Brain
Spinal Cord
Biopsychology Lecture
Psyc 101 – Eva Zysk
Nervous System Layout
- The vertebrate nervous system (NS) is composed of two divisions:
1. Central Nervous System (CNS)
Composed of brain and spinal cord
2. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Somatic Nervous System (SNS)
o Interacts with the external environment
o Voluntary control
o Afferent nerves carry sensory signals in from the
skin, skeletal muscles, joints, eyes, ears, into the
CNS.
o Sensory Neuron
o Efferent nerves carry motor sensory signals out of the body
o Motor Neuron
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
o Participates in the regulation of the internal environment
o Not that much control, happens automatically
o Afferent nerves carry sensory signals from the internal organs to the CNS
o Efferent nerves carry motor signals from the CNS to internal organs
o Two types of efferent nerves:
- Sympathetic nerves: comprise the sympathetic NS. Arousing: sympathetic nerves
mobilize energy resources in threatening situations (e.g., adrenal gland). Fight or
Flight Response.
- Parasympathetic nerves: comprise the parasympathetic NS. Calming:
parasympathetic nerves act to conserve energy
Body Part Sympathetic Parasympathetic
Eyes Pupils dilated, dry, far vision Pupils constricted, moist, near vision
Mouth Dry Salivating
Skin Goose bumps No goose bumps
Palms Sweaty Dry
Lungs Passages dilated Passages constricted
Heart Increased rate Decreased rate
Blood Supply maximum to muscles Supply maximum to internal organs
Adrenal Glands Increased activity Decreased activity
Digestion Inhibited Stimulated
The Brain
- Forebrain
Controls complex cognitive, emotional, sensory & motor function. Divided into:
Subcortical Cortex
Cerebral System
- Midbrain
Orienting us to stimuli and the environment
Small area of the brain responsible for orientation and movement
Tectum orients the organism in its environment
Tegmentum involved with movement and arousal, helps orient organism toward sensory stimuli
- Hindbrain
, Basic functioning
Coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord
Includes cerebellum, pons, medulla, reticular formation.
- Medulla: coordinates heart rate, circulation, breathing
- Reticular Formation: responsible for regulation of sleep, wakefulness, and arousal
- Pons: “bridge”, a structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain.
- Cerebellum: “little brain”, larges structure of the hindbrain, controls fine motor skills, refines
balance.
Forebrain Midbrain Hindbrain
Forebrain Part Function
Basal Ganglia Set of subcortical structures that direct intentional movements. Controls posture & movement
Thalamus Relays and filters information from the senses (except smell) and transmits the information to the
cerebral cortex.
Hypothalamus Regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, sexual behaviour. Located below the thalamus.
Pituitary gland Master gland of the body’s hormone producing system (i.e. endocrine system). Releases hormones
which direct the functions of many other glands in the body.
- Controls growth, blood pressure, metabolism, energy management.
- E.g. tumour on gland may not be able to stop growth (extremely tall)
Amygdala Emotion, fear, anger. Plays a central role in many emotional processes, particularly the formation of
emotional memories, involved in fear. Looks like an almond.
Hippocampus Memory, limbic output. Critical in creating new memories and integrating them into a network of
knowledge to be stored in other parts of the cerebral cortex.
Limbic system Where the subcortical structures meet the cortex. Includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and
hypothalamus. Involved in mood, motivation, learning & memory
- Feeding
- Fighting
- Fleeing
- Sexual Behaviour
Neuroanatomy
Cerebral Cortex
- Information processing centre responsible for most complex aspects of perception, emotion, movement, &
thought
- 2-4, thick, wrinkled surface to increase surface area for nerves and neurons
Gyrus (pl gyri) – smooth surface (raised parts)
Sulcus (pl. sulci) – indentations of fold
Spinal Cord
Biopsychology Lecture
Psyc 101 – Eva Zysk
Nervous System Layout
- The vertebrate nervous system (NS) is composed of two divisions:
1. Central Nervous System (CNS)
Composed of brain and spinal cord
2. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Somatic Nervous System (SNS)
o Interacts with the external environment
o Voluntary control
o Afferent nerves carry sensory signals in from the
skin, skeletal muscles, joints, eyes, ears, into the
CNS.
o Sensory Neuron
o Efferent nerves carry motor sensory signals out of the body
o Motor Neuron
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
o Participates in the regulation of the internal environment
o Not that much control, happens automatically
o Afferent nerves carry sensory signals from the internal organs to the CNS
o Efferent nerves carry motor signals from the CNS to internal organs
o Two types of efferent nerves:
- Sympathetic nerves: comprise the sympathetic NS. Arousing: sympathetic nerves
mobilize energy resources in threatening situations (e.g., adrenal gland). Fight or
Flight Response.
- Parasympathetic nerves: comprise the parasympathetic NS. Calming:
parasympathetic nerves act to conserve energy
Body Part Sympathetic Parasympathetic
Eyes Pupils dilated, dry, far vision Pupils constricted, moist, near vision
Mouth Dry Salivating
Skin Goose bumps No goose bumps
Palms Sweaty Dry
Lungs Passages dilated Passages constricted
Heart Increased rate Decreased rate
Blood Supply maximum to muscles Supply maximum to internal organs
Adrenal Glands Increased activity Decreased activity
Digestion Inhibited Stimulated
The Brain
- Forebrain
Controls complex cognitive, emotional, sensory & motor function. Divided into:
Subcortical Cortex
Cerebral System
- Midbrain
Orienting us to stimuli and the environment
Small area of the brain responsible for orientation and movement
Tectum orients the organism in its environment
Tegmentum involved with movement and arousal, helps orient organism toward sensory stimuli
- Hindbrain
, Basic functioning
Coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord
Includes cerebellum, pons, medulla, reticular formation.
- Medulla: coordinates heart rate, circulation, breathing
- Reticular Formation: responsible for regulation of sleep, wakefulness, and arousal
- Pons: “bridge”, a structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain.
- Cerebellum: “little brain”, larges structure of the hindbrain, controls fine motor skills, refines
balance.
Forebrain Midbrain Hindbrain
Forebrain Part Function
Basal Ganglia Set of subcortical structures that direct intentional movements. Controls posture & movement
Thalamus Relays and filters information from the senses (except smell) and transmits the information to the
cerebral cortex.
Hypothalamus Regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, sexual behaviour. Located below the thalamus.
Pituitary gland Master gland of the body’s hormone producing system (i.e. endocrine system). Releases hormones
which direct the functions of many other glands in the body.
- Controls growth, blood pressure, metabolism, energy management.
- E.g. tumour on gland may not be able to stop growth (extremely tall)
Amygdala Emotion, fear, anger. Plays a central role in many emotional processes, particularly the formation of
emotional memories, involved in fear. Looks like an almond.
Hippocampus Memory, limbic output. Critical in creating new memories and integrating them into a network of
knowledge to be stored in other parts of the cerebral cortex.
Limbic system Where the subcortical structures meet the cortex. Includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and
hypothalamus. Involved in mood, motivation, learning & memory
- Feeding
- Fighting
- Fleeing
- Sexual Behaviour
Neuroanatomy
Cerebral Cortex
- Information processing centre responsible for most complex aspects of perception, emotion, movement, &
thought
- 2-4, thick, wrinkled surface to increase surface area for nerves and neurons
Gyrus (pl gyri) – smooth surface (raised parts)
Sulcus (pl. sulci) – indentations of fold
