Neural Processing If the human brain were so

Neural Processing § If the human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we couldn’t. ”

Research Experiment § Hypothesis – Playing video games improves your reflexes § Method – Ruler Drop Test § Record each student’s experience with videogames § § 1 = More than 20 hrs playing per week 2 = Between 5 and 20 hrs playing per week 3 = Between 1 and 5 hrs playing per week 4 = Playing 0 to 1 hr per week § I will hold a ruler from the top. You will open your thumb and index finger around the bottom of the ruler. I will randomly drop the ruler and you will close your fingers around the ruler as quickly as possible. Record where the ruler was caught. § Record results and track trends

Nervous System § “Everything psychological is also biological” § Agree or Disagree? § The nervous system regulates your body's functions § Emotions, movements, thinking, behavior § Central Nervous System – Brain and Spinal Cord § Peripheral Nervous System – Smaller branches of nerves reaching other parts of the body

Nervous System § Somatic – Controls voluntary actions § Moving § Skeletal muscles § Autonomic Nervous System – Controls involuntary actions (you have no conscious control over these) § § Heart rate Blood pressure Breathing Digestion

Neurons § Neurons are cells which transmit messages to and from the brain

§ Three major types of neurons § Multipolar § Motor § Sensory

Neural Synapse

Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitter Function Examples of malfunctions Acetylcholine Enables muscle action, learning, and memory Alzheimer’s disease Dopamine Influences movement, Excessive dopamine learning, attention, linked to and emotion schizophrenia, lack of dopamine causes tremors or Parkinson’s Serotonin Mood, hunger, sleep Norepinephrine Alertness and arousal Under – Depressed mood GABA Inhibitory neurotransmitter Under – Depression Under – Seizures, tremors, insomnia

Crash Course § The Chemical Mind

§ Create a drawing of a neuron § Label and color code the following § Nucleus § Cell body § Axon Terminals § Synapse § Dendrites § Myelin Sheath § Create a drawing of the Nervous System § Color Code the following § Peripheral Nervous System § Central Nervous System § Label the significant structures

The Human Brain Breaking it down

Extra Credit Opportunity § If you learn how to juggle and prove it in class I will give you one half of an assignment of extra credit § Learning to juggle is proven to enhance neural pathways and brain functioning

How Much Do We Know About The Brain? § Harvard professor of molecular and cellular biology Jeff Lichtman § “If everything you need to know about the brain is a mile, how far have we walked in this mile? ” § About three inches

Three Brains § Hindbrain – Rear base of the skill § Basic life processes § § § Posture Balance Voluntary movement Breathing Heart rate Reflexes § Midbrain – Integrates sensory information, arouses brain § Forebrain – Higher thinking processes

Human brain stem Entire frog brain

Phrenology § During the 19 th century Franz Joseph Gall develop a theory that different regions of the brain controlled different things § He also promoted the use of studying the shape and bumps on the skull to determine psychological qualities § Is now defunct pseudo science but was an early step into understanding the sections of the brain

Cerebrum §The largest division of the brain. It is divided into two hemispheres, each of which is divided into four lobes Cerebrum Cerebellum

Cerebral Cortex §The outer most layer of gray matter making up the superficial aspect of the cerebrum

Cerebral Features § Gyri – Elevated ridges “winding” around the brain. § Sulci – Small grooves dividing the gyri § Fissures – Deep grooves, generally dividing large regions/lobes of the brain

Gyri (ridge) Sulci (groove) Fissure (deep groove) http: //williamcalvin. com/Brain. For. All. Seasons/img/bonobo. LH-human. LH-via. TWD. gif

§ Get a piece of paper § Draw a small triangle with your left hand then your right § Draw a small square … § Get two pens or pencils § Draw two of the same shape at the same time § Draw two different shapes at the same time § People with a severed corpus callosum can do this

Corpus Callosum § Bundle of nerves joining two hemispheres of the brain together § Case Study § One Person…Two Brains

Lobes of the Brain §Frontal §Parietal §Occipital §Temporal

Frontal Lobe § The Frontal Lobe of the brain is located deep to the Frontal Bone of the skull. § It plays an integral role in the following functions/actions: § *Memory Formation § *Emotions § *Decision making § *Personality

Frontal Lobe - Cortical Regions • Primary Motor Cortex (Precentral Gyrus) – Cortical site involved with controlling movements of the body. • Broca’s Area – Controls facial neurons, speech, and language comprehension. Located on Left Frontal Lobe. • Olfactory Bulb - Cranial Nerve I, Responsible for sensation of Smell

Parietal Lobe § The Parietal Lobe of the brain is located deep to the Parietal Bone of the skull § It plays a major role in the following functions/actions § *Senses and integrates sensation(s) § * Spatial awareness and perception

Parietal Lobe - Cortical Regions § Primary Somatosensory Cortex (Postcentral Gyrus) – Site involved with processing of tactile and proprioceptive information. • Somatosensory Association Cortex - Assists with the integration and interpretation of sensations relative to body position and orientation in space. May assist with visuo-motor coordination. • Primary Gustatory Cortex – Primary site involved with the interpretation of the sensation of Taste.

The Occipital Lobe § Is located deep to the Occipital Bone of the Skull § * Its primary function is the processing, integration, interpretation, etc. of VISION and visual stimuli

Occipital Lobe – Cortical Regions § Primary Visual Cortex – This is the primary area of the brain responsible for sight -recognition of size, color, light, motion, dimensions, etc. • Visual Association Area – Interprets information acquired through the primary visual cortex.

Temporal Lobe § The Temporal Lobes are located on the sides of the brain, deep to the Temporal Bones of the skull § They play an integral role in the following functions § *Hearing § *Organization § *Information Retrieval

Temporal Lobe – Cortical Regions § Primary Auditory Cortex – Responsible for hearing • Primary Olfactory Cortex – Interprets the sense of smell once it reaches the cortex via the olfactory bulbs. (Not visible on the superficial cortex) • Wernicke’s Area – Language comprehension. Located on the Left Temporal Lobe.

§ A popular saying is that humans only use 10% of their brains § Is this true? § Defend using information from this lecture

Phineas Gage § Phineas Gage was an American railroad worker § In 1848 a railroad spike was accidentally exploded and shot through his head § He survived the incident and became a medical celebrity § Based on the location of the injury how do you think Gage’s life changed?

Crash Course § Getting to Know Your Brain