Brain Notes

1. Brain Notes

2. Tools for Viewing Brain Structure and Activity • EEG • Electroencephalgram • measures electrical currents across the brain • Measure brain activity

3. Tools for Viewing Brain Structure and Activity • CT scan • Also called a CAT scan • Computerized axial tomography • X-ray of brain tissue • Shows brain structure

4. Tools for Viewing Brain Structure and Activity • PET scan • Positron Emissions Tomography • Patients drinks radioactive glucose and image shows areas of brain activity.

5. Tools for Viewing Brain Structure and Activity • MRI • Magnetic Resonance Imaging • Exposes brain to magnetic field • Shows brain structure

6. Tools for Viewing Brain Structure and Activity • fMRI • functional MRI • Uses magnetic field • Not harmful • Shows brain structure and activity

7. Organization of the Nervous System

8. Autonomic Nervous System

9. Types of Neurons • Sensory Neurons – Afferent Neurons • Carry the message from the sense organs to the CNS • Inter-neurons • Make up the CNS • Motor Neurons – Efferent Neurons • Carry the message from the CNS to the muscles or glands • Remember – SAME (sensory = afferent, motor = efferent)

10. The Brain • Gray matter – areas of the CNS with high concentrations of cell bodies; outer surface of cerebrum (cerebral cortex) • White matter – areas of the CNS with mostly myelinated axons; inner part of cerebrum • Glial cells – cells in the brain that nourish and protect neurons

11. Structure of the Brain • Hindbrain • Midbrain • Forebrain • Cerebral Cortex (part or forebrain)

12. The Hind Brain • Structures on top of our spinal cord. • Controls basic biological structures.

13. Brain Stem • Medulla– where spinal cord meets the skull; controls heartbeat and breathing • Reticular formation– bundle of nerves running through the brainstem; controls arousal and attention; filters incoming stimuli and relays important information to the brain.

14. The Mid-Brain • Coordinates simple movements with sensory information. • Controls arousal and ability to focus our attention.

15. Thalamus Thalamus • Switchboard of the brain. • Pair of egg-shaped organs above the brainstem; receives information from the senses (EXCEPT FOR SMELL) • Relays it to the rest of the brain.

16. Cerebellum • Controls balance and coordination • In the rear of the head, behind the brainstem

17. Limbic System • Amygdala – two almond shaped structures; influence fear and aggression • Hypothalamus – below the thalamus; regulates hunger, thirst, body temp, sex, fight-or-flight; triggers the pituitary (the “master gland”); reward center • Hippocampus – behind the amygdala; memory center for new experiences, learning, and recall

18. Cerebral Cortex Controls information processing; wrinkled to increase surface area Composed of 8 lobes (4 on each side)

19. Hemispheres • Divided into to hemispheres. • Contralateral control: right controls left and vice versa. • In general, • Left Hemisphere: logic and sequential tasks. • Right Hemisphere: spatial and creative tasks.

20. Frontal Lobes Located in the forehead region Includes the motor cortex (part of brain that controls voluntary movement) • Includes Broca’s area (needed for forming words; located in left hemisphere only) • Association areas in this region – judgment, planning, processing new memories

22. Parietal Lobes Located on the top and rear of head Contains the sensory cortex (part of brain that registers and processes tactile information (phantom limb) Contains the angular gyrus (left hemisphere only) which is involved in converting written words into sound

24. Occipital Lobes • Located in the back of the head • Contains the visual cortex

25. Temporal Lobes Located on the sides of head, above ears Receives and processes auditory information Includes Wernicke’s area (left hemisphere only) - part of brain involved in understanding language

26. Corpus Callosum bundle of nerves connecting the left and right hemispheres

27. Name that brain part