Extension of the spinal cord which controls: Heart rate, Circulation, Respiration
Reticular formation:
Regulates: - sleep/wake - Arousal
Cerebellum:
- Controls fine motor activity
- Doesn’t initiate movements, but refines and smooths them
Pons:
- Relays info between cerebellum and the rest of brain
Functions of the midbrain
The midbrain coordinates basic functions related to
perception and action
Structures of the midbrain
Tectum (dorsal)
Tegmentum (ventral)
Substantia nigra (part of the tegmentum)
Tectum (dorsal):
Spatial orienting to the environment
- Superior colliculi – vision
- Inferior colliculi - audition
Tegmentum (ventral):
- Movement
- Arousal
- Pleasure seeking
Substantia nigra (part of the tegmentum)
- High level of dopamine gives it dark colour
- Pale colour in Parkinson’s disease
Sub-cortical Structures of the forebrain
Basal ganglia
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Pituitary gland
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Cerebral cortex
Basal ganglia:
Plan initiation of intentional movements
Thalamus:
Relays & filters info from the senses to the cortex
Hypothalamus:
Regulates internal body functions – temperature, hunger, 4 Fs
(Limbic system)
Pituitary gland:
Regulates hormones
Hippocampus:
Spatial navigation
* Creates and integrates new memories (but not long-term storage)
(Limbic system)
Amygdala:
Emotional processing & memory – particularly fear
(Limbic system)
structures in the Limbic system
Hypothalamus
Hippocampus
Amtgdala
Gyrus
a peak of the folds of the cortex
Sulcus
a valley of the folds of the cortex
the forbrain
cortex
- made up of a left and right hemisphere
Corpus Callosum
the bit connceting the two hemispheres
Precentral gyrus:
Primary Motor cortex
Postcentral gyrus:
Primary Somatosensory cortex
what was importanat about Neurosurgery: Brain stimulation and how in the 1950s: Penfield stimulated exposed cortical surface with an electrode during surgery
- Mapped functions
- it gave Important knowledge about the brain
- and knowing what not to cut out!
Frontal lobe:
Motor cortex
* Planning
* Abstract thinking
* Executive control
Parietal lobe:
somatosensory cortex
* Spatial attention
* Sensory integration
* Object location
* Numbers/quantities
Occipital lobe:
primary visual corext
* Vision
Temporal lobe:
Primary auditory cortex
* Semantic knowledge
* Word meanings
* Object identification
* Audition
Why is CSF (Cerebro-Spinal Fluid) important?
CSF provides shock absorption, protecting brain tissue during movement.
