Modified PowerPoint from: Aneeq Ahmad -- Henderson State University.

Worth Publishers © 2007

The Brain – Studying &

Structures

Unit 3 – pg. 66-73

Brain Charts and Diagrams●Have out the Brain Structure Chart- you'll fill

in most of it with this powerpoint.  What you

don't get, you'll need to find in the book or

from an app called "3D Brain." Download this

on your phone

●You also need "The Brain" 2 pictures of the

brain.  Make sure to color code the one on

the front, then label the one on the back.

Techniques to Study the Brain

Brain lesion

experimentally destroys

brain tissue to study

animal behaviors after

such destruction.

Hubel

(1990)

Usually lesions are

done for scientific or

medicinal purposes.

Clinical ObservationClinical observations have shed light on a number of

brain disorders. Alterations in brain morphology due

to neurological and psychiatric diseases are now

being catalogued.

Tom Landers/ Boston

Globe

Electroencephalogram (EEG)An amplified recording of the electrical waves

sweeping across the brain’s surface, measured by

electrodes placed on the scalp.

MRI ScanMRI (magnetic resonance

imaging) uses magnetic

fields and radio waves to

produce computer-

generated images that

distinguish among different

types of brain tissue.

Images on the upper right

show ventricular

enlargement in a

schizophrenic patient.

Both photos from Daniel Weinberger, M.D., CBDB,

NIMH

PET Scan

PET (positron emission

tomography) Scan a

visual display of brain

activity that detects a

radioactive form of

glucose while the brain

performs a given task.

Courtesy of National Brookhaven National

Laboratories

fMRI ScanWhen the subject is in the

scanner functional magnetic

resonance imaging (fMRI), the

researchers will be able to

communicate with him using

an intercom system and a

visual projection system. The

image of the brain depicts,

with colors of the rainbow, the

amount of blood flow in each

part of the brain, which

indicates the amount of neural

activity in each part.

Reticular Formation

STRUCTURES OF THE BRAIN – Diagram 1

STRUCTURES OF THE BRAIN – Diagram 2

Older Brain Structures

Brainstem the oldest part of the brain, beginning

where the spinal cord swells and enters the skull.

Responsible for automatic survival functions.

Brain Stem

Medulla: base of the

brainstem, controls vital

functions like heartbeat and

breathing.

Reticular Formation: a nerve

network in the brainstem that

plays an important role in

controlling arousal &

involved in attention and

sleep (filtering out stimuli)

Brain Stem

Thalamus: the brain’s

sensory switchboard --

directs messages to the

sensory areas in the cortex

and transmits replies to the

cerebellum and medulla.

Pons: bridge between the

brain and spinal cord

(especially dealing with

motor messages) and/or

sleeping (sleep cycle)

Cerebellum

The “little brain” attached to the rear of

the brainstem.

It helps coordinate voluntary movements

and balance.

The Limbic System

Limbic System a doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brainstem

and cerebrum, associated with emotions such as fear, aggression and

drives for food and sex. It includes the

hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus.

Limbic System

Amygdala: two almond-

shaped neural clusters

linked to emotion of fear

and anger.

Hippocampus: two

finger-like structures

attached to amygdala

involved in processing

(new) memories

Limbic System

Hypothalamus: lies below

(hypo) the thalamus; directs

several maintenance

activities like eating,

drinking, body temperature,

and sex. Helps govern the

endocrine system via the

pituitary gland.

Ventromedial – “vomit” – tells you when to STOP eating

Lateral – “let’s eat” – tell you when you are hungry

The Cerebral CortexThe intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that

covers the cerebral hemispheres. The body’s ultimate

control and information processing center (higher order

thoughts).

Corpus callosum: band

of nerves that connect

the two cortical

hemispheres & carries

messages between them