The Biological Bases of Behaviour

1. The Biological Bases of Behaviour How does our BRAIN work?? Brain facts

2. BBC History of the Brain • UCLA1 • UCLA 2 • UCLA 3 • UCLA 4 • UCLA 5 • Brain Surgery 8:00 • Brain surgery 2

3. Ways of studying the brain

4. 1. Studying patients with brain damage can link loss of structure with loss of function. • A. Phineas Gage was the level-headed, calm foreman of a railroad crew (1848) until an explosion hurled a spike through his head. • After the injury destroyed major parts of his prefrontal lobes, Gage became extremely volatileand violent. • Studying people who suffered gunshot wounds, tumors, strokes, Alzheimer’s disease and so on has enabled further mapping of the brain. • Sarah Video

5. 2. Producing lesions (damaging the structure through medical procedures) at specific brain sites enabled systematic study of loss of function. • This is mostly done on animals although it can also happen when doctors have to remove brain tumours from humans.

6. 3. Microscopic Examination of neural tissue by scientists led to the understanding of the neuron as the basic unit of structure and function of the nervous system. • 4.Direct electrical stimulation of the brain provides another way to test the functions of certain brain areas. • Wilder Penfield (1952) used an electrode to localize the origin of seizures in patients. Stimulating different areas caused movement for different body parts, enabling mapping of the brain. • Wilder Penfield

7. 5. An EEG (electroencephalogram) maps regions of the brain • produced when electrodes positioned in direct contact with the scalp transmit signals about the brain’s electrical activity (“brain waves”) to an electroencephalograph machine. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q57q_kQPQY

8. 6. Imaging techniques in widespread use provide images of brain anatomy. • A. CAT scan (also called CT)—computerized axial tomography • B. MRI—magnetic resonance imaging, the most accurate method of studying what is happening in the brain when we think or experience emotions . • Inside the teenage brain.

9. Brain Trivia • Number 1 • http://www.nature.com/neurosci/index.html

10. The Neuron—Unit of Structureand Function of the NervousSystem The neuron is the basic cell of the nervous system. There are many types of neurons, each performing different functions, but they are structured similarly.

11. The neuron, or nerve cell, sends and receives signals that affect many aspects of behavior and motor control. • Neurons are individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate and transmit information.

12. http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/28/17123686-two-rats-thousands-of-miles-apart-cooperate-telepathically-via-brain-implant?lite=&ocid=ansmsnbc11http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/28/17123686-two-rats-thousands-of-miles-apart-cooperate-telepathically-via-brain-implant?lite=&ocid=ansmsnbc11 • http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v479/n7372/pdf/nature10489.pdf

13. Three major structures in the neuron enable the cell to communicate with other cells. • Soma • Dendrites • Axons • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR4S1BqdFG4

14. 1. The cell body (or soma) contains cytoplasm and the nucleus, which includes the chromosomes. • 2. Extending outward from the soma are dendrites (Greek=little trees), the receiving/input branches of the neuron. • 3. The axon emerges from the soma as a long thin fiber that transmits signals away from the soma to other neurons, muscles or glands. • The axon ends in a cluster of terminal buttons that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters

15. http://www.massinformation.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Neurons.gifhttp://www.massinformation.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Neurons.gif

16. Outside the neuron • Glia are cells found throughout the nervous system that help the neurons. • They supply nourishment, • remove waste products and • provide insulation around the axons • Glial cells may play an important role in memory formation

17. The Neural Impulse • The neurons use energy to send information. • When a neuron is stimulated, an electrical signal or neural impulse, moves through the neuron. • The neuron at rest is like a tiny battery with a negative charge of about -70 millivolts.

18. Anytime a neuron’s charge changes an action potential is created. • The action potential is a very brief shift in a neuron’s charge that travels along an axon. • The neural impulse is an all or nothing proposition, like firing a gun. • Neural impulses move up to 100m/second or 300 km/hr.

19. The Synapse • Neurons do not actually touch • The neural message travel across these gaps by the release of neurotransmitters. • These are chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another. • The closest point between the neurons t is called a synapse. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT3VKAr4roo&list=PL480008A7A1FAE820

20. http://fromyourdoctor.com/ext/neural_synapse.gif

21. Neural networks: Integrating the signals • One neuron can get signals from 1000s of other neurons and pass its own message along to 1000s more. • A neuron therefore has to do more than just pass the messages along, it must integrate the signals that arrive at its synapses before it “decides” whether to fire a neural impulse.

22. It takes millions of neurons firing together to even have your eyelid twitch when you are asleep, let alone produce a thought. • There are about 100 billion neurons in the human brain.

23. Neurotransmitters and Behaviour • Remember the nervous system relies on neurotransmitters to communicate information between neurons. • These play a key role in everything from muscles movement to moods and mental health.

24. There are 9 well-established, classic transmitters and about 40 other additional bio-chemicals that can act part-time as neurotransmitters. • The most important transmitters are • Acetylcholine • Monoamines ( Dopamine. Norepinephrine ,serotonin) • GABA and Glutamates • Endorphins

26. http://static.sfdict.com/img/neuron-180866-400-320.jpg

27. The Nervous System • This is divided into two parts: • The peripheral nervous system • The central nervous system • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRkPNwqm0mM&list=PL480008A7A1FAE820 • Crash course • Make me Genius • School House Rock

28. http://www.exploringnature.org/graphics/anatomy/nervous_system_diagram150.jpghttp://www.exploringnature.org/graphics/anatomy/nervous_system_diagram150.jpg

29. The Peripheral Nervous System • This is made up of all of the nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord. • Nerves are bundles of axons that are routed together in the peripheral nervous system • These together control a person’s voluntary and involuntary muscle movements.

30. http://www.indiana.edu/~p1013447/dictionary/perinerv.htm

31. The central nervous system • This is made up of the brain and spinal cord. • The spinal cord connects the brain to the rest of the body through the peripheral nervous system and is really an extension of the brain. • It runs from the base of the brain to just below the waist.

32. http://health.allrefer.com/pictures-images/central-nervous-system-1.htmlhttp://health.allrefer.com/pictures-images/central-nervous-system-1.html

33. The Brain • “the brain is the part of the central nervous system that fills the upper portion of the skull” • It weighs about 1.5 kg but contains billions of interacting cells that • integrate information from inside and outside the body • co-ordinate the body’s actions • enable us to talk, think, remember, plan, create and dream. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UukcdU258A • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT3VKAr4roo&list=PL480008A7A1FAE820

34. http://www.brainhealthandpuzzles.com/images/labeled_diagram_human_brain_sagittal.jpghttp://www.brainhealthandpuzzles.com/images/labeled_diagram_human_brain_sagittal.jpg

35. The Brain and Behaviour • The brain can be divided into three major regions: • The hindbrain • The midbrain • The forebrain

36. http://facultypages.morris.umn.edu/~ratliffj/images/brain_slides/slide_5.htmhttp://facultypages.morris.umn.edu/~ratliffj/images/brain_slides/slide_5.htm

37. The Hindbrain • Includes the cerebellum, the medulla and the pons • The medulla attaches to the spinal cord and is in charge of unconscious but vital functions such as • Circulating blood • Breathing • Reflexes such as sneezing and coughing

38. The pons or bridge connects the brainstem to the cerebellum • It is involved with sleep and arousal • The cerebellum (Little brain) co-ordinates movement and balance and fine motor skills. • It is one of the parts of the brain first affected by alcohol.

39. The Mid-brain • This section of the brain is concerned with integrating sensory process such as vision and hearing. • It is also involved in the perception of pain.

40. http://facultypages.morris.umn.edu/~ratliffj/images/brain_slides/slide_6.htmhttp://facultypages.morris.umn.edu/~ratliffj/images/brain_slides/slide_6.htm

41. The Forebrain • This the largest and most complex region of the brain. • It includes: • the thalamus • The hypothalmus • The limbic system • The cerebrum and cerebral cortex

42. The thalamus is the structure in the forebrain through which all sensory information (except smell) must pass through to get to the cerebral cortex. • It helps to put together the information we gather from our senses.

43. The hypothalmus is involved in controlling basic biological needs. • These include the “four Fs” • Fighting • Fleeing • Feeding and… • Mating ;-) • When researchers damage the hypothalmus in animals, they must be fed intravenously or they will starve.

44. The limbic system is involved in the regulation of memory, emotion and motivation. • It appears to be linked to an optimistic attitude towards life. • It is one of the areas that is rich in emotional pleasure centers and maybe most affected by cocaine and amphetamines.

45. The cerebrum is the largest and most complex part of the human brain. • It is involved in learning, remembering, thinking and consciousness. • It is divided into two halves or hemispheres that are connected by the corpus callosum • The cerebrum is in charge of taking in all of the information from the rest of the nervous system and making it make sense.

46. Right Brain/Left Brain • The left hemisphere is the one that processes language/ verbal information more quickly • This means that it tends to be better at language, speech, reading and writing • The right hemisphere is faster on visual spatial tasks • It is better at musical, spatial and visual recognition tasks and the perception of other people’s emotions.

47. http://www.wirandha.com/right-brain-left-brain-function-make-kids-smart.htmlhttp://www.wirandha.com/right-brain-left-brain-function-make-kids-smart.html

48. The Plasticity of the Brain • This term refers to the brain’s ability to change structure and function over time. • Violinists’ brains enlarge in the area that control the left hand since that is the one that fingers the strings. • Blind people’s the visual processing areas begin to help with verbal processing • Scientists have also recently discovered that even the adult brain can create new neurons and therefore change. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MKNsI5CWoU

49. The Endochrine System • Another way the brain communicates with the rest of the body is by the endochrine system/hormones. • Hormones are like neurotransmitters: they are stored in the body and are released as chemical messengers in the BLOODSTREAM • VENN DIAGRAM

50. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Illu_endocrine_system.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Illu_endocrine_system.jpg