PSYCH0100 Biopyschology/Human Genetics - Unit 1

neural communication

every idea, mood, and urge is a biological happening

using animals as a case study (ex.Sea Slugs and learning)

Neurons

nerve cells, building blocks of nervous syste,

differ but generally have a similar strucutre

dendrites

where a neuron receives information

nucleus of the neuron

information flows through the cell from the dendrite and passes to the axon

Axon

end tail of the neuron, myelin sheaths (optional) and terminals

Action Potential

neural impulse, neurons dentrites are stimulated, then it sends a signal down the axon to the terminals

“all or none” rules, enough of a signal means that the impulse is fired

exchange of ions occurs

Excitatory signal

active impulse, gas pedal

Inhibitory Signal

brake pedals, neural impulse

Synapses

small spaces in between neurons

Neurotransmitters

received by the other neuron in a process known as reuptake

Acetylcholine (ACh)

neurotransmitter that allows muscles to contract

Dopamine

neurotransmitter that affects movement, emotion, and behavior

Serotonin

neurotransmitter that affects mood, hunger, sleep, arousal

Endorphins

Neurotransmitter that affects the “high” feeling after exercise

nervous system

body’s electrical communication network

peripheral nervous system

outside the midline of the body

central nervous system

center of the body, brain and spinal cord

neurons cluster in neural networks

autonomic nervous system

autopilot; controls things that you don’t consciously do, Internal organs, digestions, BP, etc

part of the peripheral nervous system

somatic nervous system

voluntary movement, movement, etc

part of the peripheral nervous system

Sympathetic Nervous System

arousing, flight or fight

part of the autonomic peripheral nervous system

Parasympathetic Nervous System

calming, regulation

part of the autonomic peripheral nervous system

spinal cord

communicates between peripheral nervous system and the brain

reflexes!

endocrine system

slower, chemical communication system

endocrine messages tend to outlast the effects of neural messages

fight or flight can order the adrenal gland to excrete hormones

pituitary gland

the most influential endocrine gland

• stimulates physical development

oxytocin

hormone involved with birthing, nursing, and orga(ni)sm

Older Brain Structures

evolutionary first, survival functions

controls breathing, BP, sleep, etc

Brainstem

medulla and pons

spinal cords enters the skull

medulla

breathin, HB, BP, vomiting

pons

sleep, swallowing, bladder control, equilibrium, posture

thalamus

relays information from/to body and brain

helps with all sense except for smell

Cerebellum

little brain, motor functions

coordination, precision, timing

learning motor skills

alcohol affects

Cerebellum

mini brain

motor functions - coordination, precision, timing

learning motor skills

Limbic System

group of structures i the brain that regulates emotions, memory, basic drives, and homeostasis

Amygdala

influences aggression and fear

hypothalamus

fighting

fleeing

feeding

mating

reward center, pleasure from smoking or video games

hippocampus

important to learning and memory

hypothalamus

reward center

mice would endanger themselves to experience stimulation

structure of cortex

frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal

frontal lobe

planning, judgement, behavioral inhibition

reasoning

phineas gage

railroad worker, explosives to make space

metal rod gets shot through his skull, frontal lobe impalement, planning ability impacted

parietal lobe

cerebral cortex, top back of head, sensory input

occipital lobe

vision

temporal lobe

hearing

cortex functions

motor functions

sensory functions

association areas

Motor Cortex

arch shaped region at the back of the frontal lobes that directs muscular output

sensory cortex

parallel to and just behind the motor cortex

receives incoming sensory signals

association areas

interpret, integrate, and act on information

about 75% of the human brain

neuroplasticity

the brain’s ability to change by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

corpus collosum

allows two hemispheres of the brain to communicate

severance doesn’t affect much