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Delve into the functions, evolution, and organizing principles of the brain, from neurons and action potentials to synapses and reflexes. Understand how signals are generated, transmitted, and processed in the complex neural network. Explore the fascinating world of brain structure, behavior, and the role of drugs in brain function.
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The Brain and BehaviorOutline • Functions • Evolution: structure and behavior • Basic Unit: The Neuron • Generation: How does a signal get started? • Action Potential: How does a signal move? • Synapses: What does the signal do? • Reflexes: A model • Brain Organizing Principles and Functions
Functions • Communication • Coordination • Control • Cognition • Complexity
Outline: Start With A Mechanistic View • Functions • Evolution: structure and behavior • Basic Unit: The Neuron • Generation: How does a signal get started? • Action Potential: How does a signal move? • Synapses: What does the signal do? • Reflexes: A model • Brain Organizing Principles and Functions
Evolution • None • Nerve net • Segmented • Cephalization: an organizing principle (brain-mind correlation not always obvious!) • Kineses • Taxes • Reflexes
Brain Structure DRUGS
Evolution • None • Nerve net • Segmented • Cephalization: organizing principle + brain-function rel. • Kineses • Taxes • Reflexes
Reflexes • Kinesis (potato bug) • Taxis (moth / maggot / fly / tick) • Reflex: (knee jerk) • Descartes 161 St. Germaine on the Seine • Pineal • Mechanist
Reflexes • Braightenberg: Vehicles
Outline • Functions • Evolution: structure and behavior • Basic Unit: The Neuron • Generation: How does a signal get started? • Action Potential: How does a signal move? • Synapses • Reflexes: A model • Brain Organizing Principles and Functions
The Neuron • 100 billion • Varied in size, shape, function • Function of neuron sending signals in real time (ex.) • What is the signal? - electrical / chemical
Outline • Functions • Evolution: structure and behavior • Basic Unit: The Neuron • Generation: How does a signal get started? • Action Potential: How does a signal move? • Synapses • Reflexes: A model • Brain Organizing Principles and Functions
Origin of nerve signal • Function of neuron sending signals in real time (ex.) • What is the signal? - electrical / chemical
Generation • Two forces: • Electrical (ionic) • Chemical (concentration) • Give rise to steady-state voltage “resting potential” • Universal in cells
Outline • Functions • Evolution: structure and behavior • Basic Unit: The Neuron • Generation: How does a signal get started? • Action Potential: How does a signal move? • Synapses • Reflexes: A model • Brain Organizing Principles and Functions
Action Potential • Cell actions • Speed: Muller (light), Helmholtz (43 m/sec) • Refractoriness • All or none law • Coding of intensity: analog-digital + recruitment (organizing principle)
Neuron Communication • Propagation is much faster if the axon is myelinated: • Depolarization proceeds down the axon by a number of skips or jumps. • The action potential obeys the all-or-none law: • Once it’s launched, further increases in stimulus intensity have no effect on its magnitude.
Neuron Communication • Propagation is much faster if the axon is myelinated: • Depolarization proceeds down the axon by a number of skips or jumps. • The action potential obeys the all-or-none law: • Once it’s launched, further increases in stimulus intensity have no effect on its magnitude. • Frequency signals intensity
Outline • Functions • Evolution: structure and behavior • Basic Unit: The Neuron • Generation: How does a signal get started? • Action Potential: How does a signal move? • Synapses • Reflexes: A model • Brain Organizing Principles and Functions
Synapses: What happens when signal reaches end of neuron? • Two types of actions - excitatory / inhibitory • Chemical model with multiple & functionally different neurotransmitters • Temporal & spatial summation
Outline • Functions • Evolution: structure and behavior • Basic Unit: The Neuron • Generation: How does a signal get started? • Action Potential: How does a signal move? • Synapses • Reflexes: A model • Brain Organizing Principles and Functions
A Model for building behavior out of simple building blocks • Reflexes • Voting behavior • Mirror neurons • Other examples to follow
Outline • Functions • Evolution: structure and behavior • Basic Unit: The Neuron • Generation: How does a signal get started? • Action Potential: How does a signal move? • Synapses • Reflexes: A model • Brain Organizing Principles and Functions
Principles and Functions • Cephalization • All-or-None Law • Frequency Coding of Intensity • Doctrine of Specific Nerve Energies • Localization of Function (+ Integration) • Topographic Projection (& Distortion) • Split Brain (Crossed Connections) • Connectivity & Functional Connectivity • Neuro-plasticity & Reorganization