Providing an in-depth, complete, and well-written description of IB biology topic A2, including all the mechanisms to thoroughly understand the human brain. It includes diagrams and annotated pictures, and all important keywords are highlighted.
During embryonic development, the neural tube will
enlarge and develop into different components of the nervous
system :
The form brain cephalisation ( development of the head )
anterior part of the neural tube will expand to the
during
The remainder of the neural tube will develop into the spinal cord .
Cells that compromised the neural crest will differentiate to form most of the peripheral nervous system .
The brain will be composed the forebrain , midbrain and
embryonic initially of three
primary structures -
,
hindbrain
↳
.
these structures rise to the identifiable components of the developed brain .
Brain Structure
The human processes sensory information received from the body and relays motor responses to effector organ .
Internal structures =
hypothalamus , pituitary gland or Corpus callosum .
, Medulla of
Oblongata = autonomic control
gut muscles ,
breathing , blood vessels and heart muscle .
Cerebellum = coordinates unconscious functions -
posture , non -
voluntary movement and balance .
Hypothalamus = Interface between the brain -
and the
pituitary gland helping to
regulate the secretion of hormones from the anterior
pituiatary and making the hormones se created by the posterior pituiatary .
Pituiatary Gland =
posterior lobe stores and release hormones made in the hypothalamus .
Anterior lobe produces and secrete hormones
which regulate many body functions .
Cerebal Hemispheres =
Integrating centre for complex functions like learning , memory and emotions .
Brain Functions
Animal Experiments =
Animal experimentation can be used to identify function by stimulating regions with electrodes or
removing via lab atomy
↳ Experimentation
.
on animals involves less ethical restrictions than human studies
( Limited
> differences in the brain .
Less ions
Abnormal areas of brain tissue which can indicate the effect of the loss of a brain area
(
.
can be identified ( CT MRI)
via
post-mortem analysis or via scans or
fMRI
Functional magnetic resonance
imaging (fMRI
) records
changes in blood flow within the brain to identify
activated areas .
Oxygenated haemoglobin responds differently to a
magnetic field than
deoxygenated haemoglobin → can be seen
visually
( Is
. .
non-invasive and can be used to
identify multiple brain regions involved in complex , integrated brain activities .
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