The Brain CH4 10/10/2012 10:04:00 AM

Neuropsychology: study of the brain

Nervous System: gather/process information
Central nervous system
o Brain and spinal chord
Peripheral nervous system
o Muscle movement
Somatic Nervous system
Voluntary muscle movement
Autonomic Nervous system
Internal organs/glands
Sympathetic
o Fight/flight
Parasympathetic
o Brakes (calm down!)
Neurons: group of neurotransmitters, brains communicating specialists
Glial cells: provide neurons with nutrients and protects brain

Dendrites - Cell body(nucleus) -> Axon -> Axon terminal (releases
neurotransmitters













Myelin Sheath: fatty cells that protect the axon
Speeds up signal

Stem cells: immature cells that renew themselves and develop into mature
cells
Pancreatic
Liver cells
Nerve cells
o Neurogenesis the production of new neurons from immature
cells (stem cell research)

Neurotransmitters: chemicals released by neurons
Serotonin: Mood, sleep, appetite, sensory perception, temperature
regulation, pain suppression
o Depression (low)
Dopamine: Pleasure- Voluntary movement, learning, memory,
emotion, response to novelty
o Tremors/Parkinsons disease (low)
Acetylcholine: Memory, Muscle action, emotion, cognitive thinking
o Alzheimers disease (low levels)
Epinephrine: energy (adrenaline)
o (high)- ADHD, anxiousness, sleep problems
o (low)- fatigue, lack of focus
Norepinephrine: Dreaming, waking up, learning, memory, Incr.
heart rate due to stress
o Post traumatic Stress Syndrome
Gamma/GABA: major inhibitor
o Sleep/eating disorders, nervousness (high)
Glutamate: major excitatory neurotransmitter
o Multiple sclerosis (too high)
Endorphins: similar to opiates, involved in pain reduction, pleasure,
memory
Plasticity: ability for brain to change and adapt to new experiences

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Hormones: chemical substances secreted by glands that affect functioning
of other organs
Endocrine glands:
Melatonin: biological rhythms
o By Pineal gland
o Induces sleep
Oxytocin: Ejection of milk during nursing and uterine contractions
during childbirth
o By Pituitary gland
Adrenal: emotion/stress
o By Adrenal gland
Cortisol: increases blood-sugar levels
Norepinephrine/epinephrine (-adrenaline)
Sex Hormone: regulate development/function of reproductive
organs
o Adrenal gland
o Androgens: male
o Estrogen: female

BRAIN SCANS
EEG: Recording neural activity by use of electrodes
o Electroencephalogram
TMS: Stimulating brain cells to temporarily deactivate neuron
o Transcranial magnetic stimulation
PET: injecting glucose to determine function of area
o Positron-emission tomography
MRI: method for studying body and brain tissues
o Magnetic resonance imaging
Lesioning: destroying a part of the brain to see how it affects
behavior

STRUCTURE
Pons: involved in sleep, dreams, waking up
Medulla: Bodys internal clock
Reticular Activating System: Toggle between
consciousness/unconsciousness

Cerebellum: Balance/ Coordination
Hind brain
Thalamus: Relay station that sends signals to where they need to go (in
brain)
Above hypothalamus
Hypothalamus: Survival drives
Pituitary gland: releases hormones that trigger other glands
Master gland
Amygdala: regulates emotion
Thyroid: releases hormones that regulate metabolism
Hippocampus: Forms new memories, special awareness
Cerebrum: brain itself where thinking takes place
Connected by Corpus Callosum
o Split brain research done by Roger Sperry
Surrounded by Cerebral Cortex
Corpus Callosum: connects the cerebral hemispheres, made up of a large
band of fibers
Lateralization: the two hemispheres of the brain have different
tasks/talents
Cerebral Cortex: thin layer of cells covering the cerebrum

(Lobes)
Frontal lobe: Higher thinking, motor functions
Left Hemisphere Brocas Area
o Speech production
Parietal: Sensory/perception
Occipital: Vision
Temporal: Hearing
Left hemisphere: Wernickes Area
o Language comprehension

SPLIT BRAIN PERSONALITY
Phineas Gage: Rod shot up in brain
Personality change damage to frontal cortex
Ronald E. Meyers and Roger W. Sperry: observed split-brain surgery in cats