Chapter 2

Behavioral Neuroscience

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Biology and Behavior

The term behavioral neuroscience describes the work of scientists from several disciplines who work to understand how the nervous system is related to behavior. Concerned with: Sensing Processing Responding
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The Evolutionary Perspective

The evolutionary perspective > role of physiological structures & behaviors; adaptation to the environment

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Natural Selection
Natural selection = the most fit organisms survive; they adapt best to the environment; pass on genes

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The Nervous System

We use the processes of sensing, processing, and responding to interact with the environment. The nervous system is divided into two parts:
central nervous system (CNS-brain and spinal cord) peripheral nervous system (PNS-all parts of the nervous system outside the CNS)
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The CNS
The spinal cord is composed of sensory (afferent or ascending) and motor (efferent or descending) nerves. Interneurons may connect sensory and motor neurons.
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CNS Nerves

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CNS Nerves
A reflex arc occurs in less than 1/1000 of a second A typical fast response that uses brain pathways takes about 1/10th of a second

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CNS Nerves
The Cranial Nerves
Olfactory Optic Oculomotor Trochlear Trigeminal Abducens Facial Auditory-vestibular Glossopharyngeal Vagus Spinal Accessory Hypoglossal
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The PNS
PNS > the somatic division and the autonomic division. Somatic division > sensory nerves run from receptors to the brain; motor nerves run to the glands and muscles. Autonomic division > sympathetic division, which mobilizes body's resources, and the parasympathetic division which returns body to homeostasis.
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Divisions of the Nervous System

Central Nervous System
Brain Spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System

Somatic Autonomic

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Neurons: The Basic Cells

The cells that make up the nervous system are called neurons. Neurons are composed of: dendrites > receive signals from adjacent neurons cell body or soma axon > transmits signals terminal buttons > contain neurotransmitters.
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Structure of a Neuron

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Structure of a Neuron
Bipolar > interneurons or association neurons

Unipolar > usually sensory neurons

Multipolar > tend to be motor neurons

All neurons carry impulses in only one direction

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The Synapse

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Key Neurotransmitters
Acetylcholine (ACh) Dopamine Serotonin Endorphins Norepinephrine Gamma amino butryic acid (GABA)

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Refractory Period
Neurotransmitters must be removed from the synapse before another signal can be transmitted. Removal is accomplished either by breakdown or by reuptake.
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Agonists and Antagonists

Agonists > drugs that promote the action of a neurotransmitter. Antagonists > drugs that inhibit the action of a neurotransmitter.

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Neuromodulators
Neuromodulators have more widespread and indirect effects than neurotransmitters. Neuromodulators also influence transmission between cells.

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The Action Potential

The reversal in electrical charge is known as the action potential.

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The Brain: A Closer Look

Phrenology is not a science. Popularized in the 1800s by Franz Joseph Gall Gall > skills and characteristics determined by iding bumps on the skull.
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The Brain: A Closer Look

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The Brain: A Closer Look

Early studies stimulated or removed portions of the cortex.

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The Brain
The brain is divided into the hindbrain, the midbrain, and the forebrain.

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The Hindbrain
The most primitive of the three main divisions. Major structures > medulla, pons, and cerebellum.
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The Brain
Balan e an ve en

Q i Ti e an a T n re e e re are nee e ee hi i re

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The Midbrain
The midbrain, pons, and medulla lie on top of the spinal cord. Together they make up the brain stem.

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The Forebrain
The forebrain consists of subcortical structures and the two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex

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The Corpus Callosum

Millions of myelinated axons connecting the brains hemispheres

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Subcortical Structures Thalamus

Like a relay station to areas of the cortex

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Subcortical Structures Thalamus

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Subcortical Structures Hypothalamus

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The Cortex
The cerebral cortex covers the forebrain and is divided into four lobes:
frontal parietal temporal and occipital

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Occipital lobe
Visual center

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Parietal lobe
Includes somatosensory cortex (input from environment) Helps process perceptions

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Temporal lobe
Hearing Understanding language Memory

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Frontal lobe
You are who you are because of this lobe. Personality Emotions Controlling judgment Impulses Sexual behavior Using Language Movement Motor Cortex
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Somatosensory and Motor Cortexes

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More About the Brain

Aphasia

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More About the Brain

Aphasia
CAT Scan

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More About the Brain

Apraxia
Loss or impairment of the ability to execute complex, coordinated movements without impairment of the muscles or senses.
Apraxia of lid opening (blepharospasm)

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Split-Brain and Lateralization

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Split-Brain Experiment

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The Endocrine System

Endocrine system:
Ductless glands that regulate growth, reproduction, metabolism, mood, and some behavior

Hormones:
Chemical messengers secreted into the bloodstream

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The Endocrine System

Cortisol: CortiSlim?

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The Endocrine System

Cortisol is the body's main stress hormone, and is required for many vital purposes -- proper glucose metabolism, blood pressure, immune function and inflammatory response are a few. In times of stress, either mental or physical, the body can produce an excessive amount of cortisol. At these high levels, cortisol is a nasty little number indeed. It can negatively affect cognitive performance, suppress thyroid function, foster blood sugar imbalances and the subsequent deposition of body fat, decrease bone density, as well as other things. Athletes don't like cortisol, as it is catabolic -- i.e., musclewasting, rather than anabolic - i.e., muscle building. 2-46