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Structure and Function of The Brain Biopsyc Day 3 2016

The document summarizes key aspects of neuron structure and function as well as structures of the human brain. It discusses how neurons receive and transmit signals, and describes the basic structure and functions of important brain regions including: - The brainstem, thalamus, cerebellum, limbic system, cortex, and lobes of the cerebral cortex. - It highlights localization of function in different brain areas and how stimulating specific regions can influence behavior, movement, and sensory processing.

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905 views28 pages

Structure and Function of The Brain Biopsyc Day 3 2016

The document summarizes key aspects of neuron structure and function as well as structures of the human brain. It discusses how neurons receive and transmit signals, and describes the basic structure and functions of important brain regions including: - The brainstem, thalamus, cerebellum, limbic system, cortex, and lobes of the cerebral cortex. - It highlights localization of function in different brain areas and how stimulating specific regions can influence behavior, movement, and sensory processing.

Uploaded by

api-296712028
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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STRUCTURE

AND
FUNCTION

NEURON COMMUNICATION REFRESHED


Dendrites receive signals (nerve impulses) from other neurons
Some are inhibitory, others excitatory and the signals are
cumulatively collected

If the sum of the potentials crosses the threshold, then an action


potential is triggered in the axon hillock, if not, no action potential
is triggered

Action potentials are electrical, they are a temporary reversal of


the electrical potential of the axons membrane, lasting scarcely a
few milliseconds.

Depolarization - Sodium gates open and the axon section


becomes positively charged as sodium rushes in

Repolarization Sodium channels close and potassium gates


open and potassium rushes out of the cell and the axon
section becomes negatively charged

TWO HEMISPHERES

The two

halves of the
human brain
are not exactly
alike but there
are pairs of
structures

-Left/right

VENTRICLES

Cerebrospinal fluid is contained within


the ventricles

CSF: protection, buoyancy, waste clearance


and hormone transport

THE BRAINSTEM:

THE OLDEST
AND INNER MOST PART OF THE BRAIN
Brain stem is where the spinal
cord swells (medulla and pons)

Medulla
controls heartbeat
and breathing

Pons

Bridge
Coordinates movement
Involved in sleep, arousal, facial
expression

Reticular

Formation

this portion of the brain is responsible for mood,


arousal and sleep
The neurons here are the source of most
serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain

CATS AND THE RETICULAR FORMATION

If you stimulate the


reticular formation

you are almost


instantly alert

If you sever it then


Welcome to your
coma from which you

THALAMUS & CEREBELLUM


STILL CONSIDERED LOWER-LEVEL
BRAIN STRUCTURES

Thalamus
Pair of egg shaped structures on top of the

brainstem
receives information from all of our bodys
sensory organs (except smell olfactory
bulb) and reroutes it to higher areas for
processing (sight, hearing, taste, touch)
The Cortex is very connected to the
thalamus involved in memory and states
of consciousness

Cerebellum who are you really?


We know that it helps coordinate voluntary movement and
balance

How do we test for inebriation?

We used to underestimate it but now


Damage leads to subtle deficits in language, cognition and
perception

SUBCORTICAL STRUCTURES: LIMBIC SYSTEM


BETWEEN THE OLD STUFF AND THE CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES
Amgydala

Two almond/lima bean shaped


clusters
Involved in identifying,
remembering and responding to
fear and aggression
Hypothalamus
Hippocampus
Pituitary

THE PLACID CAT HAD ITS AMYGDALA


STIMULATED
Placement matters
One area can trigger
aggression while
stimulation of
another area can
trigger

AMYGDALA REMOVED

SUBCORTICAL STRUCTURES: LIMBIC SYSTEM


BETWEEN THE OLD STUFF AND THE CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES

Amygdala
Hypothalamus
Monitors and influences hunger,
thirst, body temperature and even
our sexual behavior
Maintains a steady internal state
4F behaviours: feeding, fleeing,
fighting and fornicating
Secretes hormones and triggers
the pituitary
Hippocampus
Pituitary

SUBCORTICAL STRUCTURES: LIMBIC SYSTEM


BETWEEN THE OLD STUFF AND THE CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES

Amygdala
Hypothalamus
Hippocampus
involved in the processing of
memory (especially long-term)
Damage here results in profound
impairments in forming new
memories
Pituitary
A.k.a.The Master Gland
Influences hormone release by other
glands

CORTEX LOVE YOUR


WRINKLES
Grey matter White matter
the cortex (like
bark)

not cortex
Myelin on the nerve

part of the brain


fibers (axons) makes it
that is controlled
white
by the nerve cell
Fatty insulators speed
bodies and the
majority of the true communication one of
dendrites
the type of glial cells
Grey because the
Glial cells are the glue
neurons get the attention
the neuronal nuclei
but they cannot feed or
and somas and
sheath themselves - glial
cells do that
dendrites dont
have fatty myelin

TWO HEMISPHERES

They are connected by the corpus callosum

A band of axon fibers


that transmit
messages between
the two hemispheres

There is localization of function

The areas of the


cerebral cortex fall
into three categories:
Sensory, motor and
Association

LOCALIZATION OF FUNCTION
The

areas of the cerebral cortex fall into three


categories: Sensory, Motor and Association

Sensory
Processes incoming information from the sensory
systems (eg. vision or taste)

Motor
Provides highest level of voluntary control over
movement

Association
Helps build bridges between sensation and action,
language, and abstract thought

THE CEREBRAL CORTEX


IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR LOBES
Frontal lobe

involved in speaking, muscle


movements, thinking and
planning

Temporal lobe
includes the auditory areas
Parietal lobe
includes the sensory cortex
Occipital lobe
includes the visual area that
receives information from eyes

LATERAL FISSURE

CENTRAL
SULCUS

SENSORY INFORMATION OTHER THAN TOUCH IS


RECEIVED OUTSIDE OF THE SOMATOSENSORY CORTEX
Auditory

Processes information that


you hear

Motor
Provides highest level of
voluntary control over
movement

SOMETHING COOL
Motor cortex
Provides highest level of voluntary
control over movement

researchers stimulate this section


and cause movement of body
parts (opposite side of body)

Somatosensory

cortex

Receives the incoming messages


If you stimulate a point on top of

the top of this band of tissue, the


person may report being touched
on the shoulder (try the side, feel
the face)

BRAIN COMPUTER INTERFACE SO COOL!


RESEARCHERS HAVE STARTED TO BE ABLE TO
PREDICT MOVEMENT BEFORE IT OCCURS

ASSOCIATION AREAS
Association areas are
areas of the cortex that
are not involved in primary
motor or sensory functions
They are involved in
higher mental functions
such as learning,
remembering, thinking
and speaking

How to remember functions of Brocas area and Wernickes area.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE


Sheets out!

EXPERT GROUPS
Groups of three

Understanding the teen brain


Law and psychology
Autism and motor neurons

How does biopsychology enhance our understanding or


expertise as scientists interested in behaviour and mental
processes

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