biological behaviors

brain has two sides (left controls right side and right controls left)

there is evidence that each brain hemisphere has its own distinct functions

bundle of nerves fibers that connects the 2 hemispheres messages more from one side of brain to the other

• “the super highway”

specializes in language, speech, handwriting, calculation, ANALYSIS

appears to specialize in more widespread processing, involving perception, visualization, spatial perception, visualization, EXPRESSION OF EMOTION

“gray matter” outer layer of brain, tissue is folded in on itself, the folding and wrinkling allows for more surface area of cortex to fit into the skull

• humans have higher traits

• consciousness thinking and advance

area of the cortex located in the front and top of the brain, associated with reasoning, motor skills, high level cognition and expressive language

planning complex cognitive behavior, personality expression, decision making and moderating social behavior

receives info from various lobes of the brain and utilizes this info to carry out involuntary body movements

located in the lower portion of the left frontal lobe, controls motor functions involved with speech production

section of the brain located at the top and back of each cerebral hemisphere containing the centers for processing sensory signals

• five senses

part of the parietal lobe and receives sensory information from the entire body

section of the brain bottom of each cerebral hemisphere containing the visual center of the brain

• info from left half of visual field of both eyes processed in right occipital lobe vice versa

recognize lines, angles, shapes, shadows and movement

located behind the temples contain the neurons responsible of hearing and meaningful speech

• auditory cortex takes in sound to wernicke’s area

located in the temporal lobe on the left side of the brain and its responsible for the comprehension of speech

• plans for meaningful speech created in wernike’s area

most primitive part of brain, base of brain connects to the spinal cord includes midbrain pons and medulla

• controls the flow of messages between the rest of the body

• controls basic body functions

located at the top of spinal cord and controls life sustaining functions= autonomic functions

transfers info between the cerebellum and other parts of the brain

contributes to the attention and conscious state by filtering incoming stimuli and selectively relaying info

relays signals from other parts of the briain to the cerbral cortex and regulates sleep and consciousness, appetite and alertness

helps control posture, balance, and coordination of voluntary movement

regulates emotions and drives

regulates variety of drives (hunger, thirst, sexual arousal, temp)

• controls secreting hormones

formations of long term memories

primarily involved in processing emotions and survival responses → fear, anger, agression

examination of brain tissue after death is currently the only definitive way to diagnose the specific neurodegenerative disorder

a research method in which areas of the brain are removed or disabled in order to determine their specific functions.

#1 treatment for epilepsy

-operation that removes part of the brain to control behavior disconnects, the prefrontal cortex from the rest of the brain

brain surgery used to treat behavioral disorders or illnesses removal of one half of brain

• control seizures

newer, less invasive method of altering the brain to eliminate behavioral symptoms

• make an opening in the brain inserting a electrode to stimulate an area of brain

non invasive technique that alters brain activity

not used to treat disorders but used to provide info about the structure of the brain or the activity of the brain

primarily show bones and other solid structures

device that uses electrodes on the scalp to detect and record brain waves

uses x-rays to create 3d images of brain structure

uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce high resolution images of the brain structure

imaging technique used to measure the magnetic fields produced by electrical activity in the brain by extremely sensitive devices

measures blood oxygen levels to determine brain function

uses a radioactive dye injected into the bloodstream to detect neurological activity

ability to constantly change both the structure and function of many cells in the brain in response to experience and trauma

• brain is resistant to change!

• younger you are= more plasticity

stronger when we are young and reduces with age

• brain’s ability to move functions from a damaged area to the brain to other undamaged areas

brain’s ability to actually change its physical structure as a result of learning

two hemispheres of the brain communicate extensively through corpus callosum when the hemispheres cant communicate each side of the brain seems to act independently “split” without awareness of the other

body’s communication network that consists of all nervous cells

coordinates withe action and interactions of the brain and spinal cord, the body’s main control center

• larger of the nervous system

• information highway connecting the peripheral nervous system to the brain

includes the sensory nerves outside the brain and spinal cord that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

• connect the cns to the organs limbs and skin

signals from brain to muscles / glasnds

• signals muscles to pick things up

signals from sensory receptors to the brain

• using your sense to relay info to your brain

responsible for carrying our sensory and motor info to and from cns

carries info from the nerves to the central nervous system

• take in sensory info and send it to the brain and spinal cord

carries info from the brain and spinal cord to muscle fibers throughout body

• allows us to take physical action in responsible to stimulus in environment

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

not voluntary

• signals sent from a sensory organ to the spinal cord which processes the info instead of passing it to the brain (activated)

regualtes involuntary and uncnocisous actions

activates your fight or flight response

functions to calm the person “rest and digest”

provide physical support for the neurons to grow on and areound (glue)

neurons at rest

message recieved from dendrites, send message to nucleus, axon depolarizes and message gets sent

period of. time after a neuron fires when it cant fire again wait for potential to build

chemical messengers that carries cells in body

• act like a key and receptors are the lock

excite connecting neurons and cause them to fire, more action potentials are triggered

inhibit the next neurons from firing

involved in activating muscle action and memory (speech)

• excitatory

connected to feelings of wellbeing and happiness, regulates sleep cycle and melatonin

• inhibitory

pleasure chemical of the brain (slot machines, shopping, addiction)

• inhibitory

response to danger “fight or flight”

• excitatory

body’s natural tranquilizer", calming the central nervous system

• inhibitory

  • increase sleepiness and decreases anxiety and muscle tension

thinking, long term memory, learning

• excitatory

body’s natural pain killer, relieve pain and stress, feelings of pleasure

• inhibitory