Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the main function of association cortex in the human brain?
What is the main function of association cortex in the human brain?
Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is responsible for voluntary movements?
Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is responsible for voluntary movements?
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is crucial for which of the following functions?
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is crucial for which of the following functions?
What structure is primarily affected during a stroke due to blocked blood vessels?
What structure is primarily affected during a stroke due to blocked blood vessels?
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What is the primary purpose of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in relation to neurons?
What is the primary purpose of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in relation to neurons?
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What region within the medial temporal lobe is crucial for the formation of long-term memories?
What region within the medial temporal lobe is crucial for the formation of long-term memories?
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Which function is primarily associated with the amygdala?
Which function is primarily associated with the amygdala?
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What is the role of the medial temporal lobe in the brain?
What is the role of the medial temporal lobe in the brain?
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What method can be used to understand cellular activity in the area associated with visual processing?
What method can be used to understand cellular activity in the area associated with visual processing?
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Which part of the brain is primarily responsible for the primary auditory cortex?
Which part of the brain is primarily responsible for the primary auditory cortex?
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What is a significant outcome of damage to the medial temporal lobe?
What is a significant outcome of damage to the medial temporal lobe?
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Which function is NOT associated with the medial temporal lobe?
Which function is NOT associated with the medial temporal lobe?
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What primary function is associated with the prefrontal cortex (PFC)?
What primary function is associated with the prefrontal cortex (PFC)?
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Which disorder is associated with damage to the parietal lobe?
Which disorder is associated with damage to the parietal lobe?
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What sensory function does the occipital lobe primarily serve?
What sensory function does the occipital lobe primarily serve?
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What impact did the injury to Phineas Gage's prefrontal cortex have on his behavior?
What impact did the injury to Phineas Gage's prefrontal cortex have on his behavior?
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Which of the following best describes the role of the parietal lobe?
Which of the following best describes the role of the parietal lobe?
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What evidence supports the function of the parietal lobe?
What evidence supports the function of the parietal lobe?
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How does the parietal lobe collaborate with the prefrontal cortex?
How does the parietal lobe collaborate with the prefrontal cortex?
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What could be a consequence of having a highly developed occipital lobe in humans?
What could be a consequence of having a highly developed occipital lobe in humans?
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Which brain area is primarily responsible for coordinating sensory information?
Which brain area is primarily responsible for coordinating sensory information?
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Which of the following statements about Phineas Gage is true?
Which of the following statements about Phineas Gage is true?
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Which types of light-sensing organs are discussed in relation to evolution?
Which types of light-sensing organs are discussed in relation to evolution?
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What is the primary function of the retina in visual processing?
What is the primary function of the retina in visual processing?
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Which wavelength range can human eyes typically detect?
Which wavelength range can human eyes typically detect?
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Which type of photoreceptors are primarily responsible for color vision?
Which type of photoreceptors are primarily responsible for color vision?
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How does the brain process incoming visual information?
How does the brain process incoming visual information?
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Which statement accurately describes the effects of evolution on nervous systems?
Which statement accurately describes the effects of evolution on nervous systems?
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What impact does having additional proteins in eye neurons have for certain animals?
What impact does having additional proteins in eye neurons have for certain animals?
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What is the primary function of rods in the retina?
What is the primary function of rods in the retina?
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Where are cones most densely concentrated in the retina?
Where are cones most densely concentrated in the retina?
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Which of the following best describes phototransduction?
Which of the following best describes phototransduction?
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What is a key difference between rods and cones in terms of color detection?
What is a key difference between rods and cones in terms of color detection?
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Why do some stars appear in peripheral vision but disappear when focused on directly?
Why do some stars appear in peripheral vision but disappear when focused on directly?
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Which statement correctly identifies the limitations of rods?
Which statement correctly identifies the limitations of rods?
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Which of these conditions is primarily associated with cone functionality?
Which of these conditions is primarily associated with cone functionality?
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What happens to color perception in low light environments?
What happens to color perception in low light environments?
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How do rods and cones differ in terms of function?
How do rods and cones differ in terms of function?
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What role does cGMP play in the functioning of rod photoreceptors in the absence of light?
What role does cGMP play in the functioning of rod photoreceptors in the absence of light?
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Which statement correctly describes the response of rod photoreceptors when exposed to light?
Which statement correctly describes the response of rod photoreceptors when exposed to light?
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How does the composition of cone photoreceptors differ from that of rod photoreceptors?
How does the composition of cone photoreceptors differ from that of rod photoreceptors?
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What is a consequence of having one dysfunctional type of cone in an individual?
What is a consequence of having one dysfunctional type of cone in an individual?
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What phenomenon allows some women to distinguish more subtle color differences than most individuals?
What phenomenon allows some women to distinguish more subtle color differences than most individuals?
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What happens to photoreceptor cells when a bright light is suddenly introduced in a completely dark environment?
What happens to photoreceptor cells when a bright light is suddenly introduced in a completely dark environment?
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What would be the direct impact of G-protein activation in rod cells upon exposure to light?
What would be the direct impact of G-protein activation in rod cells upon exposure to light?
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Which statement best explains how the pattern of activation of cone cells results in color perception?
Which statement best explains how the pattern of activation of cone cells results in color perception?
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What is the role of glutamate in the functioning of photoreceptor cells in darkness?
What is the role of glutamate in the functioning of photoreceptor cells in darkness?
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Study Notes
Question to Ponder
- Why do we have a brain?
Week 5, Oct 28th - Nov 3rd
- Two in-person lectures (Monday & Wednesday)
- Read Week 5 readings on Canvas
- Complete Quiz 4 on Canvas by Sunday at 11:59 pm
- Quiz available at 5 pm on Wednesday
- Optional: Attend a ULA session
- Optional: Participate in Week 5 Discussion by Sunday at 11:59 pm
- TAs can review exam questions but cannot access exam or grade
Week 5 & 6 Tutoring Sessions
- Structured sessions: sheep brain neuroanatomy
- Thursday, October 31st, 2-3 pm with Leia & Xi (Psych East 3834)
- Friday, November 1st, 2-3 pm with Uma & Sukari (Psych East 3834)
- Tuesday, November 5th, 5-6 pm with Joey & Grace (Psych East 3834)
- Thursday, November 7th, 4-5 pm with Leia & Xi (Psych East 3834)
- Friday, November 7th, 1-2 pm with Uma & Sukari (Psych East 3834)
- Friday, November 7th, 2-3 pm with Joey & Grace (Psych East 3834)
- Drop-in sessions
- Monday, October 28th, 5-6 pm with Grace & Uma (Library 4572)
- Wednesday, October 30th, 5-6 pm with Grace & Sukari (Library 4574)
- Thursday, October 31st, 12-1 pm with Joey & Leia (Transfer Student Center)
- Friday, November 1st, 11-12 pm with Xi and Joey (ONDAS Student Center)
Unit 2
- Unit 1: The brain is composed of neurons that communicate to one another using a mixture of chemical and electrical signals
- Unit 2: How do neurons link together into circuits to allow us to sense and interact with the outside world?
- What is the purpose of a brain?
- Organisms have a variety of goals, largely related to survival and reproduction—need to evaluate the environment and interact with it to accomplish these goals
Sensing and Moving
- Organisms have a variety of goals, largely related to survival and reproduction—need to evaluate the environment and interact with it to accomplish these goals
- Inputs (sensory information) → brain → output (behavior)
- The brain collects information about the environment, processes it, and sends commands to the body to interact with the world in order to achieve certain goals
Sensing and Moving (details)
- Light, Sound, Touch, Self (body), Proprioception, Olfaction, Gustation, Odors, and Taste
- Internal state: Hunger/thirst, Emotion, Hormones, and Memories → Voluntary & Involuntary Movements
Goals of the Second Unit of This Course
- Unit 1: The brain is composed of neurons that communicate to one another using a mixture of chemical and electrical signals
- Unit 2: How do neurons link together into circuits to allow us to sense and interact with the outside world?
- Week 5/6: Focus on vision as an example of how external information gets processed by various elements of the nervous system (more on the other senses in weeks 6 and 7)
- Week 7: How do signals in our brain result in the movement of our body to interact with our environment?
Todays Topics
- 7A: Getting into the Brain
- 7B: Cerebral Cortex
- 7C: Everything but the Cortex
Week 5 Takeaways
- Use anatomical terms to describe the location of brain regions
- Label key regions of the brain, including cortical lobes and subcortical areas
- Explain methods to gain information about how different brain regions contribute to behavior
- Describe the brainstem components and their roles in brain function and behavior
- Identify brain regions responsible for creating and releasing neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine)
- List the major components of the visual system
- Describe the overall anatomy of the retina, including cell layers and important features
- Compare and contrast rods and cones
- Describe the transduction mechanism for light
Introduction to Biopsychology (Fall 2024)
- Lecture 7A: Getting into the Brain
Goals of This Section
- Define key anatomical terms for navigating the brain
- Describe the three layers of meninges that surround the brain
Anatomical Terms
- Anterior/Rostral (toward the nose)
- Posterior/Caudal (toward the back of the head)
- Dorsal (top surface)
- Ventral (bottom surface)
- Medial (toward the midline)
- Lateral (away from the midline)
- Midline
Anatomical Terms (details)
- Nucleus (nuclei): collection of cell bodies in the CNS
- Ganglion (ganglia): collection of cell bodies in the PNS
- Afferent: incoming axons/information towards an area
- Efferent: outgoing axons/information away from an area
- Contralateral: opposite side
- Ipsilateral: same side
- Anatomical planes: coronal, sagittal, horizontal
Types of Matter
- Visually, brain tissue appears as either gray matter or white matter.
- Gray matter contains cell bodies of neurons.
- White matter consists largely of long-range projections (axons) with white color from fatty myelin.
Meninges
- Brains are delicate; need protection and oxygen delivery.
- Meninges: layers protecting the brain
- Dura mater: thick outer layer surrounding the brain
- Arachnoid membrane: web-like membrane between the dura and pia mater
- Pia mater: thin membrane clinging to the brain
Brain Vasculature
- Intricate network of blood vessels delivers oxygenated blood (15% of total cardiac output).
- Blockage can lead to strokes.
Cerebrospinal Fluid
- Necessary molecules get pulled from blood vessels to neurons through CSF, regulated by astrocytes.
Cerebrospinal Fluid (details)
- Brain has large caverns filled with CSF (ventricles).
- CSF also surrounds all cells.
Introduction to Biopsychology (Fall 2024)
- Lecture 7B: Cerebral Cortex
Goals of This Section
- Identify visible features on the brain's surface
- Describe the four lobes of cerebral cortex and their functions
Surface of the Brain
- Wrinkled surface of the brain is known as the cortex or cerebral cortex.
- Ridges are gyri, and valleys are sulci.
- Four lobes:
- Frontal (rostral to the central sulcus)
- Parietal (caudal to the central sulcus)
- Occipital (caudal to the parietal lobe)
- Temporal (ventral to the sylvian fissure)
Divisions of Cortex
- Different areas of the cortex are involved in various functions.
- Motor areas
- Sensory areas
- Association areas
Association Cortex
- Much of the human cortex is for higher-level functions.
- Primate brains have more association cortex compared to smaller, "simpler" brains.
Frontal Lobe
- Main controller for voluntary movements (motor cortex)
- Prefrontal cortex (PFC), crucial for planning, decision-making, and emotional control.
- Humans have a highly developed PFC (takes longer to mature).
Phineas Gage
- Head impaled by a railroad spike, destroying a large chunk of his prefrontal cortex.
- Survived but experienced significant personality and behavior changes.
- Highlighted the PFC's role in impulse control and decision-making.
Parietal Lobe
- Responsible for collecting sensory information, particularly from body senses (somatosensation)
- Involved in combining sensory info; works with the PFC to evaluate situations and make decisions.
Parietal Lobe (additional info)
- Damage can cause sensory impairments, such as hemispatial neglect.
- Stimulation helps understand the lobe's functions.
Occipital Lobe
- Entirely devoted to processing visual information.
- Visual processing takes up a considerable amount of space in the human brain.
- Methods for understanding: damage (e.g., blows to the head, gunshot wounds) and electrical stimulation.
Temporal Lobe
- Involved in sensory processing.
- Primary auditory cortex
- Additional visual areas
- Medial temporal lobe: crucial for long-term memory, featuring the hippocampus (memory factory of the brain).
Medial Temporal Lobe
- Interior surface of the temporal lobe, containing an area called the medial temporal lobe (MTL).
- Hippocampus and other regions in the MTL play a crucial role in the formation of memories.
Medial Temporal Lobe (additional info)
- Hippocampus: essential for the formation of long-term memories.
- Amygdala: set of nuclei crucial for emotional processing and behaviors.
Introduction to Biopsychology (Fall 2024)
- Lecture 7C: Everything but the Cortex
Goals of This Section
- Explain the roles of the thalamus and hypothalamus
- Describe the three components of the brainstem
- Explore the sources of modulatory neurotransmitters in the brain
- Describe the organization and role of the cerebellum
Beneath the Cortex
- Corpus callosum: white matter tract connecting the two hemispheres.
- Thalamus (weeks 6-7): sensory relay to cortex
- Hypothalamus (unit 3): control of the autonomic and endocrine system.
Thalamus
- Located in the center of the brain, below the cortex.
- Two lobes, each connected by a white matter tract.
- Primary function: sensory relay to cortex.
- Organizes incoming sensory info and directs it.
- Divided into nuclei (e.g., LGN for vision).
Thalamus (additional info)
- Various thalamic nuclei act as "gatekeepers."
- Control the amount of information reaching the cortex.
Hypothalamus
- Located at the base of the brain, below the thalamus.
- Contains nuclei and tracts.
- Controls the autonomic and endocrine system.
- Organizes behavior related to survival (four Fs): fighting, fleeing, feeding, and mating.
Brainstem
- Composed of midbrain, pons, and medulla.
- Responsible for essential automatic functions and behaviors.
- Nuclei produce modulatory neurotransmitters (e.g., dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine).
Brainstem: Midbrain
- Tectum ("roof"): dorsal part of the midbrain.
- Inferior colliculi: auditory system
- Superior colliculi: visual system (visual reflexes)
- Tegmentum ("floor").
Brainstem: Midbrain (additional info)
- Tegmentum: ventral part of midbrain.
- Substantia nigra (SN): movement
- Ventral tegmental area (VTA): motivational/reward
- Reticular formation (rostral end): nuclei produce other modulatory neurotransmitters.
Brainstem: Pons
- Bulge in brainstem.
- Reticular formation continues here.
- Involved in sleep, arousal, and relaying information.
- Locus coeruleus (norepinephrine) and raphe nuclei (serotonin).
- Relay nuclei (pontine nuclei), transmitting information between cortex and cerebellum.
Brainstem: Medulla
- Lowermost part of brainstem.
- Connects to spinal cord.
- Reticular formation containing more raphe nuclei.
- Regulates cardiovascular system, breathing, and skeletal muscle tone.
- Sensory systems making a stop here.
Neurotransmitters
- Dopamine: synthesized in ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra.
- Norepinephrine: synthesized in locus coeruleus.
- Serotonin: synthesized in raphe nuclei.
Cerebellum
- "Little cerebrum"
- Two hemispheres; densely packed with neurons (half of the brain's neurons).
- Critical for movement and timing.
- Involved in any movement that requires timing information (e.g., walking, playing the piano).
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge about the human brain, focusing on various structures like the association cortex, prefrontal cortex, and medial temporal lobe. This quiz covers their functions, roles in memory, and implications of damage due to stroke or injury. Challenge yourself and learn more about the complexities of brain anatomy and neurobiology.
