Psych100 Chapter 3

Neuroscience Overview

  • Psychology Around Us: Chapter 3 Neuroscience

Learning Objectives

Key Methods in Neuroscience

  • Understanding key methods to learn about the anatomy and functioning of the nervous system.

  • Familiarity with current research in spinal cord injury.

Nervous System Structure and Function

  • Describe the functions and subdivisions of the two major parts of the nervous system:

    • Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain and spinal cord

    • Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Nerves that connect the CNS to the rest of the body.

  • List key structures of the brain and their relationship to behavior.

Types of Cells in the Nervous System

  • Understand the two major types of cells: neurons and glial cells.

    • Describe primary functions of each type.

Neuronal Communication

  • Explain what happens when a neuron fires.

  • Understand how neurons communicate to produce behavior?

  • Become familiar with neural networks and neuroplasticity

Brain Injury and Lateralization

  • Explore neuroscience findings regarding brain injury.

  • Evidence for brain lateralization: differences between left and right hemispheres.

Evolutionary Perspective

  • Describe basic theory of evolution and its influence on our understanding of the human nervous system.

Techniques for Studying the Brain

  • Neuroscience: The study of the brain and nervous system.

Methods

  • Examining autopsy tissue.

  • Testing patients with brain damage.

  • Recording electrical activity (e.g., EEG).

  • Animal studies.

  • TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation): delivering electromagnetic pulses.

Neuroimaging Techniques

  • MRI, fMRI, CAT, PET, and DTI: techniques for visualizing brain activity and structure in awake humans.

Organization of the Nervous System

Overview

  • Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain & spinal cord.

  • Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Nerves that convey information between body and CNS.

  • Neurons: Cells transmitting information throughout the nervous system.

Nervous System Functions

  • Controls emotions, consciousness, behavior, mental processes, and bodily functions.

Nervous System Divisions

  • Somatic Nervous System: Carries sensory information and controls voluntary actions.

  • Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Involuntary control of bodily functions, with sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic (rest-and-recovery) divisions.

  • Detailed functions of CNS: integrating sensory input and controlling reflexes.

Types of Neurons

  • Afferent Neurons: Signals from PNS to CNS.

  • Efferent Neurons: Signals from CNS to PNS, muscles, and glands.

  • Interneurons: Relay connections between neurons, especially in spinal cord.

Impact of Spinal Cord Injury

  • Considered serious due to potential permanent deficits. Early function may occur but often leads to lasting damage due to inflammation.

Brain Anatomy

Hindbrain Structures

  • Medulla: Breathing, heartbeat.

  • Pons: Sleep and facial sensations.

  • Cerebellum: Coordination and movement learning.

  • Reticular Formation: Sleep and wakefulness regulation.

Midbrain Structure

  • Substantia nigra: Movement fluidity and inhibition.

Forebrain Structures

  • Thalamus: Sensory relay station.

  • Hypothalamus: Motivation and endocrine control.

  • Pituitary Gland: Hormone regulation.

  • Limbic System: Emotion and memory regulation.

Cerebral Cortex Functions

  • Cerebral cortex divided into lobes:

    • Occipital: Vision.

    • Temporal: Auditory stimuli and recognition.

    • Parietal: Sensory integration.

    • Frontal: Higher-order thinking and planning.

Neural Communication and Function

  • Neuron structure: dendrites, cell body, axon, myelin sheath, terminal buttons, neurotransmitter release.

  • Resting Potential: Neuron negative inside at rest.

  • Action Potential: Triggered electrical signal leading to neurotransmitter release.

  • All-or-None Principle: Action potentials occur fully or not at all.

  • Neurotransmitter Communication: Release into synapse leads to postsynaptic potentials (EPSP/IPSP).

Neuroplasticity and Brain Injury

  • The brain's ability to adapt by forming new connections (neuroplasticity) after injury or experience.

  • Understanding of split-brain patients elucidates functional specialization between hemispheres.

Evolutionary Psychology

  • The evolution of the brain impacts behavior intertwined with genetics and environment.

  • Natural Selection: Survival and reproduction traits are passed on; fitness is defined by reproductive success.

  • Comparative structures in species indicate evolutionary parallels and adaptations.

Human Brain's Unique Adaptations

  • Larger cerebral cortex enables advanced cognitive functions, reflecting evolutionary benefits in human survival and adaptability.