fundamentals of neuroscience midterm #1

neuroscience

study of the nervous system

aspects of human nature considered in neuroscience

curiosity, pain, pleasure, movement, reasoning, learning, memory, emotion, and madness

the society for neuroscience (SfN)

the largest professional society for neuroscientists, it’s official journal is the Journal of Neuroscience

BRAIN Initiative (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies)

launched by the U.S. gov to revolutionize understanding of the human brain by developing new technologies to map and observe neural circuits

Human Brain Project

a European Union-funded research initative (2013-2023) that aimed to create a digital research infrastructure, know as EBRAINS, to accelerate understanding of the human brain, develop brain-inspired technology, and find new treatments for brain diseases

Brain/MINDS Initiative

Japan’s Brain Mapping by Integraded Neurotechnologies for Disease Studies, a project launched in 2014 to map brain circuits, focusing on marmosets to understand human disorders like dementia and depression

trepanation

an ancient surgical procedure involving drilling or scraping a hole through the human skull to expose the brain’s surface, there is evidence of this over 7000 years ago

ancient Egypt’s thoughts on neuroscience

became aware of many brain damage symptoms

said that “the heart is the seat of soul and memory” (not the head)

ancient Greece view of the brain

suggested a correlation between structure and function

Hippocrates said “the brain is involved in sensation and is the seat of intelligence”

Galen view of the brain (roman empire)

since the cerebrum is soft, it was associated with sensation

since the cerebellum is hard, it was associated with muscle control

ventricles were thought to be hollow cavities in the brain that allowed for fluid to flow and control different things

renaissance to 17th century view of the brain

the fluid-mechanical theory of brain function

Descarte proposed the philosophical mind-brain problem

fluid-mechanical theory of brain function

posits that fluids like cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and interstitial fluid (ISF) are crucial for brain health, acting as a transport system for nutrients, waste removal, and cushioning, with movement driven by pressure gradients an arterial pulsations, influencing everything from cognitive function to neurological diseases like hydrocephalus, dementia, and MS

Descartes

talked about the philosophical mind-brain problem

gray matter

brain tissue rich in neuron cell bodies, dendrites, and unmyelinated axons

white matter

myelinated nerve fibers (axons) that transmit signals between different brain regions

18th century view of the brain

gross anatomy detailed

bumps (gyri) and grooves (sulci and fissures)

suggested that different bumps may have different functions

19th century view of the brain

nerves were seen as wires there was a new understanding of electrical phenomena and that the nervous system can generate electricity

Bell and Magendie (19th century)

said that dorsal and ventral roots carry information in opposite directions

phrenology (19th century)

a popular 19th century pseudoscience claiming that bumps and contours on a person’s skull revealed their character, personality, and mental faculties, championed by Franz J. Gall

Paul Broca (19th century)

did a lot of work with discovering the localization of function in the brain (research in acquired damage to the from regions of the brain, such as Broca’s area/frontal lobe of the dominant hemisphere)

specifically found the brain region necessary for speech

Charles Darwin (19th century)

pioneered the idea of the evolution of the nervous system

his rationale for animal models was that they evolve from common ancestors and may have common mechanisms

neuron

the basic functional unit of the brain

levels of analysis

molecular neuroscience

cellular neuroscience

systems neuroscience

behavioral neuroscience

cognitive neuroscience (brain activity creates mind)

Alzheimer’s disease

a progressive degenerative disease of the brain, characterized by dementia and always fatal

Autism

a disorder emerging in early childhood characterized by impairments in communication and social interactions, and restricted and repetitive behaviors

Cerebral palsy

a motor disorder caused by damage to the cerebrum before, during, or soon after birth

Depression

a serious disorder of mood, characterized by insomnia, loss of appetite, and feelings of dejection

Epilepsy

a condition characterized by periodic disturbances of brain electrical activity that can lead to seizures, loss of consciousness, and sensory disturbances

Multiple sclerosis

a progressive disease that affects nerve conduction, characterized by episodes of weakness, lack of coordination, and speech disturbance

Parkinson’s disease

a progressive disease of the brain that leads to difficulty in initiating voluntary movement

Schizophrenia

a severe psychotic illness characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and bizarre behavior

Spinal paralysis

a loss of feeling and movement caused by traumatic damage to the spinal cord

Stroke

a loss of brain function caused by disruption of the blood supply, usually leading to permanent sensory motor, or cognitive deficit

neurologist

and M.D. trained to diagnose and treat diseases of the nervous system

psychiatrist

an M.D. trained to diagnose and treat disorders of mood and behavior

neurosurgeon

an M.D. trained to perform surgery on the brain and spinal cord

neuropathologist

an M.D. or Ph.D. trained to recognize the changes in nervous tissue that result from disease

developmental neurobiologist

analyzes the development and maturation of the brain

molecular neurobiologist

uses the genetic material of neurons to understand the structure and function of brain molecules

neuroanatomist

studies the structure of the nervous system

neurochemist

studies the chemistry of the nervous system

neuroethologist

studies the neural basis of species-specific animal behaviors in natural settings

neuropharmacologist

examines the effects of drugs on the nervous system

neurophysioloist

measures the electrical activity of the nervous system

physiological psychologist

studies the biological basis of behavior

psychophysicist

quantitatively measures perceptual abilities