1. Brain, Body, and Behavior
Learning Goals Overview / Overview

2. Facts about the human brain
Looks like compressed macaroni
Uses about 20 percent of our oxygen
Eats up most of the sugar we take in
Operates on 20 watts of electrical power
100 billion nerve cells

3. Cerebral Cortex Definition
The outermost layer of the brain, controls high level mental processes such as thought.
About the size of a bath towel if untwisted and spread out.

4. Which hemisphere controls movements of the right side of the body
Which hemisphere controls movements of the right side of the body? Left side? What is the depression between the hemispheres called? What connects the two hemispheres?
Each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body!
The divider (depression) is known as a fissure
The two hemispheres are connected by a bundle of fibers known as the corpus callosum – oddly enough you can survive even if the two hemispheres don’t talk!

5. Severed Corpus Callosum
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6. What are the functions of each of the lobes of the brain?
Frontal Lobe – is responsible for a number of very complex functions, including the ability to “see” ourselves, remember things (memory) and tasks dealing with intelligence. – oh and the motor strip is also located in this lobe.
Parietal lobe – contains the sensory strip (works closely with the Frontal lobe)
Occipital lobe – contains the visual cortex, and processing centers
Temporal lobe – contains major centers for hearing, and speech. (one note – language is handled by all four lobes to some extent.)

7. What are the functions of the sensory and motor strips
What are the functions of the sensory and motor strips? In which lobe is each located?
Sensory – handles information dealing with our major senses, including pain. (location – Partial lobe)
Motor – handles our body movements – the book talks about surgeons stimulating this strip to stimulate various parts of the body – (frontal lobe)

8. Prefrontal (Frontal Lobe), Frontal Association & Size of Frontal
Prefrontal – helps us re experience our lives (memories) along with strategies or plans of action.
Frontal Association Area – packed with neurons helps us interpret what is going on and tell us what to do and what to feel. Also seems to be the core of personality.
Size = intelligence level

9. Phineas P. Gage
The Tale of Mr. Gage – in three min….

10. What does it mean to be dominant in one hemisphere?
It simply means that either the right or left hemisphere is preferred and controls the majority of actions performed.
How does this impact people who are left handed vs right?

11. Corpus Callosum
These fibers (as stated earlier) help the two hemispheres communicate.
Sometimes they have to be cut to stop electoral disturbances in the brain (seizures)
For a patient with a severed callosum, they might be able to see objects but not be able to say what they are….this is one possibility.

12. Tasks of left and right hemispheres
Speech
Language
Logic
Writing
Spatial reasoning
Art
Music
Emotions

13. Difference between cerebral cortex and the lower brain?
Cortex = bark (like on a tree)
Part of the brain that is common to animals and humans that regulates basic functions such as breathing

14. Main Parts of the Lower Brain
Thalamus – relay station, handles incoming and outgoing messages (super important)
Hypothalamus – regulates basic needs (hunger, thirst)
Limbic system – emotions and memory
Amygdala – emotion…especially agression
Hippocampus – memories
Cerebellum – coordinates body movements for balance and accuracy
RAS – Reticular Activating System - alertness

15. Neuron

16. Neuron… continued
Axon – carrries messages away from the cell to the dendrites on another neuron
Dendrites – receive information from the axon of other neurons
Synapse – gap between two neurons
Neurotransmitters- chemicals that “jump” the gap , to help send messages (there are all many types)
Vesicles – contain neurotransmitters located at the ends of Axons

17. Neurotransmitters
Acetylcholine – regulates basic bodily processes such as movement
Dopamine – also involved in the control of bodily movement
A shortage of dopamine plays a central role in Parkinson’s disease
Endorphins – neurotransmitters that relieve pain and increase our sense of well-being

18. Central Nervous System
Brain
Spinal Cord
The Spinal Cord – functions as an automatic “brain” in its own right and as a relay station for impulses to and from the higher brain.
Reflexes – automatic behavior of the body involving movement that is activated through the spinal cord without the use of the higher brain.
More on reflexes…

19. Peripheral Nervous System
Simply stated is all of the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord

20. Somatic vs Autonomic Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic
Somatic: contains sensory and motor nerves
Autonomic: regulates breathing, heart rate, digestion and so on.
Sympathetic: Part of the Autonomic system that energizes and prepares for emergencies
Parasympathetic: works in opposition to the sympathetic to help calm us down.

21. Hormones
Part of the Endocrine System – work in conjunction with the Central Nervous System
Glands
Pituitary (Master G – controls/activates all other glands)
Thyroid – connected to metabolism
Adrenal – chemicals that cause excitement in order to prepare the body for an emergency

22. Hormones
Gonads – sex glands that make the sperm or eggs used for reproduction
Androgen – the male sex hormone
Estrogen – the female sex hormone
Both males and females have each, but for the male there is more (androgen) and female more (estrogen)
What might happen if the glands described in the last two slides were too active or not active enough?

23. Phrenology Phrenology -
is a pseudoscience primarily focused on measurements of the human skull, based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules. The distinguishing feature of phrenology is the idea that the sizes of brain areas were meaningful and could be inferred by examining the skull of an individual. 

24. How does science / technology learn about the brain?
EEG – uses electrical firing of the brain to graph brain waves. Electrodes are attached to the head. I’ve had this done during sleep apnea testing.
PET scan – glucose (sugar) is injected to the bloodstream, a machine scans the brain and takes pictures of the levels of radioactivity produced.
MRI – a machine that takes images of the brain’s activity – has become extremely effective, however, people with claustrophobia may not like the technique.
FMRI - The hidden power of smiling