lecture 7

lecture 7

1. communication from brain to body

   • nerves- ANS, quick & short lasting
   • hormones- slower & long lasting

2. ANS

   • Sympathetic
     • expenditure of energy from reserves - fight/flight
   • parasympathetic
     • increases in body's supply of stored energy- rest/digest

3. hypothalamus

   • controls ANS & endocrine system
   • centre for emotion and behaviour
   • regulates body temp/ food intake/ water balance
   • sleep/wake cycle

4. neuroendocrine system

   • hormones are chemical messengers secreted by cell/gland
     • released into blood stream and binds to cells with their receptors
   • control of secretion by hypothalamus
     • applies to anterior pituitary
       • pituitary gland isn't part of NS so neurones cant go straight into it, must communicate by other ways (circulation/blood/hormones)
       • release is controlled by hypothalamic hormone
         • E.g. for testosterone the hypothalamus produces GnRH which goes into blood and binds to anterior pituitary cells which produces 1- FSH and 2- LH
           • effects of testosterone- devleopment of male sex organ, facial hair, lower voice, taller, heavier
         • negative feedback- hormone release is inhibited

5. methods & stategies of research

   • invasive
     • old method
     • destroy brain area= no longer perform task requiring function
     • brain lesions
   • neural tracing
     • anterograde
       • chemical taken by dendrites & transported through axons to terminal buttons
     • retrograde
       • chemical taken by terminal buttons & carried through axons to cell bodies
   • study of brain (MRI, EEG)
     • CT-
       • available, detailed image, angiography
       • radiation
     • MRI
       • low risk of reaction
       • magnetic so cant be done if implant, pace makers
       • not very clear
     • FMRI
       • high resolution
       • expensive
   • recording of psychophysiologicial activity
     • skin conductance- sweat glands
   • pharmacological research methods
   • measure neurotransmitters
   • genetic engineering