1. THE FUNCTIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM The Central Nervous System: lower cortex to brain stem.

2. The cerebral cortex Frontal lobe Parietal lobe Occiptial lobe Temporal lobe

3. THE temporal lobe Temporal lobes –Separated from the frontal and parietal lobe by the lateral fissure Three important areas: –Auditory projection area, –visual and auditory association areas –Additional language area: Wernicke’s Area.

4. THE auditory or temporal cortex Auditory cortex: –receives sound information from the ears –lies on the superior (uppermost) gyrus of the temporal lobe. Wernicke’s area –Just posterior to the auditory cortex –Left hemisphere only –interprets language input arriving from the nearby auditory and visual areas. –also generates spoken language through Broca’s area and written language by the way of the motor cortex. Inferior temporal cortex –lower part of the lobe (as the name implies) –plays a major role in the visual identification of objects.

5. THE occipital cortex Occipital lobes –location of the visual cortex, –visual information is processed. contains a map of visual space because adjacent receptors in the back of the eye send neurons to adjacent cells in the visual cortex.

6. THE Midbrain and brainstem Older areas of the brain More “animal-like” in that regulate more basic (noncognitive) functions

8. THE Thalamus Lies deep within the brain Located just below the lateral ventricles, Receives information from ALL of the sensory systems EXCEPT olfaction (smell) Relays info to the respective cortical projection areas.

9. THE hypothalamus Smaller than thalamus Inferior to the thalamus, Plays a major role in controlling emotion and motivated behaviors Controls the 4F;s: – F eeding (eating and drinking) – F ighting – F leeing – F ….sexual activity.

10. THE hypothalamus Hypothalamus exerts influence largely through its control of the autonomic nervous system –Automatic system –Sympathetic: fear/flight/fight –Parasympathetic: feeding, sexual behavior Hypothalamus also influences the body’s hormonal environment –Controls the pituitary gland. –The pituitary is known as the master gland because it controls other glands in the body.

11. THE pineal gland Posterior to the thalamus Participates with other structures in controlling daily rhythms or circadian rhythm in humans and animals. Secretes melatonin, related to sleep/circadian rhythm Controls seasonal cycles in nonhuman animals

12. corpus callosum Dense band of fibers that carry information between hemispheres Is found a couple of inches below the brain’s surface where the longitudinal fissure ends Implicated in gender differences in brain function, autism and other developmental disorders

13. THE Ventricles Cavities in brain and central canal in spinal cord which form during development –Form a hollow interior of the nervous system. –filled with cerebrospinal fluid or CSF, CSF carries material from the blood vessels to the central nervous system CSF also transports waste materials in the other direction.

15. THE midbrain areas Midbrain contains structures that have secondary roles in vision, audition and movement. –Superior colliculi: help guide eye movements and fixation of gaze. –Inferior colliculi: help locate the direction of sounds. Ventral tegmental area (VTA), which plays a role in the rewarding effects of food, sex, drugs and so on.

17. Mid Brain Motor functions

18. Corpus Striatum Motor Habits –Behaviors you do “without thinking” –Walking, writing, proficient or well learned behaviors Located between the cortex and the thalamus Composed of three very large nuclei –Caudate nucleus – Putamen – Globus pallidus – collectively- called the striatum

19. Basal Ganglia and Corpus Striatum Basal Ganglia – Diffuse system of nuclei –Important for coordination of body movement Substantia Nigra One of the structures involved in movement, projects to the basal ganglia to integrate movements. Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea both involve damage to these area

20. Limbic System Group of interconnected structures Amygdala: – Helps regulate states of emotional arousal Hippocampus: –Plays important role in the formation of memories

21. The Hindbrain

22. THE hindbrain The hindbrain is composed of –the medulla –the pons –the cerebellum –Controls most basic life functions The medulla –forms the lower part of the hindbrain. –Set of nuclei involved with control of essential life processes cardiovascular activity respiration (breathing).

24. THE pons Means “bridge” in Latin ˉBridges between upper and lower brain areas Serves as a major highway ˉsensory neurons pass through the pons on way to thalamus ˉmotor neurons pass through between the cortex and the cerebellum Contains centers related to sleep and arousal Pons is also part of reticular formation.

25. THE reticular formation Collection of several nuclei Runs through the middle of the hindbrain and the midbrain. Major role in sleep and arousal Contributes to attention Helps modulate aspects of motor activity –Reflexes –muscle tone Implicated in disorders such as autism, narcolepsy

26. THE CErebellum One of most distinctive appearing brain structure. –Perched on the back of the brain stem –wrinkled or striped- striated tissue –divided down the middle like the cerebral hemispheres – –Name means “little brain.” Critical for refining movements initiated by the motor cortex Controls speed, intensity and direction of movement. It also plays a role in motor learning, and research implicates it in other cognitive processes and in emotion.

27. THE CErebellum

28. THE spinal cord Finger-sized cable of neurons Carries commands from the brain to the muscles and organs Carries sensory information into the brain. Dorsal root: Sensory –Sensory neurons enter the spinal cord through the of each spinal nerve. Ventral root: Motor – The axons of the motor neurons pass out of the spinal cord through the. Reflex Pathway: –sensory neurons from the dorsal side connect with motor neurons, either directly or through an interneuron. –This pathway produces a simple, automatic movement in response to a sensory stimulus, called a reflex.

30. Protecting the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM Meninges: –Covers both the brain and spinal cord –Protective three-layered membrane called the. –The space between the meninges and the CNS is filled with cerebrospinal fluid, –This cushions the neural tissue from the trauma of blows and sudden movement. Blood-brain barrier: –Limits the passage between the bloodstream and the brain –Provides constant protection from toxic substances –Prevents neurotransmitters from circulating in the blood.

32. The peripheral nervous system (PNS)consists of: –cranial nerves that enter and leave the underside of the brain, –Spinal nerves that connect to the sides of the spinal cord at each vertebra. The PNS can be divided into the –Somatic nervous system: voluntary behavior –Autonomic nervous system (ANS): involuntary or automatic behavior THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

33. THE somatic nervous SYSTEM Motor neurons that operate the skeletal muscles – –Neurons that move the body –Typically refer to voluntary muscles rather than smooth muscle movement Sensory neurons –bring information into the central nervous system from the body and the outside world. –Includes all senses

34. THE autonomic NERVOUS SYSTEM Regulates general activity levels in the body Controls smooth muscle: –Stomach –Blood vessels –Glands –Heart –Lungs –Other vital and “automatic” organs.

35. Sympathetic nervous system –activates the body in ways that help it cope with demands, such as emotional stress and physical emergencies –Fear/flight/fight. Parasympathetic nervous system –slows the activity of most organs to conserve energy, –also activates digestion to renew energy –Which one modulates sexual behavior? –Question: can you wet your pants when you are afraid? THE ANS has two divisions

37. Testing the ANS!