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Neuroscience and Behavior

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What are neurons?

How do they transmit information?How do they transmit information?

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Neurons

Nerve cellsNerve cells Basic building Basic building

blocks of the blocks of the body’s information body’s information processing system.processing system.

Made up of Made up of DendritesDendrites AxonsAxons

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Dendrites

Receive informationReceive information

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Axon fibers

Transmit information Transmit information to other to other NeuronsNeurons MusclesMuscles GlandsGlands

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How do neurons communicate to other cells to influence our behavior?

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Synapse (synaptic gap)

Chemical messengers Chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) (neurotransmitters) bridge the gapbridge the gap

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Neurotransmitters

Enable Enable communication communication between between neuronsneurons

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Endorphins

Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitters (similar to morphine)(similar to morphine)

Reduces painReduces pain E.g. ChildbirthE.g. Childbirth

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What are the parts of our nervous system? What do these parts What do these parts

do?do?

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Nervous system

CentralCentral nervous system nervous system Brain and spinal columnBrain and spinal column

PeripheralPeripheral nervous system nervous system Links central nervous system (spinal cord) Links central nervous system (spinal cord)

to sense receptors, muscles and glandsto sense receptors, muscles and glands

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Nervous system

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Peripheral Nervous System

Sympathetic Sympathetic nervous system nervous system (Arousing)(Arousing) Increases Increases

heartbeat & heartbeat & blood pressureblood pressure

Parasympathetic Parasympathetic nervous system nervous system (Calming)(Calming)

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Central nervous system

Brain and spinal columnBrain and spinal column Severed spinal cord E.g.Severed spinal cord E.g.

Bill - No genital sensations, but has an Bill - No genital sensations, but has an erection when stimulated.erection when stimulated.

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Reflex Simple reflex pathwaySimple reflex pathway

Knee-jerk reactionKnee-jerk reactionA headless warm body could do itA headless warm body could do it

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How do we explore the connection among brain, mind, and behavior? Recording the brain’s Recording the brain’s

activityactivity Creating images of Creating images of

the brain’s activitythe brain’s activity

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Recording the brain’s electrical activity Electroencephalogram Electroencephalogram

(EEG)(EEG) Brain wavesBrain waves

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Neuroimaging techniques (creating images) CT scanCT scan PET scanPET scan MRI scanMRI scan

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CT scan

Computed Computed tomographytomography

X-ray photographsX-ray photographs

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PET scan

Positron emission Positron emission tomography scantomography scan

Radioactive glucoseRadioactive glucose

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MRI Scan

Magnetic fields and Magnetic fields and radio waves create radio waves create images of the brain’s images of the brain’s soft tissues.soft tissues.

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The brain

AmygdalaAmygdala HippocampusHippocampus Angular gyrusAngular gyrus Corpus callosumCorpus callosum MedullaMedulla

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Medulla

Most basic life Most basic life sustaining functionssustaining functions

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Cerebral Cortex

Best distinguishes us Best distinguishes us from other animalsfrom other animals

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Cerebral cortex lobes

FrontalFrontal ParietalParietal TemporalTemporal OccipitalOccipital

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Phineas Gage

Damage to frontal Damage to frontal lobelobe

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Corpus Callosum

Transmits information Transmits information from one cerebral from one cerebral hemisphere to the hemisphere to the other other