BIOL 3300 - Exam 1 (Chapter 1)

brain matter

grey matter on the periphery

white matter inside

spinal cord matter

white matter on the periphery

grey matter inside

grey matter

cell body (information processing)

white matter

axon and myelin (communication network)

gyri

ridge or fold

sulcus/sulci

groove or furrow

fissures

lateral and sylvian

frontal lobe

• behavior

• learning

• personality

• voluntary movement

parietal lobe

processes sensory information

occipital lobe

visual processing

temporal lobe

speech

cerebellum

coordinates movement and balance

brainstem

regulates vital functions: breathing, heart rate, etc.

amygdala

processes emotions, fear, and has a role in emotional memory

basal ganglia

controls and fine-tunes voluntary movements

thalamus

relays sensory information to the brain

hippocampus

helps form new memories

hypothalamus

regulates hormones, body temperature, and links nervous system to endocrine system

central nervous system (CNS)

brain, eye, and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

networks of nerves coursing through the body

• sensory nerves

• motor nerves

• autonomic nerves

  • sympathetic - fight or flight

  • parasympathetic - rest and digest

• enteric nervous system - a vast network of neurons controlling digestion

neuron

the basic functional unit of the brain

• cell theory

• cells

• nerve cells

molecular neuroscience

studies the effects of proteins, neurotransmitters, ions, and genes on the function of neurons in normal, injured, and diseased states

cellular neuroscience

studies the role of different cell types and how they work with others

systems neuroscience

studies a collection of neurons/glial cells working together in a common function

behavioral neuroscience

studies how neural systems work together to form behaviors

cognitive neuroscience

studies neural mechanisms for higher-level mental activities in humans

brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)

• important for the growth, survival, and function of neurons - neurotrophic factor

• dimer hydrophobic

• only found in mammals

• extremely important to many areas of research

• receptors - Tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) primary receptor

neurologist

an M.D. trained to diagnose and treat diseases of the nervous system (clinical)

psychiatrist

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

neurosurgeon

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

neuropathologist

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

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 the 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-species animal behaviors in natural settings

neuropharmacologist

examines the effect of drugs on the nervous system

neurophysiologist

measures the electrical activity of the nervous system

physiological psychologist (biological psychologist, psychobiologist)

studies the biological basis of behavior

psychophysicist

quantitatively measures perceptual abilities

Alzheimer’s disease

a progressive degenerative disease of the brain characterized by dementia, damaged memory, thinking, and behavior, and is always fatal

characterized by amyloid plaques and Tau tangles, leading to neuron loss and shrinkage of the brain

new characteristics: hearing, vision, and sensation problems

the immune system and diabetes play some role

autism

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

changes in function, connectivity, function, involved in altered neuronal development, synaptic formation, and neurotransmitter

not caused by vaccines lol

cerebral palsy

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

spasticity - abnormal muscle stiffness or tightness

ataxia - lack of muscle control or coordination, causes clumsiness, and awkward movement

Bell’s palsy

sudden temporary paralysis of one side of the face caused by dysfunction of cranial nerves

inflammation from viral infection

immune response causes the nerve to be compressed or damaged

depression

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

affects mood regulation, cognitive processes like learning and memory

hyperactivity/hypoactivity in key emotional circuits involving the amygdala, hippocampus, and cortex

can be caused by chronic stress

changes in function of the nervous system due to reduction of neuroplasticity and neurotransmitter imbalances: serotonin, glutamate, GABA

epilepsy

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

caused by abnormal excessive electrical activity among brain neurons, disrupting normal signaling and leading to seizures

imbalanced neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA

multiple sclerosis

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

neurodegenerative disease of the CNS that results in loss of function

shortened life expectancy

immune system attacks the myelin sheath and neurons

Parkinson’s disease

a progressive disease of the brain that leads to difficulty in initiating voluntary movement, tremors, stiffness, slowed movement, worsening over time

no cure

due to degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the basal ganglia

10-15% of cases are due to a genetic cause

the rest are environmental with genetic interplay not a simple inherited disease

schizophrenia

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

disruption in the brain circuits in the prefrontal cortex and temporal lobes, due to impaired neural connectivity, due to excessive synaptic pruning and an imbalance in dopamine and glutamate

visual and auditory hallucinations

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