Your Brain: getting to know it

CH 2- Neuroscience and Behavior

This chapter = a users manual Key questions:
How does it work? Can it be changed? Why do certain chemicals affect it? Can it be fixed if it gets hurt?

CH Organization
1- Neuron (single-cell) level in the brain. How do individual brain cells work? 2- Nervous system. How is the brain hooked up to the whole body? 3- Whole brain. How is the brain specialized to do all it does?
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1- Brain cells (neurons)

Neurons = brain cells Ultimately all brain activity can be reduced to the firing of these cells Oh-my-gosh yours are firing now!

Neuron
Parts of the Neuron
Cell Body Dendrites Axons Pg-44

One-way movement only

Dendrites Receive inputs from neighboring neurons Many, many dendrites per neuron Axons The cells output structure send info to next cell One axon per cell (cells tail)

Components of a Neuron
dendrites soma terminal buttons axon

myelin sheath

All or None Law

A neuron cant fire just a little bit--it either fires or it doesnt Technical term: action potential (means neuron firing)

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Neural Communication

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Synapse = space between neurons

Neurons never touch each other- (like islands) Synapse = filled with chemicals Called neurotransmitters Chemicals from 1 neuron go out the axon across the synapse - into the dendrite of the next neuron

Synaptic Transmission
synapse

terminal button synaptic vesicle receptor site neurotransmitter

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Neurotransmitters are very specific like Lock and Key

Neurotransmitter molecules have specific shapes

Receptor molecules have binding sites

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One NT to know: Serotonin Involved in mood balance esp. depression

Prozac works by keeping serotonin in the synapse longer, giving it more time to exert an effect SSRI selective re-uptake inhibitor

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Another important NT -Dopamine

Involved in movement, attention, and learning Also key involvement in perception of pleasure & sensation
So Dopamine is involved in addiction

How Subtle Your Brain Is!

Dopamine example:
Too much & you will experience schizophrenic symptoms (is this the cause of schizophrenia?) Too little & you will experience symptoms of Parkinsons Disease

Key = BALANCE
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Endorphins
The natural feel good chemical Control pain and pleasure Released in response to pain Runners high feeling of pleasure after a long run is due to heavy endorphin release

Neurotransmitter Summary
After crossing the synapse, the neurotransmitter is either reuptaken or degraded
Like left-over food throw it away or store it to use again

More than 40 known types of NTs

Different NTs have different effects
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Drugs = chemicals
Chemicals work by affecting the neurotransmitters
Stimulate or inhibit natural transmitters Mimic natural transmitters Help the uptake of natural transmitters

Summary: Key Concepts

Neuron structure All-or-nothing firing Synapse Neurotransmitters Receptors

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II- The Nervous System

Note the balance within the nervous system Balance a key concept in health (physical & mental)
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Sympathetic Nervous Systemthe up system

dilates pupils accelerates heart, constricts arterioles dilates bronchi inhibits stomach motility & secretions

Parasympathetic Nervous System down system

constricts pupils stimulates tear glands slows heart constricts bronchi stimulates stomach secretion

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Endocrine System - hormones

Pituitary gland hormones affect the
function of other glands

III- The whole brain

Adrenal glands - hormones involved in

human stress response

Gonadshormones regulate sexual

characteristics and reproductive processes

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Developing Brain
Neural tube beginning of nervous system develops at 2 weeks after conception Neurogenesis development of new neurons
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Brain major regions

Brainstem
Hindbrain Midbrain

Cross-section of the Brain

Cerebral cortex Limbic system

Brainstem

Forebrain
Limbic system Cortex

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Brainstem

Brainstem

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Limbic system
Middle section of brain Focus = emotional regulation & reaction Your emotional brain
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Limbic System

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The Cortex
Your thinking brain Its convoluted (folded) to have more space In general, the larger the cortex the more intelligent the species is.

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Cortex Specialization Localization

Different sections of cortex called lobes Have different, specialized functions

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The Cerebral Cortex

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Examples of Specialization
Brain activity when hearing, seeing, and speaking words different areas

Specialization, cont.
Brocas area - plays role in speech production Wernikes area - plays role in plays in understanding and meaningful speech Where a brain injury occurs DOES matter!
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Frontal Lobes your Executive Functions

voluntary movement attention goal-directed behavior Example: After Phineas Gage's frontal lobes were destroyed, his ability to plan, limit impulses, and reason were lost Last part of brain to develop
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Lateralization: Two Sides of your Brain

Left hemisphere Right hemisphere Corpus callosum - connection

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Left Hemisphere
right hand touch and movement speech language writing for right handers

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Right Hemisphere
left hand touch and movement spatial construction face recognition nonverbal imagery writing for left handers
What if we cut the 2 halves of your brain apart ? They did!

Split-Brain
Research & myths

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Brain Reactions
The thinking brain (cortex) is different from the emotional brain (limbic system) Hard-wired: first reactions in emotional situations = processed by limbic system (emotional brain) NOT cortex (thinking brain)
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Understanding ADHD
Emotional control = handled by the frontal lobe
Which is the last part of brain to develop. Thats why maturity is age-dependent

ADHD frontal lobe doesnt have control

Thats where stimulant meds work

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Brain Reorganization
Plasticity the brains capacity for modification, as evident in brain reorganization following damage (especially in children) and in experiments on the effects of experience on brain development

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