Study Guide Chapter 3 Currie

Study Guide: The Brain, Neuron, and Eating Behavior– Currie

The notes below are designed to guide you through the text readings, particularly as they relate to relevant materials covered in lecture (Sept 18, 20 and 25th). Consequently the study guide for chapter 3 (and a few relevant pages in chapter 1) will assist you in preparing for your next exam. You should make a strong effort to integrate these notes with the posted lecture notes, and of course, with the notes you take in class. As with previous chapters, you should attempt to understand the conceptual and functional importance of the terms listed below, in addition specific meanings and definitions.

There are several points of focus within this section including an examination of how the nervous system is studied, how it is structured (architecture), as well as the role and function of the cerebral cortex. We will also examine the basic unit of the nervous system, that is, the neuron, and how this cell receives, integrates and transmits signals via action potentials and the release of chemical messengers. In addition, we focus on the endocrine system followed by an examination of neuroplasticity.

Chapter 3: The Brain and The Nervous System

How do we study the Brain?

Clinical Observation; Neuropsychology, Experimental Techniques (lesions), Neuroimaging (CT, MRI; fMRI, PET, EEG)

Correlation vs. Causation

Nervous System: Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

PNS: Somatic (afferent and efferent)

Autonomic Nervous System: Sympathetic / Parasympathetic (afferent and efferent)

CNS: Brain, Spinal Cord and Cranial Nerves

Brain: Hindbrain, Midbrain, Forebrain (see Figures 3.8 and 3.9 for inclusive structures – as discussed in class). Cerebral Hemispheres; Meninges.

Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex: Frontal, Parietal, Temporal and Occipital.

Subcortical Structures: Thalamus and Hypothalamus for example.

Limbic System: Subcortical structures (Figure 3.12)

Including: Hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala.

Concept of Lateralization; corpus callosum; commissures.

The Cortex

Primary motor area and contralateral control, motor homunculus.

Primary sensory areas and the sensory homunculus; Association Areas.

Cortical damage: action, language (Broca’s area; Wernicke’s area), and attention.

Building Blocks of the Nervous System

Neuron: dendrites, soma, axon, motoneuron, sensory neuron, process of transduction. Nodes of Ranvier. White matter (myelinated axons); Gray matter (cell bodies)

Glia

Communication

Electrical activity, electrode, resting potential, action potential

Ion channels, ion pump; sodium ion (NA+)

Propagation of the action potential; all or none law; synapse

Temporal and spatial summation

Synaptic Mechanism: presynaptic and postsynaptic neuron; axon terminals; synaptic vesicles; neurotransmitters; synaptic gap; synaptic reuptake.

Neurotransmitters: Acetylcholine; serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT); GABA, norepinephrine, dopamine

Neurotransmitter receptors; Drugs: agonists and antagonists

Interactions through the Bloodstream

Blood-Brain Barrier

Endocrine System; Hormones; Glands (see Table 3.1)

Plasticity

Changes in neuronal connections; dendritic spines; cortical reorganization; neural stem cells.

Study Guide Chapter 1 – Currie

Eating Disorders (pp 7-11)

Biological Basis for Eating (We will revisit this topic when we discuss the psychopharmacology of eating).

In order to more completely understand eating and its disorders the following must also be considered:

Cultural Influences

Eating and the Social World

Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa

Cognitive Control of Eating

Conclusion: The biological perspective is one approach used by psychologists to understand, explain and predict behavior.