Brain and Nervous System Notes

Overview
  • Course Title: PSYC3010 - Brain & Nervous System
  • Instructor: Amir-Homayoun Javadi
  • Contact: a.h.javadi@kent.ac.uk
  • Website: www.javadilab.com
  • Institution: University of Kent, School of Psychology
Brain Function and Structure
  • The brain consists of a group of nerve tissues located within the skull.
  • Key Statistics:
    • Contains approximately 14–16 billion neurons in the cerebral cortex.
    • Approximately 55–70 billion neurons found in the cerebellum.
    • Weighs about 1.4 kg and uses 20-25% of the body's energy.
  • Functions:
    • Responsible for consciousness, judgment, thought, memory, and emotion.
Neuroanatomy
  • Major areas of the neuroanatomy:
    • Occipital Lobe
    • Parietal Lobe
    • Frontal Lobe
    • Temporal Lobe
    • Cerebellum
    • Brain Stem
Historical Perspective on Cognition
  • Aristotle (384 – 322 BC): Suggested that the brain cools the blood and that mental faculties may reside in the heart.
  • Hippocrates (460 - 377 BC): Believed the mind is tied to 'pneuma', the essence of life in the blood.
  • Claudius Galen (AD 129 – 200): Proposed mental activities occur in cerebral ventricles and utilized hydraulic fluids for communication in the body.
  • Vesalius (AD 1514 – 1564): Conducted dissections and focused on the brain's solid parts.
  • Descartes (AD 1596 – 1650): Suggested mechanical processes in the brain influence the body and soul interactions via the pineal gland.
Types of Neuroanatomy
  • Gross Anatomy: Overall structures observed with the naked eye.
  • Microscopic Anatomy: Involves cellular-level connections.
Nervous System Components
  • Central Nervous System (CNS): Includes the brain and spinal cord.
  • Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Divided into Somatic and Autonomic systems:
    • Somatic Nervous System: Controls voluntary movements and conveys sensory feedback.
    • Autonomic Nervous System: Manages involuntary responses and comprises:
    • Sympathetic Nervous System: Prepares the body for action.
    • Parasympathetic Nervous System: Calms the body down post-activity.
Brain Structures
  • Cerebrum: Involves touch, vision, hearing, reasoning, learning, and motor control.
  • Cerebellum: Coordinates muscle movements, posture and balance.
  • Brain Stem: This is the relay center connecting various brain parts; regulates autonomic functions such as breathing, heart rate, and digestion.
Anatomy and Directional Terms
  • Directions:
    • Anterior: Towards the front
    • Posterior: Towards the back
    • Dorsal: Top side
    • Ventral: Bottom side
    • Proximal: Closer to the trunk
    • Distal: Further from the trunk
Lobes of the Brain
  • Frontal Lobe: Involved in movement, reasoning, behavior, memory, decision-making, and personality.
  • Parietal Lobe: Handles sensory perception, reading, writing, and judgment.
  • Temporal Lobe: Focused on language comprehension, memory, emotions, and hearing.
  • Occipital Lobe: Responsible for vision.
  • Cerebellum: Engaged in balance and coordination.
Homunculus Representation
  • Sensory Homunculus: Regions of the post-central gyrus map the body regions and correspond to sensory sensitivity; more sensitive areas occupy more cortical space.
Summary Points
  • The nervous system is comprised of both central (brain and spine) and peripheral components (somatic and autonomic).
  • Orientation within the brain can be conceptualized through directions, lobes, and structures (gyri/sulci).
  • Functional localization is evident across the hemispheres and various brain structures, which informs understanding of cognitive processes.