Behavioral Neurobiology Psychology 381 BYU Brock Kirwan

Why use humans for research?

humans can have insight to their own emotions, confidence, and memory

Humans have verbal skills

It is cheaper to use humans than animals

Why use animals for research?

It is often unethical to do studies on human subjects

simpler brains make finding relationships easier

we can gain insight to the human mind through the animal mind

What are Neurons?

specialized cells for the reception, conduction, and transmission of electrochemical signals

Semi-permeable membrane

A cell membrane that allows the passage of certain ions, contains signal proteins and channel proteins

signal proteins

Proteins that snake back and forth through the cell membrane and conduct signals into the neuron when their associated receptors are activated

channel proteins

provide corridors that allow a specific molecule or ion to cross the membrane

Dendrites

emanate from the cell body and receive most synaptic messaging from other cells

Axon

the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

cell body (soma)

contains the nucleus and other parts of the cell needed to sustain its life

Myelin

a fatty substance that helps insulate neurons and speeds the transmission of nerve impulses

Nodes of Ranvier

gaps in the myelin sheath

Oligodendrocytes

Type of glial cell in the CNS, wraps several axons in myelin

Scwann cells

Singular glial cells each with own nucleus , can regenerate, in PNS

saltutory conduction

jumping of the action potential from node to node and it makes the velocity of the action potential faster

anterior/posterior

anterior-toward the nose end

Posterior-toward the tail end

superior/inferior

top and bottom

medial/lateral

toward the midline/away from the midline

ventral/dorsal

ventral-toward the surface of the chest of bottom of the head

Dorsal-toward the surface of the back or top of the head

saggital plane (midline)

divides the body into a right and left side

coronal (frontal) plane

vertical division of the into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions

Axial (transverse) plane (Horizontal)

divides into top and bottom

brainstem function

responsible for automatic survival functions

Brainstem divisions

Mesencephalon (midbrain), Metencephalon(pons, cerebellum), Mylencephalon (Medulla)

limbic system

A doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres;Includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus.

amygdala

(almond shaped) modulates fear response

hippocampus

long-term, declarative memory

Cingulate cortex

error detection, cognitive control

basal ganglia

monitors ongoing motor movements and makes adjustments

Neucleus Accumbens

part of basal ganglia

globus pallidus

part of basal ganglia

Head and Tail of the Caudate

part of basal ganglia

Gyri

ridges of the brain

Sulci

shallow grooves

Fissures

deep grooves in the brain