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Psychology LU3 - The Biological Mind, Hindbrain (Brainstem &…
Psychology LU3 - The Biological Mind
The Role of Biology in Psychology
Biological Psychology
Scientific study
Connection between
Nervous system
Behaviour and mental processes
Biological changes influence
Behaviour and cognition
Influences biology
Early Biological Psychology
Observing people/ autopsies
Phrenology
Bumps on skull determined personality
Correct that functions are localised
Modern Biological Psychology
Nervous system is hierarchy
Complex behaviours managed by complex structures
Modern methods
Allow observation of living brain
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI)
Central Nervous System
Structures & Functions
Protected by:
Skull
Spinal Vertebrae
Meninges (membrane under bone)
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Seeps out ventricles
Hydrocephalus: blockage of CSF
Cushions brain & spinal cord
Spinal Cord
Communication link
Between brain & PNS
Sends information via nerve bundles
31 pairs spinal nerves
Sensory Neurons
Carry information
About external environment
From body to CNS
Afferent Neurons
Motor Neurons
Carry commands
From CNS to muscles
Efferent Neurons
Interneurons
Occur between Sensory & Motor Neurons
Subcortical Structures (Forebrain)
Thalamus
Receives information from sensory systems
Forwards to cerebral cortex
Memory, states of consciousness
Processes sensory information
Cerebral Cortex
Corpus callosum connects cerebral hemispheres
Cerebral cortex covers cerebral hemispheres
Cortex is convulted
Lobe functions
Sensory
Motor
Association
Complex mental functions
Forms bridges
Each lobe has primary area
Which processes raw information
Frontal Lobe
Primary motor cortex
Voluntary movement
Higher cognitive functions
Association area: Broca's area
Production of speech
Prefrontal cortex
Planning of behaviour
Judgement, attention
Last to develop
Orbitofrontal Cortex
Emotional & Social lives
Temporal Lobe
Hearing & language
Primary Auditory Cortex
Association area
Recognising things & people
Wernicke's area
Comprehension of speech
Parietal Lobe
Primary somatosensory cortex
Touch, pain, skin temperature
Perception of things
Processing of moving objects
Occipital Lobe
Primary visual cortex
Interprets input from eyes
Connects to other lobes
Right & Left Brain
Lateralization
Localised functioning
Left or right hemisphere
Ability to multitask
Right hemisphere
Music functions, intuition, visual arts
Negative emotions
Left Hemisphere
Mathematical computation, logical reasoning
Positive emotions
Hypothalamus
Motivation, homeostasis
Feeding, fleeing, fighting, fornicating
Directs autonomic nervous system
Also endocrine system & hormones
Situated above pituitary gland
Amygdala
Receives sensory information
Produces emotional output
Identifies & responds to fear & aggression
Hippocampus
Formation of long term memories
Storage & retrieval of memories
Basal Ganglia
Complex circuits: motor structures
Brainstem, thalamus, cerebral cortex
Voluntary movement
Peripheral Nervous System
Can repair itself
Commands from CNS implemented
Somatic Nervous System
Sensory & Motor Neurons
Carry information
To & from CNS
Commands voluntary movement
Endocrine System
Glands that secrete hormones
Into blood
Pineal Gland
Sleep & wake cycles
Releases melatonin
Breaks down presence of light
Islets of Langerhans
Hormones essential to digestion
Insulin
Pituitary Gland
Hormones activate other glands
Gonads, Thyroid, Adrenal Glands
Regulated by hypothalamus
Oxytocin & Vasopressin
Physical, emotional, social functions
Growth hormones
Stimulate growth & regeneration
Ovaries & Testes
Sex hormones
Initiate puberty, maintain fertility
Thyroid Gland
Thyroxine
Alters rate of metabolism
Chemical process that sustains life
Adrenal Gland
Activated in times of stress
Cortisol
Initiates fight/flight reaction
31 pairs spinal nerves
Serves torso & limbs
12 Cranial Nerves
Serves head, neck, internal organs
Autonomic Nervous System
Controls glands & organs
Involuntary & vital bodily functions
Sympathetic Nervous System
Expenditure of energy
Fight or flight reaction
Resources provided to muscles
Through heart racing etc.
Body able to respond
Potentially dangerous situations
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Storage of energy
Store nutrients
Repair your body
Return to state of rest
Enteric Nervous System
Nerve cells
Embedded in gastrointestinal lining
Communicates with endocrine system
Ensuring release of chemicals necessary for digestion
Conscious perception related to gastrointestinal system
"Gut feeling"
Neurons
Cell in nervous system
Sends & receives messages
Cell Body (Soma)
Central mass of neuron
Contains nucleus
Where basic tasks happen
Neural Membrane
Made of fatty materials
Forms barrier between:
Extracellular fluid (outside cell)
Intracellular fluid (inside cell)
Pores allow chemicals to pass through
Glia
Nervous system cells
Form connections with
Blood vessels which serve nervous system
Forms blood-brain-barrier
Prevents toxins entering brain
Perform support functions
Myelin
Insulation
Caused by glia wrapping around axon
Makes neural signaling fast
Only matures in early adulthood
Damage differs in PNS & CNS
Axons
Carry information
Vary in length
Axon terminals found at end of axon
Inside are synaptic vesicles
Contain neurotransmitters
Electrical Signaling
Step 1: Resting Potential
Neuron isn't processing information
-70mv within neuron
Within axon:
Positive potassium ions
Negative protein ions
Negative charge
Extracellular fluid:
Positive sodium ions
Negative chloride ions
Positive charge
Step 2: Critical Threshold
Changes occur within soma when:
Signal comes from neighbouring neuron
Charge within neuron increases
-65mv: critical threshold
Action potential is released
Depolarization: voltage increases
Hyperpolarization: voltage decreases
Step 3: Action Potential
-65mv: sodium channels open
Voltage within axon increases dramatically
30mv: potassium channels open
Slows increase in voltage
40mv: sodium channels close
Voltage within axon decreases dramatically
-80mv: potassium channels close
Step 4: Refractory Period
Potassium & Sodium pumped in & out
To get back to resting potential
No new signals can be received
Step 5: Resting Potential
Axon is back to -70mv
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Propagation in Myelinated Axons
Action potential skips over myelinated sections
Action potential occurs at Nodes of Ranvier
Spaces between myelin
Less energy is used
Dendrites
Receive input from neurons
Neurons have many
Chemical Signaling
Synapses
Space between neurons
Communication takes place
Types of Neurotransmitters
Acetylcholine (ACH)
Behaviour, learning, memory
Commands muscles
Autonomic nervous system
Norepinephrine
Arousal and vigilance
Sympathetic nervous system
Dopamine
Movement, planning, reward
Pleasure circuits
Serotonin
Sleep, appetite, mood, agression
Behaviours are tightly linked
Endorphins
Modifies response to pain
Epinephrine (Adrenalin)
Arousal
Glutamate
Excitation of brain activity
GABA
Inhibition of brain activity
Step 1
Action potential reaches axon terminal
Triggers chemical signalling
Step 2
Synaptic vesicles released from protein anchors
Step 3
Vesicles migrate to cell membrane
Fuse with membrane release sites
Step 4
Vesicles release neurotransmitters
Into synaptic gap
Step 5
Step 6
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Vesicles pinched off membrane
To be recycled
Reuptake
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Neurotransmitters come into contact with receptors
Channels on receiving end of neuron
Inhibition/ Excitation
Excitatory effect
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Occurs once neurotransmitter binds with receiving receptor
Inhibitory effect
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Summation
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Hindbrain (Brainstem & Cerebellum)
Medulla
Where brainstem merges with spinal cord
Functions essential to life
Pons
Sleep, arousal, facial expressions
Bridge between
Higher & Lower brain portions
Cerebellum
Balance, motor control, posture
Midbrain
Sensory reflexes, movement, managing pain
Reticullar Formation
Arousal, mood, sleep