Human Brain & Behaviour (OCR) Session 3 & 4 PDF

HUMAN BRAIN & BEHAVIOUR SESSION 3 & 4 Recap... Name the brain parts you are familiar with? Brain The Brain (introduction) The crowning glory of the central nervous system Fills the upper portion of the skull. It weighs only about three pounds and c...

HUMAN BRAIN & BEHAVIOUR SESSION 3 & 4 Recap... Name the brain parts you are familiar with? Brain The Brain (introduction) The crowning glory of the central nervous system Fills the upper portion of the skull. It weighs only about three pounds and could be held in one hand, Contains billions of interacting cells that integrate information from inside and outside the body, coordinate the body’s actions, and enable human beings to talk, think, remember, plan, create, and dream. Structure, of the brain can be mapped by examining and dissecting brains removed from animals or from deceased humans who have donated their bodies to science. Mapping of brain function Neuro scientists Use of different disciplines:- anatomy, physiology, biology, pharmacology, neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, and psychology. Methods- electrical recordings lesioning electrical stimulation transcranial magnetic stimulation brain imaging techniques as CT and MRI scans The Hindbrain (quick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2g-HpxLtDw overview) The hindbrain includes the cerebellum and The cerebellum (literally “little brain”) is a two structures found in the lower part of the relatively large and deeply folded brainstem: the medulla and the pons. structure located adjacent to the back surface of the brainstem. The cerebellum The medulla, which attaches to the spinal cord, is critical to the coordination of controls largely unconscious but vital functions, movement and to the sense of including circulating blood, breathing, equilibrium, or physical balance. maintaining muscle tone, and regulating reflexes such as sneezing, coughing, and salivating. Damage to the cerebellum disrupts The pons (literally “bridge”) includes a bridge of fine motor skills, such as those fibers that connects the brainstem with the involved in writing, typing, or playing cerebellum. The pons also contains several clusters of cell bodies involved with sleep and arousal. a musical instrument.  The https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZdS6u7hzBc Midbrain The midbrain is the segment of the brainstem that lies between the hindbrain and the forebrain. The midbrain contains an area that is concerned with integrating sensory processes, such as vision and hearing (Stein, Wallace, & Stanford, 2000). Running through both the hindbrain and the midbrain is the reticular formation. Located at the central core of the brainstem, the reticular formation contributes to the modulation of muscle reflexes, breathing, and pain perception (Saper, 2000). Role in the regulation of sleep and arousal. Activity in the ascending fibers of the reticular formation contributes to arousal (Coenen, 1998). Can you relate the functioning of reticular formation to a principle learnt in unit I?  Interactive tool (10 Minutes) Explore this interactive tool and read the key parts which we point out in the previous slides https://www.brainfacts.org/3d-brain#intro=false&focus=Brain- cerebral_hemisphere-right&zoom=false  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA51ZO508Cs The Forebrain The forebrain is the largest and most complex region of the brain, encompassing a variety of structures, including the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum The thalamus, hypothalamus, and limbic system form the core of the forebrain. All three structures are located near the top of the brainstem. Above them is the cerebrum—the seat of complex thought. The wrinkled surface of the cerebrum is the cerebral cortex—the outer layer of the brain, which looks like a cauliflower The Thalamus: A Way Station The thalamus is a structure in the forebrain through which all sensory information (except smell) must pass to get to the cerebral cortex. This way station is made up of clusters of cell bodies, or somas. More than a passive relay station. The thalamus also appears to play an active role in integrating information from various senses The Hypothalamus: A Regulator of Biological Needs The hypothalamus is a structure found near the base of the forebrain that is involved in the regulation of basic biological needs activate the lateral hypothalamus, animals eat No larger than a kidney bean constantly and gain weight rapidly (Grossman et al., Function is to control the autonomic 1978 nervous system (Iversen, Iversen, & Saper, 2000). The hypothalamus serves as a vital link between the brain and the endocrine system Major role in the regulation of basic biological drives related to survival: fighting, fleeing, feeding, and mating Control of hunger and other basic biological processes, including thirst, sexual motivation, and temperature regulation (Kupfermann, Kandel, & Iversen, 2000). The Limbic System: The Seat of Emotion The limbic system is a loosely connected network of structures located roughly along the border between the cerebral cortex and deeper subcortical areas (the term limbic, which means “border”). First described by Paul MacLean (1954), the limbic system is not a well-defined anatomical system with clear boundaries. The limbic system includes the hypothalamus, the hippocampus, the amygdala, the olfactory bulb, and the cingulate gyrus. The limbic system is involved in the regulation of emotion, memory, and motivation. The hippocampus and adjacent structures clearly play a role in memory processes Hippocampal region is responsible for the consolidation of memories for factual information The amygdala Play a central role in the learning of fear responses and the processing of other basic emotional responses The limbic system is also one of the areas in the brain that appears to be rich in emotion-tinged “pleasure centres.” The Cerebrum: The Seat of Complex Thought The cerebrum is the largest and most complex part of the human brain. Responsible for the most complex mental activities, (learning, remembering, thinking, and consciousness). The cerebral cortex is the convoluted outer layer of the cerebrum. The cortex is folded and bent, so that its large surface area—about 1.5 square feet—can be packed into the limited volume of the skull (Hubel & Wiesel, 1979). The cerebrum is divided into two halves called hemispheres. The cerebral hemispheres are the right and left halves of the cerebrum The corpus callosum is the structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres Functional division Cerebral hemisphere is divided into four parts called lobes. Each of these lobes is dedicated to specific purposes The occipital lobe, at the back of the head, includes the cortical area where most visual signals are sent and visual processing is begun. This area is called the primary visual cortex. The parietal lobe is forward of the occipital lobe. It includes the area that registers the sense of touch, called the primary somatosensory cortex. The parietal lobe is also involved in integrating visual input and in monitoring the body’s position in space. The temporal lobe (meaning “near the temples”) lies below the parietal lobe. The temporal lobe contains an area devoted to auditory processing, called the primary auditory cortex. Damage to an area in the temporal lobe on the left side of the brain can impair the comprehension of speech and language. frontal lobe, the largest lobe in the human brain. It contains the principal areas that control the movement of muscles, called the primary motor cortex. http://www.neuroanatomy.ca/ Identify the brain area and its functions (Activity) Heredity & Behaviour Heredity: Biologically determined characteristics passed from parents to their offspring. Every cell of your body contains a set of biological blueprints that enable it to perform its essential functions. Chromosomes and DNA Chromosomes contain thousands of genes— segments of DNA that serve as basic units of heredity. Q&A