Download Human Brain: Anatomy, Functionality, Gray & White Matter, Parts, Nervous System - Prof. Or and more Study notes Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! Gross Anatomy of the brain 08/30/2010 Gray matter – areas that are mostly cell bodies and dendrites White matter – axons. Looks white because of the myelin (white) Cerebellum – proportionally different sizes in different critters Olfactory bulbs – bigger in rats, etc because that’s the way they get around the world (senses). Cortex – the way we think around the world. Dolphins have a brain capacity that is 40% more than humans Humans are the same as other animals because the brain parts are the same and we have the same chemicals and proteins. Brain size and the way that their parts are evolved differ from humans. Some of their parts are more/less evolved than ours We can break the brain down into 3 different parts: forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain o Forebrain: cortex – thinking perceiving, emotion, memory, drive- related behavior o Midbrain: visual, auditory, top of brainstem o Hindbrain: (brainstem) cerebellum – movement and balance Saggital section of the brain is cut right down the center of the brain Brainstem: medulla, pons, midbrain o Medulla – goes into spinal cord Very bottom part of brain Controls vital reflexes – respiration, heart rate Can be damaged by trauma and drugs – can be fatal o Pons Latin for “bridge” Lots of axons cross the midline o Cerebellum Important for movement and balance Someone who has been drinking a lot will not have control over this Rate- how fast, range-where you go, force, direction are all things that the cerebellum controls Well learned motor skills Sensory timing – not only motor, someone with damage might have a hard time telling the difference between beat Cranial nerves – nerves going directly into/out of brain o 12 pairs o doctors test your cranial nerves by swinging light in front of eyes Midbrain – 4 bumps 2 on one side 2 on the other (superior and inferior colliculi) o Visual and audio information will be synapsed and processed o Hole in middle of midbrain – cerebral aquidecut (filled with spinal fluid) o Gray matter surrounds aqueduct (cell bodies and dendrites) called periaqueductal gray – really important in pain control o Substantia nigra – cells that die in Parkinson’s disease. Looks black. Cells that make dopamine. Forebrain o Thalamus (inner chamber)- ‘relay station (on the way from one place to another)’ sensory info needs to get to the cortex and here it is filtered. Were constantly feeling things and the thalamus makes us feel things that are actually important or relevant o Hypothalamus – right beneath the thalamus. In control of hormones released in body Autonomic nervous system – relax or fight or flight. Feeding, drinking, temp, sex o Pituitary gland is connected to hypothalamus- makes and releases hormones into bloodstream *** picture from slide o Pineal gland – makes and releases melatonin (makes you sleepy) released in circadian rhythm. Is released around right before you go to sleep Basal ganglia – structures underneath the cortex important for movement. o Problems with basal ganglia could be a movement disorder 08/30/2010 08/30/2010
