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Questions and Answers
What does the occipital lobe primarily interpret?
What does the occipital lobe primarily interpret?
Which brain imaging technique utilizes electrodes to measure electrical activity?
Which brain imaging technique utilizes electrodes to measure electrical activity?
What type of information does Wernicke's area primarily interpret?
What type of information does Wernicke's area primarily interpret?
Which scanning technique produces high-resolution images without exposing patients to X-rays?
Which scanning technique produces high-resolution images without exposing patients to X-rays?
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Which brain imaging technique is specifically used to reveal changes in blood flow and brain activity?
Which brain imaging technique is specifically used to reveal changes in blood flow and brain activity?
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What role does acetylcholine play in the body?
What role does acetylcholine play in the body?
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Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the reward system in the brain?
Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the reward system in the brain?
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What condition is linked with decreased levels of dopamine?
What condition is linked with decreased levels of dopamine?
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What effect does excessive glutamate have on the body?
What effect does excessive glutamate have on the body?
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Which neurotransmitter helps regulate anxiety?
Which neurotransmitter helps regulate anxiety?
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What is the primary function of endorphins?
What is the primary function of endorphins?
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What role does norepinephrine play during fear responses?
What role does norepinephrine play during fear responses?
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What cognitive abilities are influenced by neurotransmitters and hormones?
What cognitive abilities are influenced by neurotransmitters and hormones?
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Where is the somatosensory cortex located?
Where is the somatosensory cortex located?
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Which hemisphere of the brain is primarily responsible for processing language?
Which hemisphere of the brain is primarily responsible for processing language?
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Study Notes
Neurotransmitters
- Chemical messengers manufactured in the brain.
- Released from the axon terminal of a neuron into the synaptic cleft.
- Bind to receptors on the dendrites or cell body of the receiving neuron.
- Act like a lock and key, fitting into specific receptors based on their shape.
- Influence the receiving neuron to either fire or not fire.
- Play a role in cognitive abilities alongside hormones.
Acetylcholine
- Involved in learning and memory.
- Regulates heart muscle contractions, slowing it down when necessary.
- Plays a role in muscle control and movement.
- Reduced levels are associated with Alzheimer's disease.
- Botox inhibits its release, resulting in decreased muscle tension.
Dopamine
- Involved in learning, attention, movement, motivation, and reward.
- Increased levels are associated with pleasurable experiences.
- Plays a role in addiction, where it is hijacked to increase dopamine levels.
- Decreased levels are associated with Parkinson's disease.
Norepinephrine
- Influences eating habits, alertness, and wakefulness.
- Predominant in fear and the fight-or-flight response.
- Released during allergy reactions.
- Levels are low during sleep.
Glutamate
- Excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory.
- Excess glutamate can lead to headaches and seizures.
- Avoiding MSG in the diet can help regulate glutamate levels.
Serotonin
- Plays a role in emotional states, sleep, impulsivity, aggression, and appetite.
- Low levels are linked to depression.
- Used to treat OCD and anxiety disorders by manipulating serotonin levels.
GABA
- Main inhibitory neurotransmitter.
- Controls anxiety.
- Found throughout the central nervous system.
- Activated by opiates (e.g., opium, morphine, heroin).
- Used for pain management in the medical field.
Endorphins
- Promote a natural sense of pleasure and enjoyment.
- Reduce pain.
- Released during physical activity, leading to the "runner's high."
Brain Hemispheres
- The brain has two hemispheres (left and right).
- The left hemisphere controls the right side of the body and vice versa.
- Left hemisphere: Language processing and speech.
- Right hemisphere: Visual and spatial tasks, nonverbal memory, and spatial awareness.
Frontal Lobes
- Located at the front of the brain and extend to the top center of the skull.
- Control voluntary body movement, speech production, thinking, motivation, planning, impulse control, and emotional responses.
- Damage to this area can affect personality and behavior, as seen in the case of Phineas Gage.
Motor Cortex
- Strip of tissue at the rear of the frontal lobes.
- Controls voluntary body movement.
- Studied by Wilder Penfield during brain surgery.
- Fine motor movements in hands and face have a larger representation in the motor cortex.
Somatosensory Cortex
- Located in the parietal lobes.
- Responsible for body awareness and spatial orientation.
- Tested in sobriety tests.
- Receives sensory information like temperature, touch, texture, and pain.
- Areas with greater sensitivity have larger representations in the somatosensory cortex (e.g., the mouth).
Occipital and Temporal Lobes
- Occipital Lobes: Primary visual cortex, responsible for interpreting visual information.
- Temporal Lobes: Primary auditory cortex, responsible for processing auditory information.
- Wernicke's Area (left lobe): Involved in interpreting auditory information.
Brain Waves
- Measured by an EEG (electroencephalograph).
- Reflect the electrical activity of the brain.
- Amplitude: Height of the wave.
- High amplitude, low frequency waves indicate low brain activity.
Scanning Techniques
- CT Scan: Uses rotating X-rays to create cross-sectional images of the brain. Reveals brain structure.
- MRI: Produces high-resolution images of brain structures using magnetic fields. Safe and does not expose patients to radiation. Reveals brain structure.
- fMRI: Functional MRI, measures changes in blood flow to determine brain activity.
- PET Scan: Functional scan that uses radioactive tracers to measure brain activity by monitoring glucose and oxygen consumption.
Key Points About the Nervous System
- Nervous System: Consists of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (nerves throughout the body).
- Neuron: Basic unit of the nervous system, responsible for transmitting information.
- Synapse: Gap between two neurons where communication takes place.
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Description
Dive into the fascinating world of neurotransmitters, the brain's chemical messengers that influence various cognitive functions and behaviors. Explore the roles of key neurotransmitters like acetylcholine and dopamine in learning, memory, and movement. Understand how these molecules contribute to both health and disease, including disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
