Psychology 1002: Neuroscience Lecture 1 2024 PDF

Psychology 1002: Semester 2, 2024 Neuroscience Professor Justin Harris Useful website: http://www.brainfacts.org/ Textbook chapter: The Biology of Behavior by Neil Carlson (in electronic reserve) Behavioural Ne...

Psychology 1002: Semester 2, 2024 Neuroscience Professor Justin Harris Useful website: http://www.brainfacts.org/ Textbook chapter: The Biology of Behavior by Neil Carlson (in electronic reserve) Behavioural Neuroscience: Studying the biological bases of psychological processes (emotion, behaviour, thought, perception….) Mentimeter interactive slide 1  Outline of lectures Anatomy, physiology, neurochemistry of nervous system (Lectures 1-3) How we study the brain (Lecture 4). Functional systems within the brain (Lectures 4, 5, & 6) : Motivation (feeding and reward); Sleep and wakefulness; Language; Learning and memory. 2 Why should psychologists study neuroscience? Enrich our understanding of many psychological processes. Computer hardware vs software is a useful analogy for relationship between psychology and brain: 3 Lecture 1: Divisions of nervous system Carlson, pp 87-90; 116-117 Nervous system throughout body. Two major divisions: 1. Central Nervous System: 2. Peripheral Nervous System: 4 Peripheral Nervous System Sensory Motor 5  Peripheral Nervous System Autonomic Nervous System Controls many non-voluntary bodily functions: “The 4 F’s”. 2 branches: Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic. Have opposite effects: Both controlled by brain Uses neurotransmitters (acetylcholine and noradrenaline) 6  Peripheral Nervous System Enteric Nervous System Located in walls of gastrointestinal tract. Controls digestive activity (peristalsis and secretion of enzymes) and senses physical and chemical conditions of gut. Interacts with brain but can also function independently. Uses neurotransmitters, including dopamine and serotonin 7 Central Nervous System (CNS) Estimated to contain about 86 billion neurons We only use 10% of our brains “Improve your brain power by learning how to use the other 90%” 9  Central Nervous System (CNS) Brain and spinal cord are protected by… 1. Bone 2. Meninges (“men in jeez”) 3. Blood brain barrier Image alert! 10 Bone 11  The Meninges Flexible sheet between brain/spinal cord and bone, made from 3 membranes: 1. dura mater; 2. arachnoid mater; 3. pia mater. Dura mater Arachnoid mater Blood vessel Subarachnoid space (filled with CSF) Pia mater 12 Brain Blood Brain Barrier Placeholder for interactive slide 3 13 Blood Brain Barrier Brain has high energy demands blood vessels supplying blood to CNS have special walls, restricting entry of many chemicals into CNS 14  The Spinal Cord A cable of neural fibres with “roots” branching off An interface between the brain and PNS Some reflexes. 15