Brain and Behaviour PDF Lecture Notes

Brain and Behaviour 03 December 2024 18:36 Vertebrates are defined by the presence of a spinal cord and a segmented brain. - The brain (along with the spinal cord) is the centre of the nervous system: central nervous system. - Cephalisation - When vertebrates concentrate the brain f...

Brain and Behaviour 03 December 2024 18:36 Vertebrates are defined by the presence of a spinal cord and a segmented brain. - The brain (along with the spinal cord) is the centre of the nervous system: central nervous system. - Cephalisation - When vertebrates concentrate the brain functions in their head. The vertebrate brain comprises three main division: - Hindbrain (rhombencephalon) ○ Mylencephalon ○ Metencephalon ▪ Cerebellum - Midbrain (mesencephalon) ○ Tectum (optic tectum/lobe) - Forebrain (prosencephalon) ○ Diencephalon ○ Telencephalon ▪ Cerebrum Hindbrain: The hindbrain is an extension of the spinal cord. It controls essential functions such as respiration and heartbeat. The hindbrain comprises: - Medulla oblongata - Pons - Cerebellum (balance, coordination, smooth execution of rapid movement). Midbrain: The midbrain links the sensory, motor and integrative components of the hindbrain with those of the forebrain. The midbrain comprises: - Tectum - dorsal part. It forms the roof of the midbrain. It comprises the optic tectum (receives senses from visual and somatosensory systems) and the torus semicircularis (receives senses from auditory and lateral line). - Tegmentum - This is the ventral portion of the midbrain and is separated from the hindbrain by the isthmus. The tegmentum is a gateway for incoming sensory information and outgoing motor responses to and from the forebrain. - Isthmus - Boundary (transitional area) between midbrain and hindbrain. Forebrain: The forebrain comprises: - Diencephalon ○ Thalamus ○ Hypothalamus ○ Pineal gland ○ Pituitary gland - Telencephalon (these structures are broadly homologous in vertebrates) ○ Pallium (cerebrum) ○ Hippocampus ○ Amygdala The mammalian cerebral cortex (neocortex) arose from the dorsal pallium of other vertebrates. It is organised into areas, layers and columns. - The areas are dedicated to processing sensory information - The layers are composed of different neurons lecture 10 Page 1 Associative areas of the brain: - Speech - Broca's area of the frontal lobe. - Comprehension - Wernicke's area of the temporal lobe. - Hippocampus - spatial memory, encoding memory, converting short-long-term memory. - Amygdala - Emotional memory - Basal ganglia - cognition, learning and motor control and activities. - Visual information is received on the retina. It travels through optic tracts to the LGN where it is then relayed to the primary visual cortex of the cerebral cortex, where it is processed. - Visual associative areas in bird brains are in the pallium. - The olfactory bulb is responsible for the sense of smell. Enlarged olfactory bulbs are associated with keen sense of smell. Olfactory acuity in dinosaurs: The T.rex had exceptionally large olfactory bulbs, so do turkey vultures. lecture 10 Page 2