Chapter 4 The brain: Source of mind and self

The brain: Source of mind and self

Divisions of the nervous system The neuron The mind The brain

Divisions of the Nervous System

Central Nervous System (CNS)
Brain Spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Somatic Autonomic

The Central Nervous System

The brain and spinal cord
Brain
More later

Spinal Cord
Neurons and supportive tissue Spinal column

The withdrawal reflex

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Input and output from the CNS
2 types of nerves
Sensory nerves: From sensory receptors (skin, muscle, some internal organs) Motor nerves: Carry orders to muscles, glands & internal organs

Divisions of the PNS

Somatic Nerves connect to muscles that move bones Autonomic Nerves connect to involuntary muscles and glands

Sympathetic Fight/flight Speed up

Parasympathetic Feed/breed Slow down

PNS
Divided into 2 parts:
Somatic nervous system (i.e. skeletal)
Voluntary actions

Autonomic nervous system

Non-voluntary actions
Regulation of Internal organs Constriction of blood vessels Regulates bladder, stomach and heart

Divisions of the PNS

Somatic Nerves connect to muscles that move bones Autonomic Nerves connect to involuntary muscles and glands

Sympathetic Fight/flight Speed up

Parasympathetic Feed/breed Slow down

PNS
Autonomic nervous system
Sympathetic
Fight or flight Blushing, sweaty palms, heart racing. . .

Parasympathetic
Relaxation Slows things down to conserve energy

Divisions of the PNS

Somatic Nerves connect to muscles that move bones Autonomic Nerves connect to involuntary muscles and glands

Sympathetic Fight/flight Speed up

Parasympathetic Feed/breed Slow down

Divisions of the nervous system

Divisions of the nervous system

Nervous system

CNS

PNS

Brain

Spinal cord

Autonomic NS

Somatic NS

Sympathetic NS

Parasympathetic NS

The brain: Source of mind and self

Divisions of the nervous system The neuron The mind The brain

The neuron
Neurons: the building blocks of the nervous system
Sensory neurons
send signals from the senses, skin, muscles, and internal organs to the CNS

Motor neurons
transmit commands from the CNS to the muscles, glands, and organs

Interneurons
Located between sensory and motor neurons Most numerous type of neuron Function: transmit signals from one part of the body to another

Glial cells
Support and nutrition of neurons 10 X as many glial cells as neurons

Different kinds of neurons

Neurons vary in size and shape, depending on their location and function. More than 200 types have been identified in mammals.

The structure of a neuron

The structure of a neuron

Dendrites
Receive messages

Cell body
Biochemical machinery Sends signal

Axon
Transmits messages Divides to axon terminals

Myelin sheath
Insulation and speed of signal transfer

Nerves
Made up of many neurons

How neurons communicate

Axon terminals release neurotransmitter Enters synapse

Binds to receptors that fit
Lock & key

How neurons communicate

Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers Transmit message over synapse
Serotonin (associated with depression) Dopamine (associated with depression) Acetylcholine (muscle action, memory, emotion) Norepinephrine (learning, memory, increase HR) Gamma amino butyric acid (GABA: inhibitory in the brain) Glutamate (excitatory in the brain)

How Neurons Communicate

Electrochemical message

Action potential
Change in electrical voltage between the inside and outside of an axon

How Neurons Communicate

Action Potential - all or none
An electrical impulse along an axon Influx of positive ions Generated by touch, pressure, light, stimulation from other neurons

Excitatory or inhibitory

Threshold
The level of stimulation needed to trigger an action potential

How Neurons Communicate

Electrochemical
Electro?
+ ions rushing into axon

Chemical?
Neurotransmitters moving across synapse

Neurons in the news

Neurogenesis
Growth of new neurons Once thought impossible

Stem cells
Immature cells that renew themselves and have the potential to develop into mature cells

Stem-cell research
Embryonic stem cells are most useful Controversial
In 2001, President Bush signed executive order preventing creation of new cell lines.

Some scientists want the ban lifted

Neurons in the news

Neurogenesis
Growth of new neurons Once thought impossible

Stem cells
Immature cells that renew themselves and have the potential to develop into mature cells

Plasticity
Flexibility in adapting to new experiences Brain damage recoveries The blind

Plasticity in Brain & Behavior

Experiments with rats
Housed alone Housed with enrichment

Richer environments led to heavier, thicker brains, more synapses, and better learning

The brain: Source of mind and self

Divisions of the nervous system The neuron The mind The brain

The mind
Your Brain is HUNGRY

Makes up 2 % of your body weight Consumes 20% of the energy you take in!!

The Mind
Our perceptions and thoughts and memories exist in the patterns of activity of the brain.

How do we study/find the brain?? -electrical and magnetic detection

Electrical and magnetic detection

Electroencephalogram (EEG) Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) Positron emission Tomography (PET) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Electrical and magnetic detection

EEG
A typical waveform

EEG Waveforms for Different Stages of Sleep

EEG Recording from Multiple Locations

EEG Recording from Multiple Locations

EEG Recording from Multiple Locations

EEG Recording from Multiple Locations

Warning . .picture of the brain next!!

Recorded Directly from the Brain Surface

Uses needle electrodes

nly done with people who are already having brain surger Dont try this at home!

Electrical and magnetic detection

Electroencephalogram (EEG) Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) Positron emission Tomography (PET) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Electrical and magnetic detection

TMS
A magnetic pulse near a brain area will briefly cause random activity Temporarily makes one part of the brain not work

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Electrical and magnetic detection

Electroencephalogram (EEG) Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) Positron emission Tomography (PET) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

PET Scan
Measures blood flow Inject radioactive material Detect the decay of the material (halflife)

Sample PET Images

Electrical and magnetic detection

Electroencephalogram (EEG) Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) Positron emission Tomography (PET) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

MRI

Functional MRI (fMRI)

Super fast MRI to get data on people actively performing a task

The brain: Source of mind and self

Divisions of the nervous system The neuron The mind The brain

A tour through the brain

Localization of function

The Brain

Regions of the Brain

A tour through the brain: The Brainstem

Medulla
Vital involuntary functions

Pons
Sleep and arousal

Reticular activating system (RAS)

Sleep, arousal, attention

Cerebellum
Motor coordination

The Brain

Lesser brain Sense of balance New evidence it help in problem solving too

The cerebellum

The Brain

Regions of the Brain

The Limbic System

Thalamus Sensory relay station Hypothalamus Regulates glands, autonomic NS
Hunger, thirst, sex, reproduction, body temp

Pituitary gland
Sends signals to other glands

Amygdala Fear, anger, and aggression Hippocampus Memory formation

Pituitary gland

The cerebrum

The cerebrum
Divided into 2 hemispheres Corpus callosum Bundle of nerve fibers connecting the left and right hemispheres

Cerebral cortex
6 Layers-outermost surface of the brain Filled with cell bodies Higher forms of thinking

The Four Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex

Occipital lobe Vision Parietal lobe Somatosensory Temporal lobe Auditory cortex/hearing Wernickes area Frontal lobe Strategic and effortful processing Goal directed behaviors Voluntary control Motor cortex Brocas area

Frontal lobe damage

Phineas Gage was a railroad construction foreman
An 1848 explosion forced a steel tamping rod through his head Others said he was no longer Gage

Jenny bumps her head and is suddenly unable to see, although the doctor says there is nothing wrong with her eyes? Which part of her brain did Jenny damage?
1. The amygdala 2. The hippocampus 3. The occipital lobe of the cerebral cortex 4. The parietal lobe of the cerebral cortex

The Somatosensory and Motor Areas

Homunculus

Left Brain/Right Brain

Left handed people are the only ones in their right mind

Left Brain: Mathematical calculations and Language --Details Right Brain: Perceiving complex visual patterns --Holistic

The corpus callosum

Millions of axons connecting the brains hemispheres Provides a pathway for communication Sometimes surgically severed to treat epilepsy

Split-brain experiment
Subjects were presented information to one or the other side of their brains. Patients identified verbally the pictures to the right (e.g., boy). When patients were asked to use left arm to point to the face seen, the patients pointed to the left picture.

Split-brain experiment

Sex difference in the brain?

Differences in lateralization of language.
Males show left hemisphere activation only. Females show left and right hemisphere activation.