Week 3

Question 1

Identify and describe the functions of the CNS

Answer 1

Brain and spinal cord – highly protected.
2-way communication to interpret and respond to the environment.
Reflexes – do not involve brain
Info to spinal cord from PNS

Question 2

Identify and describe the functions of the PNS

Answer 2

Connected to spinal system via nerves
Afferent nerves – from skin, eyes, ears, etc.
Efferent nerves – carry motor signals from brain to the muscles via spinal cord

Somatic Nervous system (controls communication between nerves to muscles to spinal cord to brain)

Autonomic Nervous System (heart, lungs, stomach)

Question 3

Describe basic brain anatomy of the Forebrain

Answer 3

Hypothalamus - eating, sleeping. sex, emotions
Thalamus - sensory information
Cerebral cortex - 3mm thick casing over brain of densely packed neurons.

Question 4

Describe basic brain anatomy of the Midbrain

Answer 4

Tectum - visual and auditory

Tegmentum - movement and arousal

Question 5

Describe basic brain anatomy of the Hindbrain

Answer 5

Medulla oblongata - heartbeat, circulation, respiration
Cerebellum - movement/balance
Reticular formation - consciousness and arousal

Question 6

What is the corpus collosum?

Answer 6

Thick bundle of fibres connecting the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Question 7

What is the Amygdala responsible for?

Answer 7

Fight/flight response

Response to rewards.

Question 8

What is the Hippocampus responsible for?

Answer 8

Emotionally relevant memories stored (Alzheimer’s has smaller hippocampus)
Short term memory storage here, then transferred to long term memories.

Question 9

Describe brain imaging technique PET

Answer 9

scans for changes in blood flow and changes in glucose. Has low temporal resolution.

Question 10

Describe brain imaging technique FMRI

Answer 10

Higher resolution 3D image. Picks up more rapid changes in neural function. Uses blood flow as indicator. Uses magnets not radioactive substance to trace.

Question 11

Describe brain imaging technique MRI

Answer 11

Exposes brain to magnetic fields and measures radio frequency waves. High resolution image with no radioactivity but is expensive

Question 12

Describe brain imaging technique MEG

Answer 12

Magnets to measure neural activity. Can pick up faster processing signals than FMRI. Used in conjunction with FMRI.

Question 13

Describe brain imaging technique EEG

Answer 13

electrodes attached to forehead. Shows lines charting the summed electrical fields of neural activity. Detects rapid change in activity but has poor spatial resolution.

Question 14

Describe brain imaging technique TMS

Answer 14

Temporarily disrupts electrical activity in region of the brain by exposing activity in region of brain by exposing to intense magnetic field. Allows a look into specific regions but long term safety not known.

Question 15

Describe the function of the Pituitary gland in the endocrine system

Answer 15

growth, controls thyroid, ovaries/testes, pancreas and adrenal cortex

Question 16

Describe the function of the Pancreas in the endocrine system

Answer 16

regulates sugar metabolism

Question 17

Describe the function of the Hypothalamus in the endocrine system

Answer 17

controls pituitary gland

Question 18

Describe the function of the Thyroid in the endocrine system

Answer 18

controls metabolic rate

Question 19

Describe the function of the Adrenal cortex in the endocrine system

Answer 19

carbohydrates and metabolism

Question 20

Describe the function of the Adrenal medulla in the endocrine system

Answer 20

prepares body for action

Question 21

Describe the function of the Ovaries in the endocrine system

Answer 21

female reproductive organ

Question 22

Describe the function of the Testes in the endocrine system

Answer 22

male reproductive organ

Question 23

Describe the path of the endocrine system

Answer 23

Brain to pituitary gland to endocrine organ to target organ