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Module 3

Module 3. Brain’s Building Blocks. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. Alzheimer’s Disease results from excessive buildup of toxic substances which destroy neurons that receive/transmit electrical signals What’s a good test to identify the possibility of Alzheimer's?. PERIPHERAL & CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.

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Module 3

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  1. Module 3 Brain’s Building Blocks

  2. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE • Alzheimer’s Disease • results from excessive buildup of toxic substances which destroy neurons that receive/transmit electrical signals • What’s a good test to identify the possibility of Alzheimer's?

  3. PERIPHERAL & CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM • Central Nervous System • made up of neurons located in the brain & spinal cord • Peripheral Nervous System • made up of nerves that are located throughout the body, except in the brain & spinal cord • nerves in the peripheral nervous system have the ability to regrow, regenerate, or reattach if severed or damaged

  4. PNS CNS CNS CNS PNS

  5. NEUROTRANSMITTER • Neurotransmitters • dozens of different chemicals that are made by neurons and then used for communication between neurons during the performance of mental or physical activities Example: Dopamine A deficiency in the neurotransmitter, Dopamine, can cause some Parkinson’s symptoms

  6. VVC p55 alcohol

  7. WHAT DOES ALCOHOL DO? • GABA Neurons • GABA neurons have chemical locks that can be opened by chemical keys in the form of the neurotransmitter, GABA • GABA Keys • alcohol molecules so closely resemble those of the GABA neurotransmitter that alcohol can function like GABA keys and open GABA receptors • when GABA neurons are excited, they decrease neural activity

  8. REFLEX • Reflex • unlearned, involuntary reaction to some stimulus • neural connections underlying a reflex are prewired by genetic instructions

  9. REFLEX (CONT.) • Reflex sequence • sensors • sensors trigger neurons that start the withdrawal effect • afferent neurons • carry information from the senses to the spinal cord

  10. REFLEX (CONT.) • Interneuron • relatively short neuron whose primary task is making connections between other neurons • Efferent neuron • carry information away from the spinal cord to produce responses in various muscles and organs throughout the body

  11. p56 reflex

  12. PARKINSON’S DISEASE • Parkinson’s Disease • includes symptoms of tremors and shakes in the limbs, a slowing of voluntary movements, and feelings of depression • as the disease progresses, patients develop a shuffling walk and may suddenly freeze in space for minute or hours at a time

  13. PARKINSON’S DISEASE • Parkinson’s Disease • It is caused by destruction of neurons that produce dopamine • L-dopa is a medication that boosts the levels of dopamine in the brain • eventually the drug causes involuntary jerky movements • after prolonged use, L-dopa’s beneficial effect may be replaced by unwanted jerky movements

  14. FETAL TISSUE TRANSPLANTS • Sterotaxic procedure • fixing a patient’s head in a holder and drilling a small hole through the skull • the holder has a syringe that can be precisely guided into a predetermined location in the brain

  15. FETAL TISSUE TRANSPLANTS (CONT.) • To date, about 150 Parkinson’s patients have been treated with fetal tissue transplants • about 30 to 60% showed substantial improvement, but none have been completely cured • patients under 60 showed most improvement, while those over 60 reported little or no improvement in symptoms

  16. Thinking & the Speed of Neural Transmission • Even simple mental processing takes a measurable amount of time • Neural transmission is a physical process within our bodies • We are measuring reaction time/the amount of time to: • Perceive a stimulus • Select a response, and • Execute a response • Part I: Hand squeeze--Stand up in rows of 10; Have another student stand in front of each row; Hold hands; Close eyes Repeat twice • Part II: Opposite shoulder squeeze (a small increase in complexity involves more circuitry) Repeat twice • Does thinking take time? Thinking is a physical process

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