BBB - Week 2 - methods of study of brain and behaviour

what are modern methods of studying brain and behaviour?

neuropsychology, electroencephalography (EEG), neuroimaging (PET, fMRI, MEG), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

What is neuropsychology?

The study of brain damage and how certain regions affect behaviour

what is electroencephalography (EEG)?

Measures electrical activity of the brain - WHEN activity in brain happens

what are PET scans? (neuroimaging)

Oldest method of neuroimaging - injects mildly radioactive material in brain, machine then captures which regions of brain is active during a task - WHERE activity happens

what is fMRI? (neuroimaging)

Similar process as PET but more precise - captures WHERE activity happens

What is magnetoencephalography (MEG)? - neuroimaging

Captures WHERE and WHEN activity happens

what is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)?

Allows stimulation (increase or decrease) of brain activity in a specific region of the brain - involves looking at consequences of such stimulation

What is one type of information that can be gathered from EEGs?

Event Related Potentials (ERPs)

What are event related potentials (ERPs)?

Measures activity in response to a specific stimulus - ERPs often used in neurobiological research investigating psychological functions

what does an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) show?

Neuroanatomy- identifies different regions of the brain and the nervous system

how/what does fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) do?

Measures blood flow in the brain during a (mental) activity → establishes the role of different brain regions in psychological functioning (WHERE brain activity occurs)

How is the Nervous System divided?

Central nervous system (CNS), Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

what is the central nervous system (CNS) made up of?

Brain, spinal cord

what is the Peripheral nervous system (PNS) made up of?

Somatic nervous system (SNS), autonomic nervous system (ANS), enteric nervous system

what is the autonomic nervous system (ANS) made up of?

Sympathetic nervous system, Parasympathetic nervous system

what is the somatic nervous system (SNS) connected to?

It connects the brain to the sensory organs to receive incoming info (AFFERENT pathways → also connects the brain to the muscles to produce movement (EFFERENT pathways)

What does the somatic nervous system (SNS) enable?

It enables interaction between us and the environment

How many pairs of cranial nerves does the somatic nervous system (SNS) consist of?

12 pairs

which cranial nerves in the somatic nervous system (SNS) are responsible for sensory info?

1 (smell), 2 (vision), 7 (hearing and balance)

which cranial nerves in the somatic nervous system (SNS) are responsible for motor functions?

3, 4, 6 (eye movements), 9 (neck muscles), 12 (tongue)

Which of the cranial nerves in the somatic nervous system (SNS) makes up the sensory AND motor functions?

5, 7, 8, 10, 11

how many pairs of spinal nerves does the somatic nervous system (SNS) consist of?

31 pairs

what is the autonomic nervous system (ANS) responsible for?

Regulating internal organs - regulating ‘autonomous’ systems that are involuntary

what is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?

Responsible for fight or flight response (prepares body for action/response to danger) → increases heart rate, blood pressure, pupil dilation

what is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)?

Promotes recovery from the actions of the sympathetic system (rest/digest, helps body relax) → decreases heart rate, blood pressure, stimulated digestion

what is the function of the enteric nervous system?

Functions largely independently outside ANS - regulates digestion, helps control nutrient absorption and waste elimination

what are neurons structurally?

Building blocks of the nervous system

what are neurons often described as?

Basic information-processing units

Who proposed the neuron doctrine?

Ramon y Cajal

what are 2 ways that neurons can be categorised by?

By function, by shape

what are the 3 types of neurons BY FUNCTION?

Sensory, motor, interneurons (relay neurons)

what are the 3 types of neurons BY SHAPE?

Multipolar, Bipolar, Unipolar

what are sensory neurons?

They carry information from the body to the spinal cord and brain

what are motor neurons?

They carry info from the nervous system to the muscles and internal organs

what are interneurons/relay neurons?

They receive info from neurons and pass it on to other neurons

what is a multipolar neuron?

A neuron that has many dendrites, single axon

what is a bipolar neuron?

a bipolar neuron has one dendrite, single axon

what is a unipolar neuron?

A neuron that has a single axon that branches into 2 directions, dendrites on one side of nucleus and axon terminals on the other side

what is the presynaptic neuron?

Its the one that sends information

what is the postsynaptic neuron?

It receives the information

what is the key role neurotransmitters play?

Their key role is in communicating info between neurons

what do neurotransmitters influence?

They influence the chain of biochemical reactions that allow neurons to pass info (activate each other)

what chemical is primarily used in cholinergic networks?

Acetylcholine (ACh)

what function does the cholinergic networks serve?

to do with attention - learning and memory

what chemical is primarily used in dopaminergic networks?

Dopamine (DA)

What is the function of dopaminergic networks?

involved in movement/motor control and reward/reinforcement

what chemical is primarily involved in serotonergic networks?

Serotonin (5-HT)

what function does serotonergic networks serve?

involved in mood, sexual behaviour, anxiety

what are glial cells?

nonneural cells that provide supporting functions to neurons

what is the function of astrocytes (glia)?

nutrition - link between neurons and blood vessels

what is the function microglia? (glia)

remove debris from damaged/dead cells

what is the function of olygodendrocytes (glia)?

myelination in the central nervous system (CNS)

What is the function of Schwann cells (glia)?

myelination in the peripheral nervous system (PNS)