Brain & Cognition Lectures 1-4 Revision Summary

Brain & Cognition Lectures 1-4 Revision Summary

1. Lecture 1

   • Why do we study the brain?
     • The brain is physical organ that makes all mental life possible and understanding the neural basis process can help distinguish between theories relating to how that process is performed
   • Methods of studying the brain
     • EEG - Recording - Non-invasive - Electrical
       • Electrodes placed on scalp, represented as large signal of neurons
         • Averaged together to form ERP - Event related Potential
       • Voltage fluctuation associated in time with events
     • Single Cell - Recording - Invasive - Electrical
     • TMS - Stimulation - non--invasive- Electromagnet
       • Introduction of virtual lesion by introducing neural noise
         • Disrupts normal brain activity
     • MEG - Recording - Non-invasive - Magnetic
     • PET - Recording - Invasive - Hemodynamic
       • Uses traces of amount of short lived radioactive material to map function processes
       • Measures blood flow direct to brain regions
     • FMRI - Recording - Non-invasive - Hemodynamic
       • Neuronal activity requiring oxygen and glucose (energy)
       • Neuronal activity produces changes in blood oxygenation levels
       • Is noninvasive as FMRI uses contrast between oxygenated and deoxygenated blood levels
     • MRI is most common which uses differential magnetic properties of types of tissue
       • DTI – Diffusion Tensor Imaging: visualize connec9ons in the brain (bundles of axons)

2. Lecture 2

   • Directions of the nervous system
     • Top/Back = Dorsal
     • Belowl/Belly = Ventral
     • Toward side = Lateral
       • Front - Anterior/ Back - Posterior
         • Front - Rostral/ Back = Cordal
     • Middle = Medial
     • Same side - Ipsilateral
     • Opposite side = Contralateral
       • Bell magedie law
         • Dorsal carry info TO CNS - Afferent
         • Ventral carry info AWAY CNS - Afferent
   • Brain Slices and Planes
     • Transverse section - coronal - right angle to neuraxis
     • Sagittal - Perpendicular to ground
     • Horizontal - Parellel to ground
   • Basal Ganglia
     • Cerebral Cortext
       • Limbic System
         • Thalamus
           • Hypothalamus
             • Tectum
               • Tegenemtum
                 • Cerebral cortex
                   • Pons
                     • Medulla Oblongata
                       • Myencaphalon
                         • Fourth Ventricle
                           • Hindbrain
                   • Metencephalon
                     • Fourth Ventricle
                       • Hindbrain
               • Mesencephalon
                 • Cerebral aduedat
                   • Midbrain
           • Diceohaphalon
             • Third
               • Forebrain
       • Bum- Gyrus
       • Sulci grooves - big = fissure
     • Telecaphalon
       • Lateral
         • Forebrain
   • Protection of the CNS
     • Meninges - Dura, Arochnoid & Pia
       • Pia is the last later which adheres surface of the brain
     • CSF
       • Plasma Fluid which the brain floats
       • Formed in the plexus
       • Upton 150 ml

3. Lecture 3

   • The Neuron
     • Type of cell that makes up the nervous system and supports cognitive and sensory functions
     • The information processing and information transmitting element
     • Multipolar, Bipolar and Unipolar
       • One axon many dendrites
       • One axon and one dendrite
       • One axon to soma and divides branches to receiving and sending
   • Glial cells
     • Astrocytes - star function, clean debris, provide nurishment, control chemicals and store glucose
     • Oligodendrocytes - myelin sheath for insulation
       • Nodes of ranvier - Bare sections of the axon

4. Lecture 4

   • Psychopharmacology
     • Study of effects of drugs on the nervous system and behaviour
     • Antagonist - Drug that opposes or inhibits the effects of a neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic cell
       • Decrease effect
     • Agonist - increasing effects that facilitates neurotransmitter
   • All other neurotransmitters have a modulating effect rather than information transferring
     • GABA - Inhibitory synapses in spinal cord
     • Glutamate - Excitatory synapses in brain
   • Neurotransmitters
     • Acetylcholine
       • Transmitter at neuromuscular junction - motor neurons to muscles
         • Involved in REM sleeping, dreaming and perceptual learning
           • An ionotropic ACh receptor stimulated by nicotine and blocked by curare (paralysis).
           • Antagonist = Botulinum toxin
           • Agonist = Black widow spider
     • Dopamine
       • Reward system - dysfunctions shows parkinson disease
         • Antagonist - Anti-psychotics
         • Agonist - Cocaine
     • Serotonin
       • Regulates sleep, memory, mood etc.
       • Major role in depression
         • LCD - Antagonist
         • SSRI - Agonist
     • Norepinephrine
       • Hormone- flight or fight in times of stress produces sudden energy