Basic Neuroanatomy

Around 20%.

Meaning about 1/5 of every breath you take goes to your brain.

The brain runs on 20 watts of electricity (more or less depending on the activity of electrical impulses through the neurons).

1) Cerebral Cortex (the outside).

2) Lower brain (virtually everything else)

The cerebral cortex is what ranges from person to person, what defines individuality, personality, sensation, etc.

Whereas, the lower brain (and inside) regulates crucial involuntary functions that keep us alive such as heartbeat and internal body processes.

The lower brain of humans in comparison to other animals looks remarkably similar, however, as the animals are more complex they have larger and more developed outer-brains (cerebral cortex) that is significantly larger in humans.

Lower brain looks similar, but as the brain grows outward it looks less like the brain of an animal.

The cerebral cortex is divided into two separate hemispheres - the left and right.

Each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body. So by moving your left arm, your right hemisphere is controlling that action, and conversely.

Corpus Callosum.

A bundle of nerves that transmits messages from each side of the brain's hemispheres. Essentially allows for brain intercommunication.

By severing the Corpus Callosum it lessens the amount of shock as a result of seizures.

By cutting the pathway that connects the left and right hemisphere of the brain, the electrical impulses will be bound to only one side of the brain rather than damaging both. It will cut off communication between the two hemispheres, but can drastically lessen the effects of seizures.

Frontal, Temporal, Parietal, and Occipital.

1) Higher-level functioning

2) Decision making ability

3) Determining personality, individualizing people.

Done in criminals and/or highly aggressive/emotional people.

Essentially an ice pick type of instrument is inserted through the eye socket and scrambles up the frontal lobe of your brain.

A railroad worker who was packing gunpowder into a stake that shot through his skull and took out the majority of his frontal lobe.

Before the accident he was polite, shy, good-mannered, and calm. However, as a result of the accident his personality was drastically affected to where he was obnoxious, ill-mannered, and inconsiderate.

That the function of the frontal lobe is more toward determining personality and what defines you rather than regulating bodily functions.

By it being removed and him still living, it proves that the frontal lobe is not necessary to live and does not really represent the part of your brain in charge of being a functioning mechanism.

Once the frontal lobe is affected, putting events together to act and make a decision becomes significantly harder to do. You see things as individual events.

You could be asked
Q: What am I doing?
A: Opening a drawer

Q: What am I doing now?
A: Pulling a gun out of the drawer

Q: What am I doing now?
A: Loading the gun

Q: What am I doing now?
A: Pointing the gun at me

You wouldn't be able to piece together the fact that you are about to be shot. You just see what is happening individually.

The ability to perceive A+B+C = D is gone. You just perceive events without alarm or emotion.

The average adult brain weighs around 3lbs.

Parietal lobe.

Parietal.

If a limb was severed in some sort of accident, the limb is now gone but the part of the brain that regulated its function still remains. Therefore, many people feel as if it is still there, can feel as if it itches, etc. even with it gone.

Eyesight.

When the occipital lobe (controls sight) of the brain is slammed against the back of the skull it causes inflammation and/or bruising and can obstruct vision temporarily.

Can also lead to permanent blindness (very common in boxers).

Speech and hearing.

The left hemisphere typically specializes verbal tasks.

Studies have shown right-brained people excel at nonverbal activities such as art, emotion, spatial orientation, etc.

The theory of being either left or right brained is largely overstated to where the majority of tasks we perform require the use of both hemispheres.

Fine motor skills: specific and precise such as which hand you write with. Most people write better with one hand.

Gross motor skills: something you can do well regardless of either side. You can knock a vase off of a table just as well with your left hand as you could with your right hand.

Studies have shown it's possible because they're right-brain dominant.

Research has suggested some lefties die 8-9 years earlier than people who are right handed.

10%

Controls basic "survival functions."

The outside of our brains make us interesting, the lower brain keeps us alive.

Brainstem

Swelling of the brainstem at the base of the brain that controls heart rate and breathing.

Nerves in the brain controlling arousal.

If you disconnect this it results in a permanent coma.

Central brain structure that controls sensory input.

The thalamus controls all senses except for scent because smell works on a chemical level while other senses rely on an electrical level.

1) Hippocampus

2) Hypothalamus

3) Amygdala

"Little brain" at the base of the brainstem that helps control equilibrium and basic voluntary movement.

Central brain structure thought to be key to controlling fear and aggression.

Deep in the lower brain thought to control the formation of new memories.

Basic needs and drives such as hunger, thirst, sex, etc.

1) Pituitary Gland (or "master gland") which releases hormones.

2) Related "pleasure centers" in the brain

The gap electrical impulses transfer from neuron to neuron.

Mood

A neurotransmitter is an electrically based impulse transferred via neurons while a hormone is a chemically based agent that runs through the bloodstream.

1) Dopamine: fine motor skills

2) Serotonin: regulates mood

3) Norepinephrine: alertness and arousal

4) Acetylcholine: muscle movement

Too much will cause muscle contractions while too little will cause paralysis.

Can either be medicinal or recreational drugs but they are dangerous because they take over and prohibit the body from releasing the NT's naturally.

And once your brain stops producing NT's because your body is getting them from somewhere else, your brain won't ever go back.

Neither participants nor person distributing the medicine know which is the placebo or the real product.

Remember. DOUBLE blind. Person testing is blind, as are the patients.

macro-neurocommunication.

1) Central Nervous System
2) Peripheral Nervous system

Everything encased by bone. Meaning the brain and spinal cord.

Everything in the nervous system besides the brain and spinal cord. The ouerlying nerves throughout the body

1) Somatic (sketetal): voluntary muscular function

2) Autonomic: involuntarily runs messages to/from CNS to organs and non-skeletal muscles.

The autonomic nervous system responsible for regulation of internal organs and glands, which occurs involuntarily

The autonomic nervous system responsible for regulation of internal organs and glands, which occurs involuntarily

The autonomic nervous system responsible for regulation of internal organs and glands, which occurs involuntarily

1) Sympathetic (arousal): fight or flight mechanism

2) Parasympathetic: calming and regulation

1) Sympathetic (arousal): fight or flight mechanism

2) Parasympathetic: calming and regulation

1) Sympathetic (arousal): fight or flight mechanism

2) Parasympathetic: calming and regulation

1) Takes cues from hypothalamus to regulate both other glands and height.

1) Takes cues from hypothalamus to regulate both other glands and height.

1) Takes cues from hypothalamus to regulate both other glands and height.

People are shorter in third world countries because they lack nutrients. As resources become more plentiful we grow not only wider - but taller.

People are shorter in third world countries because they lack nutrients. As resources become more plentiful we grow not only wider - but taller.

People are shorter in third world countries because they lack nutrients. As resources become more plentiful we grow not only wider - but taller.

Controls metabolism (related to weight and mood)

Controls metabolism (related to weight and mood)

Controls metabolism (related to weight and mood)

Lies upon the kidneys that releases epinephrine (adrenaline) into the bloodstream that prompts "fight or flight" mechanism.

Lies upon the kidneys that releases epinephrine (adrenaline) into the bloodstream that prompts "fight or flight" mechanism.

Lies upon the kidneys that releases epinephrine (adrenaline) into the bloodstream that prompts "fight or flight" mechanism.

Male and female sex glands that release androgens and estrogen respectively (given your gender), into the bloodstream.

Male and female sex glands that release androgens and estrogen respectively (given your gender), into the bloodstream.

Male and female sex glands that release androgens and estrogen respectively (given your gender), into the bloodstream.

Electroencephalograph.

Electrodes are pasted to your scalp to measure electric field and brain activity.

Not very specific and less invasive.

Electroencephalograph.

Electrodes are pasted to your scalp to measure electric field and brain activity.

Not very specific and less invasive.

Electroencephalograph.

Electrodes are pasted to your scalp to measure electric field and brain activity.

Not very specific and less invasive.

Positive Emission Topography.

Where you are injected with a low level radioactive material that can be traced throughout the brain to the most active areas.

Positive Emission Topography.

Where you are injected with a low level radioactive material that can be traced throughout the brain to the most active areas.

Positive Emission Topography.

Where you are injected with a low level radioactive material that can be traced throughout the brain to the most active areas.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Measures radioactivity to measure brain function.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Measures radioactivity to measure brain function.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Measures radioactivity to measure brain function.