Psy 110:
Neuroscience
Guest Lecture:
Sept 30, 2011
Julie Neiworth
Professor of Psychology
How are mind processes
accomplished in the brain?
Step 1: hands clasped: finger
pointing problem.
Step 2: twisted hands clasped:
same problem.
What does this tell you about brain
processing of visual
information and about
directing movement?
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Levels of Analysis
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receive
Send out….
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receive
Axons send
out…
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neurotransmitter
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Adapted from Kandel, E.R. Schwartz, J.H., and Jessell, T.M. (Eds.), Principles of Neural Science, 3r
edition. Norwalk, Connecticut: Appleton & Lange, 1991. Copyright © 1991 by Appleton & Lange
Adapted from Kandel, E.R. Schwartz, J.H., and Jessell, T.M. (Eds.), Principles of Neural Science, 3rd edition. Norwalk, Connecticut:
Appleton & Lange, 1991. Copyright © 1991 by Appleton & Lange.
How is information transmitted?
• Myelinated axons help to transmit further
(keep signal stronger)
• Rate of firing can enhance chemical
changes to get to threshold: temporal
summation
• Number of cells firing on to postsynaptic
cell can influence amount of change
chemically/electrically: spatial summation.
How we use neuron changes to
track brain states
• PET scans – radioactive glucose at areas of
excitation
• fMRI – deoxygenated blood at areas of
excitation
• EEG – track neuronal firing at the surface,
extrapolate about groups of neurons
OTHERWISE:
– CAT scans – find lesions, permanent
– MRI scans – find tissue weaknesses, permanent
Adapted from Purves D., Augustine, G., and Fitzpatrick, D. (2001). Neuroscience, 2nd edition. Sunderland
MA: Sinaur Associates
IV. Imbalances in nt systems: Their effects.
IV. Imbalances in nt systems: Their effects.
Adapted from Purves D., Augustine, G., and Fitzpatrick, D. (2001). Neuroscience, 2nd edition. Sunderland
MA: Sinaur Associates
Not enough dopamine:
Parkinson’s disease,
originating from substantia
nigra and basal ganglia
IV. Imbalances in nt systems: Their effects.
Adapted from Purves D., Augustine, G., and Fitzpatrick, D. (2001). Neuroscience, 2nd edition. Sunderlan
MA: Sinaur Associate
Too much dopamine in motor
areas: Tourette’s syndrome.
Schizophrenia
Paranoid delusions.
Mild hallucinations.
IV. Imbalances in nt systems: Their effects.
Adapted from Purves D., Augustine, G., and Fitzpatrick, D. (2001). Neuroscience, 2nd edition. Sunderland
MA: Sinaur Associates
Too much dopamine:
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John: Damage between occipital and
parietal
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Clive: movie
David: cap gras, John: temporal epilepsy
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Summary:
Neuronal changes help to
determine how the brain processes
information as you are thinking, seeing,
doing.
Brain structures and functions are
used to understand deficits caused in
particular patients.
From both we build a model of
how the brain supports the mind.