1. The Brain

2. Early Brain Psychology
1800’s- German physician Franz Gall invented phrenology.
He thought bumps on the skull could reveal mental abilities and character traits
Today, neuroscientists study the effect of the brain on behavior.

3. Neuron- a brain cell

4. Neuron- a brain cell Dendrites Axon terminal Soma (Cell Body) Nucleus
Myelin Sheath

5. Parts of the neuron Dendrites- receive messages from other cells
Cell body (soma)- keeps the cell alive
Axon- passes messages from the cell body to other cells
Myelin sheath- fatty covering of the axon that speeds up the message
Terminal branches- form junctions with other cells

6. How neurons communicate
The dendrites receive a message from another neuron
If the dendrites receive enough “yes” signals, the neuron sends an action potential down the axon

7. How neurons communicate
When the message reaches the terminal branches of the axon, they release a neurotransmitter into the synapse.
The neurotransmitter attaches to the appropriate spots in the dendrites of the next neuron.

8. Things to know about neurons
All or nothing principle- a neuron either fires or does not, no partial response
Threshold- the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

9. Neurotransmitters
Acetylcholine- enable muscle action, learning and memory
Dopamine- influences movement, attention, and emotion
Serotonin- affects moods and drives
Norepinephrine- controls alertness and arousal
Glutamate- major excitatory (YES)
GABA- major inhibitory (NO)

10. Endorphins Feel-good neurotransmitters
Endogenous “produced within” morphine
Released to help reduce pain

11. Drugs
Blood-brain barrier- a “fence” that keeps unwanted substances from the brain
Drugs can either mimic or block the effects of neurotransmitters
Mimic- brain may stop producing neurotransmitters
Block- the signal doesn’t make it

12. The Nervous System
Organs and glands
Muscles
Arousing
Calming

13. The Nervous System Central Somatic Peripheral Autonomic
Organs and glands
Muscles
Parasympathetic
Sympathetic
Arousing
Calming

14. Types of Neurons Sensory- they sense the outside world
Motor- they tell the body to move
Interneurons- connect sensory and motor neurons

15. Definitions
Neural Networks- groups of neurons that work together to perform a function
Reflexes- automatic, inborn responses to sensory input

16. The Brain

17. The Brain Parietal Lobe Frontal Lobe Temporal Lobe Brain Stem
Cerebellum
Brain Stem

18. Brain Parts Frontal Lobe- thinking and reasoning
Parietal Lobe- sensation and spatial thinking
Temporal Lobe- hearing
Occipital Lobe- sight
Cerebellum- “little brain”, coordination and balance
Brain Stem- automatic functions such as breathing

19. Limbic System

20. Limbic System
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Amygdala
Hippocampus

21. Limbic Parts Thalamus- sensory control switch
Hypothalamus- drives (eating, sleeping, drinking)
Hippocampus- memory
Amygdala- emotion

22. Association areas- connections

23. Definitions Plasticity- the ability of the brain to change itself
Unused areas get taken over and reengineered to do something new
Corpus Callosum- the neural fibers that connect to the halves of the brain

24. Hemispheres Left Right Right side Speech Rational Thinking
Literal Comprehension
Left side
Emotion
Creativity
Subtle Inferences

25. Endocrine System
Hypothalamus Pituitary gland  all other glands (esp. adrenal glands)