1. Objectives 31.2 The Central Nervous System
-Discuss the functions of the brain and spinal cord.
-Describe the effects of drugs on the brain.

2. The Central Nervous System
The Central Nervous System consists of:
1. Brain
2. Spinal Cord

3. The Spinal Cord
The spinal cord is the main communication link between the brain and the rest of the body.
Certain kinds of information, including reflexes, are processed by the spinal cord.
A reflex is a quick, automatic response to a stimulus.

4. The Brain
The Brain is the most complex organ in the human body.
This tissue weighs about 3 lbs and contains a staggering one hundred billion neurons.

5. Hemispheres
A deep groove divides the cerebrum into left and right hemispheres.
The hemispheres are connected by a band of tissue called the corpus callosum.
Each hemisphere deals mainly with the opposite side of the body.

6. Cerebrum
The largest region of the human brain is the cerebrum.
The cerebrum is responsible for the voluntary activities of the body, as well as, for intelligence, learning and judgment.

7. The Lobes The Four Lobes are:
1. Frontal Lobe ~ emotional center & personality
2. Parietal Lobe ~ reading & speech
3. Temporal Lobe ~ hearing & smell
4. Occipital Lobe ~ vision

8. Cerebral Cortex
The cerebral cortex processes information from the sense organs and controls body movements.

9. Limbic System
Emotion, behavior and memory have all been linked to the limbic system.

10. Thalamus and Hypothalamus
The thalamus receives messages from sensory receptors throughout the body and then relays the information to the proper region of the cerebrum.
The hypothalamus is the control center for hunger, thirst, fatigue, anger and body temperature.
The hypothalamus also helps to coordinate the nervous and endocrine systems.

11. Cerebellum
The second largest region of the brain is the cerebellum.
Balance and muscle coordination involved in walking, dancing and other movements are controlled by the cerebellum.

12. Brain Stem The brain stem connects the brain and spinal cord.
The brain stem includes three regions—the midbrain, the pons and the medulla oblongata.
All vital functions are controlled by the Brain Stem!

13. Addiction and the Brain
Although the chemistry of each drug is different, they all produce changes in the group of synapses that use the neurotransmitter dopamine, and are associated with the brain’s pleasure and reward centers.

14. True or False
The largest and most prominent region of the human brain, which is responsible for the voluntary, or conscious, activities of the body is the cerebellum. _________________________ When taking a drug such as the methamphetamine ecstasy, the amount of dopamine released by the hypothalamus and the limbic system increases. _________________________

15. Answers
The largest and most prominent region of the human brain, which is responsible for the voluntary, or conscious, activities of the body is the cerebellum.False, cerebrum When taking a drug such as the methamphetamine ecstasy, the amount of dopamine released by the hypothalamus and the limbic system increases. _________________________