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. Biological Level of Analysis. Neuron. Basic unit of the brain. Neuron. Cell body – source of life of the cell Dendrites – branches on the cell bodies that act as receivers of messages from adjacent neurons. Axon – projection through which messages travel.
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. Biological Level of Analysis
Neuron Basic unit of the brain
Neuron • Cell body – source of life of the cell • Dendrites – branches on the cell bodies that act as receivers of messages from adjacent neurons. • Axon – projection through which messages travel. • Synaptic knobs: Tips of branches at end of axon. Sends messages to adjacent neurons. • Synapse: Fluid filled gap between neurons.
Cortex • Upper and largest portion of the brain (80%) • Involved in higher order intelligence, memory, and personality • Composed of two hemispheres (duplicated with some differences) • Left hemisphere – language processes, etc. • Right hemisphere – visual imagery, emotions, etc.
Four lobes of the cerebral cortex • Temporal • Hearing • Vision • Smell • Memory • Frontal • Motor activity • Higher level • intelligence • Planning • Problem solving • Emotions • Self-awareness • Parietal • Bodily sensations, • e.g., pain, heat • Body movement • Occipital • Primary visual • area of the brain
Sub Cortical Structures Cerebellum – balance and muscle control Hypothalamus – regulates biological needs such as hunger and thirst, temperature control, pleasure and sexual excitement. Amygdala (emotion, aggression) Hippocampus (memory and learning Thalamus - chief relay centre for directing sensory messages helps regulate awareness. Relays commands going to the skeletal muscles from the motor cortex.
Medulla – vital functions controls heart rate, blood pressure and respiration Pons – involved in sleep and arousal, eye movement, facial expressions Reticular formation – group of fibres that carries stimulation related to sleep and arousal through brain stem Reticular activating system runs from the medulla through the midbrain into the hypothalamus. • Responsibility for activation of all areas of the brain and if damaged – coma ensues
Spinal cord • Transmits messages from the brain to the other areas of the body. • Efferent – away from the brain out to the body • Produces muscle action • Afferent – from the periphery to the brain • Relays information from the sensory organs