Incredible Nervous System

Chapter 4

Studying the Living Brain

EEG(electroencephalograph) measurement recording brain-wave patterns produced by electrical activity of the surface of the brain just below the skull. CT(computed tomography) computer controlled x-rays mapping slices of the brain. MRI(magnetic resonance imaging) an incredibly detailed image of the brain created by measuring the interaction between brain cells & radio waves and magnetic fields.

Studying the Living Brain

PET(positron emission tomography) a slightly radio active solution is injected into the blood and measuring the amount absorbed by brain cells to measure activity. fMRI(functional MRI) a measurement in the oxygen levels & activity of specific neurons that are functioning during cognitive tasks, such as thinking, listening, or reading, that are clearer & more detailed than a PET scan. Both PET & fMRI scans identify and map the living brains neural activity as a person performs complex behavioral and cognitive tasks, e.g., seeing, moving, speaking, trusting, and empathizing.

Nervous System Divisions

Central Nervous System (CNS)the brain & spinal cord; performs tasks such as thinking, speaking, & reading. Peripheral Nervous System(PNS)all the nerves extending from the spinal cord; carries messages to and from muscles, glands, & sense organs. PNS subdivided into the Somatic Nervous System & the Autonomic Nervous System.

PNS Divisions
SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM(SNS) nerves connected to sensory receptors or muscles, which controls voluntary movement by communicating information from sensory, or afferent, nerve fibers to motor, or efferent, nerve fibers. AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM(ANS) regulates all non-voluntary, unconscious activity, e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, hormone secretion, and most breathing. ANS subdivided into the sympathetic division & the parasympathetic division.

ANS Divisions
SYMPATHETIC DIVISIONtriggered by threatening or challenging physical or psychological stimuli, which increases physiological arousal and prepares the body for action; known as the fight-or-flight response. PARASYMPATHETIC DIVISIONreturns the body to a calmer, relaxed state following arousal and is also stimulates digestion. The ANS attempts to maintain the balance between bodily arousal and relaxation for optimum functioning, called homeostasis.

Parts of the Brain

HINDBRAINpart of our primitive brain, existing for millions of years. 1. PONSthe bridge for transmitting messages between the spinal cord & the brain; also involved in producing sleep chemicals.

Parts of the Brain

2. MEDULLAlocated at the top of the spinal cord & controls vital reflexes, e.g., respiration, heart rate, & blood pressure. 3. CEREBELLUM coordinates motor movements, but not voluntary movements; also involved in timed motor tasks and in automatic, reflexive learning.

Parts of the Brain

MIDBRAINthe reward/pleasure center, with areas for visual and auditory reflexes, & the reticular formation, which arouses the forebrain to prepare for processing sensory information.

Parts of the Brain

FOREBRAINthe largest part of the brain, divided into right & left hemispheres, connected by the corpus callosum. Responsible for an incredible number of functions, e.g., learning, memory, language, emotions, voluntary movement, sensation, & planning/decisions. The cortex is a thin layer of cells covering the forebrain, containing most of our neurons.

Lobes of the Cortex

PARIETALinvolved with sensory experiences & perception. FRONTALinvolved with personality, emotions, & motor behaviors. TEMPORALinvolved with hearing & speaking.

OCCIPATALinvolved with processing visual information.

Our large cortex distinguishes humans from other animals.

Parietal Lobe
Sensory Processing Functions : touching, locating positions of limbs, & feeling temperature & pain. Cognitive Functions: attending to & perceiving objects. Damage to the parietal lobe creates issues integrating sensory information used to identify common objects by touch or feel.

Parietal Lobe
SENSORY CORTEX strip of cortex located along the front of the parietal lobe responsible for processing all sensory information. Body parts utilize specific areas of the sensory cortex, so any damage will result in permanent sensory loss to that area, but no others.

Frontal Lobe
The largest of the brains lobes. Brain damage case studies show that the frontal lobe regulates emotional processing, behavior, and decision making, i.e., Phineas Gage. Involved in executive functions, e.g., attention, organizing, planning, deciding, and carrying out cognitive & social-emotional behaviors, like self-control.

Frontal Lobe
MOTOR CORTEX strip of cortex along the rear of the frontal lobe responsible for voluntary movements. Body parts utilize general areas, but there is overlap between along the motor cortexnot using discrete areas.

Temporal Lobe
Involved in hearing, speaking coherently, and understanding verbal & written material. PRIMARY AUDITORY CORTEXtransforms electrical signals from receptors into meaningless sound sensations, like vowels or consonants. AUDITORY ASSOCIATION transforms basic sounds & noises into recognizable words or music.

Aphasias
BROCAS AREA found in frontal lobe, responsible for combining sounds into words and words into sentences. BROCAS APHASIA inability to speak in fluent sentences, but retaining an ability to comprehend written & spoken words.

Aphasias
WERNICKES AREA found in the temporal lobe, responsible for coherent speech and speech comprehension. WERNICKES APHASIAdifficulty constructing meaningful sentences and understanding written & spoken words.

Occipital Lobe
Involved in processing visual information, including seeing colors & perceiving and recognizing objects, animals, & people. PRIMARY VISUAL CORTEX receives electrical signals from receptors & transforms them into meaningless visual sensations, like lights, lines, shadows, colors, & textures. VISUAL ASSOCIATION AREA surrounds PVC and transforms basic sensations into meaningful perceptions, such as persons, objects, or animals.

Limbic System
A group of interconnected structures in the core of the forebrain involved in regulating various behaviors. 1. Motivational Behaviors obtaining food, drink, & sex. 2. Organizing Emotional Behaviorsfear, anger, & aggression. 3. Storing memories. Known as our primitive, or animal, brain. Emotional & motivational behaviors regulated by the surrounding forebrains executive functions.

Limbic System
HYPOTHALAMUS regulator of eating, drinking, & sexual response as well as controlling the divisions of the ANS and the fight-orflight response. THALAMUSreceives, processes, and relays sensory information to the cortex (excluding smell.)

Limbic System
AMYGDALAreceives input from all senses & evaluates the emotional significance of the stimuli & facial expressions, especially fear, distress, or threat. HIPPOCAMPUS involved in saving and storing information.

Split Brain
Treatment for severe seizures, severing of the corpus callosum, the major pathway between the hemispheres, leaving them independent. Normally, each hemisphere quick shares information back and forth between the corpus callosum. Procedure allows researchers to identify which functions are specialized in each hemisphere.

Split Brain
Left hemisphere
VERBALlanguage, reading, & writing. MATHEMATICsimple to complex mathematic ability. ANALYTICanalysis of information piece by piece.

Right hemisphere
NONVERBAL comprehension of simple words & sentences. SPATIALability to match geometric patterns. HOLISTICanalysis of pieces as a meaningful whole; emotional recognition.

RECOGNIZING SELF distinguishing your own face RECOGNIZING OTHERS identifying familiar faces, but from others. not your own