2: Cognitive Neuroscience (PART 1: Brain-Drugs)

Cognitive Neuroscience

It explores how brain structures and functions relate to behaviors and mental activities.

Forebrain

It is the most advanced part of the brain and is responsible for higher cognitive functions.

Includes the cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, and limbic system.

Midbrain

It acts as a relay station for auditory and visual information.

It contains structures such as the tectum and tegmentum, which are involved in visual and auditory processing and motor control.

Hindbrain

It is involved in maintaining balance, coordinating movement, and regulating autonomic functions like heart rate and respiration.

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for executive functions, decision-making, problem-solving, and controlling voluntary movement

Parietal Lobe

Responsible for sensory information, spatial orientation, and body awareness

Temporal Lobe

Responsible for auditory processing, memory, and language comprehension

Occipital Lobe

Responsible for visual processing

Broca’s Area

Located in the frontal lobe, it is linked to speech production.

Wernicke’s Area

Located in the temporal lobe, it is involved in language comprehension.

Neurons

These are the basic functional units of the brain. They are responsible for transmitting information throughout the nervous system.

Cell Body (Soma)

A main part of a neuron:

It contains the nucleus and is the metabolic center of the neuron.

Dendrites

A main part of a neuron:

They receive incoming signals from other neurons.

Axon

A main part of a neuron:

It conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body toward other neurons or muscles.

Synapses

It is where neurons communicate with each other. Neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal of one neuron and bind to receptors on the dendrite of another.

Receptors

These are specialized protein molecules on neuron surfaces that bind to neurotransmitters.

Examples: dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine

Agonists

Type of psychoactive drug:

It increases the activity of a neurotransmitter by mimicking its effects or by inhibiting its reuptake.

Antagonists

Type of psychoactive drug:

It decreases the activity of a neurotransmitter by blocking its receptors.