Neuroscience Course PDF

Neuroscience Course 1. Brain Structure & Functions 1.1 Cerebral Cortex (The Command Center) Frontal Lobe: Decision-making, problem-solving, and control of purposeful behaviors. Parietal Lobe: Sensory information processing (touch, spatial navigation). Occipital Lobe: Visual p...

Neuroscience Course 1. Brain Structure & Functions 1.1 Cerebral Cortex (The Command Center) Frontal Lobe: Decision-making, problem-solving, and control of purposeful behaviors. Parietal Lobe: Sensory information processing (touch, spatial navigation). Occipital Lobe: Visual processing. Temporal Lobe: Auditory processing and memory (houses the hippocampus). Checklist:  Frontal lobe: Executive function, movement. Parietal lobe: Sensory integration. Occipital lobe: Visual interpretation. Temporal lobe: Hearing and memory. 1.2 Limbic System (Emotional and Memory Hub) Amygdala: Emotion regulation (fear, pleasure). Hippocampus: Memory formation and spatial navigation. Hypothalamus: Regulates hormones, controls hunger, thirst, sleep cycles. Checklist: Amygdala: Detects and processes emotions. Hippocampus: Encodes long-term memory. Hypothalamus: Regulates internal states. 1.3 Brainstem & Cerebellum (The Life Support Systems) Brainstem: Controls automatic life functions (heart rate, breathing). o Midbrain: Auditory and visual reflexes. o Pons: Sleep regulation, breathing control. o Medulla Oblongata: Heart rate, digestion, and blood pressure regulation. Cerebellum: Coordination, balance, and fine motor control. Checklist: Midbrain: Reflexive responses. Pons: Breathing and sleep cycle regulation. Medulla: Basic life-sustaining functions. Cerebellum: Coordination and motor learning. 2. Neural Networks & Neuroplasticity 2.1 Neural Networks (The Brain’s Highways) Definition: Networks of interconnected neurons responsible for carrying out specific brain functions. Hebbian Learning: "Cells that fire together, wire together" – connections strengthen with repeated use. Pruning: Unused networks weaken and get eliminated over time. Checklist: Understand key neural network functions (e.g., vision, movement). Hebbian learning: Strengthening through repetition. Neural pruning: Removal of redundant pathways. 2.2 Neuroplasticity (Brain Adaptation) Definition: The brain’s ability to rewire itself by forming new neural connections. o Structural Plasticity: Changes in the physical structure of neurons. o Functional Plasticity: Brain’s ability to move functions from damaged areas to healthy areas. Checklist: Structural changes (dendrites/synapses growth). Functional shifts (adaptation after injury). Practice-related neuroplasticity (learning new skills). 3. Brain Lateralization (Left vs. Right Brain) Left Hemisphere: Logical thinking, language, analytical skills. Right Hemisphere: Creative thinking, spatial abilities, emotional expression. Checklist: Identify left-brain dominant functions (language, logic). Identify right-brain dominant functions (creativity, emotional perception). Corpus Callosum: The connector between hemispheres. 4. Neural Communication & Synaptic Transmission 4.1 Neural Communication Neurons: Basic building blocks of the brain, responsible for receiving, processing, and transmitting information. Action Potential: Electrical signal that travels along the neuron’s axon to trigger communication. Resting Potential: Neuron’s state when not transmitting signals (negative charge inside the cell). Checklist: Understand how action potentials initiate neural communication. Role of resting potential in neuron readiness. 4.2 Synaptic Transmission (Neuron Communication) Synapse: The gap between neurons where communication happens via neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters: Chemicals like dopamine, serotonin that relay signals. o Excitatory NTs: Trigger action potentials. o Inhibitory NTs: Suppress action potentials. Checklist:  Synaptic structure: Axon terminal, synaptic cleft, dendrites. Excitatory vs. Inhibitory neurotransmitters. Key neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, GABA). 5. Memory Systems 5.1 Types of Memory Sensory Memory: Brief storage of sensory information (milliseconds). Short-Term Memory (STM): Limited capacity (7 ± 2 items), lasts around 20-30 seconds. Long-Term Memory (LTM): Potentially limitless, stores information indefinitely. o Explicit Memory: Conscious recall (facts, events). o Implicit Memory: Unconscious recall (skills, habits). Checklist: Sensory memory: Shortest, most immediate form. Short-term memory: Limited duration and capacity. Long-term memory: Stores explicit (declarative) and implicit (non-declarative) memories. 5.2 Memory Processing Encoding: Transformation of sensory input into a form that can be stored. Storage: Maintaining information in the brain over time. Retrieval: Accessing stored information when needed. Checklist: Encoding: Practice techniques to improve encoding (repetition, mnemonics). Storage: Role of hippocampus in forming long-term memories. Retrieval: Identify techniques to improve memory recall. 6. Major Brain Networks (Resting State Networks) Default Mode Network (DMN): Active when the brain is at rest, involved in self- referential thinking and daydreaming. Salience Network: Monitors for important stimuli and redirects attention. Central Executive Network (CEN): Engages during active problem-solving and focus. Checklist: DMN: Self-reflective thinking, future planning. Salience network: Focus shifts and importance detection. CEN: Problem-solving, decision-making. 7. Cognitive Functions & Executive Control Attention: The brain’s ability to focus on specific stimuli while ignoring others. Executive Functions: Includes working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control, managed by the prefrontal cortex. Decision-Making: The interaction between reasoning (frontal cortex) and emotions (amygdala). Checklist: Role of the prefrontal cortex in controlling attention and executive functions. Cognitive flexibility: Switching between tasks efficiently. How decision-making integrates emotion and logic. 8. Emotion and the Brain Amygdala: Emotional processing, especially fear and threat responses. Prefrontal Cortex: Regulates and controls emotional responses. Insular Cortex: Processes internal body states and how they relate to emotions. Checklist:  Amygdala’s role in fear response and emotional triggers. Prefrontal cortex’s role in modulating emotions. Connection between body states (insular cortex) and emotional awareness.