A system that controls all of the activities of the body.

Your Amazing Brain

Receives information within a fraction of a second, too minuscule to measure Acts on the external universe allows you to cry, walk, play a musical instrument Utilizes language one of your most advanced functions Possesses emotions creates your affective universe Thinks is responsible for your memory, intelligence, your thoughts Controls your autonomic functions heart rate, breathing, homeostasis Controls your immune system protects you from viruses

Central Nervous System Peripheral Nervous System

Central Nervous System

Brain

Brain
Spinal Cord

Spinal Cord

The Spinal Cord

Protected by a column of bones Connects the brain to the rest of the nervous system Sends messages to the brain
Produces some behaviors of its own without the help of the brain These spinal reflexes are automatic, requesting no conscience effort Sometimes they are influenced by thought and emotion
Example: touching a hot iron
The spinal cord sends messages to the brain.
The spinal cord sends messages

to the brain.

The Brain Areas of the Brain The Four Lobes of the Brain
Lateralization Contralateral function

The Hind Brain

Medulla breathing, heart rate, digestion, other vital reflexes(swallowing,coughing,vomiting,sneezing) Pons sleeping, walking, dreaming Reticular Activating System alertness, arousal, attention Cerebellum balance coordinated, rapid voluntary movements
e.g., playing the piano, kicking, throwing, etc.

The Midbrain
Thalamus
"central switching station" relays and processes incoming sensory information (except olfactory) to the higher brain centers
The sight of sunset is directed to a visual area

The only sense that completely bypasses the thalamus is the sense of smell, which has its private switching station, the olfactory bulb

The Midbrain
The Limbic System Hypothalamus Amygdala Hippocampus

Hypothalamus
Contains nuclei involved in a variety of behaviors sexual behavior hunger, thirst sleep water and salt balance body temperature regulation circadian rhythms role in hormone secretion Hypothalamus releases hormones or releasing factors which in turn cause pituitary gland to release its hormones

Amygdala
Inputs come from all senses Amygdala reads emotional significance of inputs

Output influences such functions as heart rate, adrenaline release

Amygdala and Emotion

Identify emotion from facial expressions
Amygdala damage makes this task difficult

Hippocampus
Important in forming new memories

The Forebrain
The Cerebrum
Higher forms of thinking take place in it

It is divided into two halves called the cerebral hemispheres that are connected by a large band of fibers called the corpus callosum
They have different tasks (lateralization)

The Forebrain
The Cerebral Cortex
The cerebrum is covered by several thin layers of densely packed cells known as the cerebral cortex On each cerebral hemisphere, deep fissures divide the cortex into 4 lobes

The Four Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex

Occipital Lobes -at the back of the head -Visual cortex Parietal Lobe -at the top of the brain -Somatosensory cortex -pressure, touch, pain Temporal Lobes -at the sides of the brain -Auditory cortex -memory, perception , emotion, language Frontal Lobes
-toward the front of the brain -Motor cortex -voluntary movement of muscles -decision, problemsolving, planning

Functions of the Cortex

Motor Cortex

Somatosensory Cortex

Motor Cortex an area of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements. It sends messages out to the body. When stimulating, specific parts of the region in the left or right hemisphere, specific body parts moved on the opposite side of the body.

Contralateral Motor Control

Movements controled by motor area Right hemisphere controls left side of body Left hemisphere controls right side Motor nerves cross sides in spinal cord

Functions of the Cortex

Sensory Cortex the area at the front of the parietal lobes that receives, registers, and processes body sensations. Association Functions areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.
Motor Cortex Somatosensory Cortex

Lateralization
Left Hemisphere Verbal competence Speaking, reading, thinking & reasoning Processes info in sequence One piece of data at a time logical Right Hemisphere Nonverbal areas Comprehension, spatial relationships, drawing, music, emotion Processes info. As a whole Intuitive

Peripheral Nervous System

contains only nerves and connects the brain and spinal cord (CNS) to the rest of the body. 3 kinds of neurons connect CNS to the body sensory motor interneurons Motor - CNS to muscles and organs Sensory - sensory receptors to CNS Interneurons: Connections Within CNS
Brain Spinal Cord

Nerves

Peripheral Nervous System

Peripheral Nervous System

Skeletal (Somatic)

Autonomic

Sympathetic

Parasympathetic

Somatic System
Nerves to/from spinal cord
control muscle movements somatosensory inputs
Sensory Neuron Brain

Both Voluntary and reflex movements Skeletal Reflexes

Skin receptors

Motor Neuron

Interneuron

Muscle

Autonomic System
Two divisions:
sympathetic Parasympatheitic

Control involuntary functions

heartbeat blood pressure respiration perspiration digestion

Can be influenced by thought and emotion

Sympathetic
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM SYMPATHETIC

Fight or flight response Release adrenaline and noradrenaline Increases heart rate and blood pressure Increases blood flow to skeletal muscles Inhibits digestive functions

Brain Dilates pupil Stimulates salivation Relaxes bronchi Spinal cord Accelerates heartbeat Inhibits activity Salivary glands Lungs Heart Stomach Pancreas

Stimulates glucose
Secretion of adrenaline, nonadrenaline

Liver
Adrenal gland Kidney

Relaxes bladder
Sympathetic Stimulates ejaculation ganglia in male

Parasympathetic
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM PARASYMPATHETIC
Brain

Rest and digest system Calms body to conserve and maintain energy Lowers heartbeat, breathing rate, blood pressure

Contracts pupil Stimulates salivation Spinal cord Constricts bronchi

Slows heartbeat
Stimulates activity

Stimulates gallbladder Gallbladder Contracts bladder Stimulates erection of sex organs

Summary of autonomic differences

Autonomic nervous system controls physiological arousal
Sympathetic division (arousing)
Pupils dilate Decreases Perspires Increases Accelerates Inhibits Secrete stress hormones EYES SALVATION SKIN RESPERATION HEART DIGESTION ADRENAL GLANDS

Parasympathetic division (calming)

Pupils contract Increases Dries Decreases Slows Activates Decrease secretion of stress hormones

Basic Tasks of the Nervous System

Sensory Input: Monitor both external and internal environments. Integration: Process the information and often integrate it with stored information. Motor output: If necessary, signal effector organs to make an appropriate response.

 Cell body: functional portion Dendrites: short extensions that receive signals Axon: long extension that transmits impulses away

Nerve Impulse - The Action Potential

Threshold potential will trigger an action potential or nerve impulse

The action potential is an all-ornone response

How does a signal move from one neuron to another?

The junction between a nerve cell and another cell is called a synapse. The space between two cells is known as the synaptic cleft. Messages travel within the neuron as an electrical action potential. To cross the synaptic cleft requires the actions of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are biochemical substances which carry information. stored in small synaptic vessicles clustered at the tip of the axon and released by the signal cell (axon) to the receiver cell(dendrite).

Types of chemical synapse

Acetylcholine: neuromuscular junctions, glands, brain and spinal cord Norepinepherine: affects brain regions concerned with emotions, dreaming

Chemical Messengers in the NS

Neurotransmitters Endorphins Hormones

Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters travel from one neuron to another. Changes occur in the receiving neurons membrane, The ultimate effect is either:
Excitatory: the probability that the receiving neuron will fire increases Inhibitory: the probability that the receiving neuron will fire decreases

Neurotransmitters
Serotonin Sleep, appetite, sensory perception, temperature regulation, pain suppression, and mood Dopamine Voluntary movement, learning, memory, and emotion Acetylcholine Muscle action, cognitive functioning, memory, and emotion

Neurotransmitters
Norepinephrine Increased heart rate and the slowing of intestinal activity during stress, learning, memory, dreaming, waking from sleep, and emotion GABA (gama-aminobutyic acid) The major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain

Hormones
Insulin Produced by the pancreas Regulates the bodys use of glucose & affects appetite Melatonin Secreted by the pineal gland Helps to regulate daily biological rhythms and promotes sleep.

Hormones
Adrenal Hormones Produced by the adrenal glands are involved in emotion and stress. They rise in response to nonemotional conditions, such as cold, heat, pin injury, and physical exercise, and in response to some drugs such as caffeine and nicotine. The Outer Part Cortisol The Inner Part Epinephrine & Norepinephrine

Hormones
Sex Hormones Are secreted by the gonads and by the adrenal glands Androgens Masculinizing Hormones Estrogens Feminizing Hormones

Neurotransmitters & Hormones

Acetylcholine Shortage in acetylcholine may be associated with Alzheimers disease Dopamine The degeneration of brain cells that produce and use another neurotransmitter, dopamine, appears to cause symptoms of Parkinsons disease. Low levels of dopamine may cause ADHD

Neurotransmitters & Hormones

Serotonin Decrease in norepinephrine and serotonin is associated with depression. Elevated levels along with other biochemical and brain abnormalities have been implicated in childhood autism. Norepinephrine Norepinephrine, epinephrine, and adrenaline are associated with excitement and stress.

Neurotransmitters & Hormones

Cortisol Cortisol is associated with stress. Increase in cortisol damages the brain and may be associated with posttraumatic stress. GABA Abnormal GABA levels have between implicated in sleep and eating disorders and in compulsive disorders. Glutamate Glutamate, serotonin, and high levels of dopamine have been associated with schizophrenia