Neuroscience and Behavior
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How do they transmit information?
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Nerve cells
◦ Basic building
blocks of the
body’s
information
processing
system.
Made up of
◦ Dendrites
◦ Axons
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
Receive
information
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
Transmit
information to
other
◦ Neurons
◦ Muscles
◦ Glands
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Chemical messengers
(neurotransmitters) bridge the gap
Rats in an enriched environment will
increase their synapses.
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
Enable
communicatio
n between
neurons
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

Neurotransmitters
(similar to
morphine)
Reduces pain
◦ E.g. Childbirth
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What do these parts do?
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
Central nervous system
◦ Brain and spinal column
Peripheral nervous system
◦ Links central nervous system (spinal
cord) to sense receptors, muscles
and glands
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
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Brain and spinal column
Severed spinal cord E.g.
E.g. -Sally - knee jerk reaction
without sensation of a tap on the
knee
◦ Bill - No genital sensations, but
has an erection when stimulated.
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

Sympathetic
nervous system
(Arousing)
◦ Increases
heartbeat &
blood
pressure
Parasympathetic
nervous system
(Calming)
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
Simple reflex pathway
◦ Knee-jerk reaction
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 Brain
stem
 Limbic system
 Cerebral cortex
Brainstem the oldest part of the brain, beginning where the
spinal cord swells and enters the skull. Responsible for
automatic survival functions.
Medulla [muh-DUL-uh] base
of the brainstem, controls
heartbeat and breathing.
Reticular Formation a nerve
network in the brainstem that
plays an important role in
controlling arousal.



Between the brain stem
and the Cerebral cortex
Includes:
Hippocampus
◦ Memory

Amygdala
◦ Emotion
 Aggression & Fear

Hypothalamus
◦ Hunger, thirst,
temperature, & sex
Amygdala [ah-MIG-dah-la]
two almond-shaped neural
clusters linked to emotion of
fear and anger.
Hypothalamus lies below
(hypo) the thalamus; directs
several maintenance
activities like eating, drinking
body temperature, and
emotions. Helps govern the
endocrine system via the
pituitary gland.

Coordinates movements


Left = Logical (Math)
Right = Creative (Music)

Best distinguishes us from other
animals

Transmits information from one
cerebral hemisphere to the other

Brain adjusts after damage
◦ Blind learning to read brail

Damage to frontal lobe

Creating images
of the brain’s
activity
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
Brain waves - Recording electrical
activity
◦ CT scan
◦ MRI scan
◦ PET scan
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Computed
tomography
X-ray
photographs
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Magnetic fields and radio waves create images of
the brain’s soft tissues.
Normal
Schizophrenic
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Positron emission
tomography scan
Radioactive
glucose
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