Download The Brain

 All
or none = the least amount of
energy needed to start the motion
 Action Potential = the movement of
neural activity
 Refractory Period = the time where
no motion can occur (no energy)
 Rest Potential = the time where the
neuron is waiting to move
Neurons are nerve cells that transmit
nerve signals to and from the brain
throughout the body
A typical neuron has about 1,000 to
10,000 synapses
There are about 100 billion neurons in
the brain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWS32l3dTsM
Part – Function
Dendrite - treelike extensions at the beginning of a
neuron that help increase the surface area of the cell
body and are covered with synapses. These receive
information from other neurons and transmit
electrical stimulation to the soma
Cell Body - where the signals from the dendrites
are joined and passed on. The cell body does not play
an active role in the transmission of the neural
signal; instead, keeps the neuron alive.
Part – Function
Axon - the elongated fiber that extends from the cell
body to the terminal endings and transmits the
neural signal. The larger the axon, the faster it
transmits information
Myelin Sheath - fatty substance called myelin that
acts as an insulator. These myelinated axons transmit
information much faster than other neurons
Axon terminal – at the end of the neuron and are
responsible for sending the signal on to other
neurons (through synapses)
Synapse – small gap at the end of a neuron
that allows information to pass from one
neuron to the next
Neurotransmitter – is a chemical messenger
that sends and moderates signals between
neurons and other cells in the body
(Acetylcholine, GABA, Serotonin, Dopamine, etc.)
Receptor – an area on the dendrite where
neurotransmitters bind
Reuptake – is the process of unused
neurotransmitters being taken back into the
axon terminal
There are different types of neurons, which all carry
electro-chemical nerve signals throughout the Central
Nervous System (CNS)
Sensory neurons or Afferent neurons carry
messages from the body's sense receptors
(eyes, ears, etc.) to the CNS.
Motorneurons or Efferent neurons carry
signals from the CNS to the muscles and
glands.
Interneurons are the neural wiring within
the CNS. These have two axons.
Interneurons
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 Brain Stem
 Frontal Lobe
 Reticular Formation
 Parietal Lobe
 Medulla
 Temporal Lobe
 Pons
 Occipital Lobe
 Thalamus
 Corpus
 Cerebellum
 Hypothalamus
 Hippocampus
 Amygdala
 Pituitary Gland
Callosum
 Longitudinal fissure
 Motor Cortex
 Wernicke’s Area
 Broca Area
Right
=Random; Intuitive;
Holistic; Synthesizing; Subjective;
Looks at whole
Left =Logical; Sequential; Rational;
Analytical; Objective; Looks at parts
 Corpus Callosum = tissue that
connects the two sides of the brain
and allows communication
Life
Sustaining Center
Corpus
Callosum
Thalamus
Brainstem
 Thalamus
= “The Relay Station” in the brain:
sensory signals, auditory, visual, somatosensory
(touch)
 Medulla = helps control the body's autonomic
functions like respiration, digestion and heart rate
 Cerebellum = deals with movement through
regulation and coordination of bodily movements,
posture and balance
 Pons = monitors the level of stimulation or
consciousness and sleep (while asleep)
 Reticular Formation = monitors the state of the
body and functions in such processes as arousal
and sleep and attention and muscle tone (FS/WU)
Manages
functions: memory;
eating; sleeping
Hippocampus = primary role is in memory formation,
classifying information, long-term memory
 Amygdala (AH-mig-doll-la) = stores & classifies
emotionally charged memories, as well as plays a role in
producing our emotions, especially fear and anger.
Triggers responses to strong emotions; causes sweaty
palms, increased heart-beat & stress hormone release
 Hypothalamus = linked with the pituitary gland
(hormones). Monitors & controls your circadian rhythms
(your daily sleep/wake cycle), homeostasis (making sure
your body is running smoothly), appetite, thirst
 Pituitary Gland = “master gland” for the endocrine
system – send hormones – mainly for growth and
development

Control
& Processing Center

Frontal Lobe = responsible for functions such as reasoning,
problem solving, judgment, impulse control (develops later than
most parts and area most susceptible to drugs & alcohol)
Parietal Lobe involved in processing pain & touch
sensation. Where the somatosensory (from your skin
and internal organs) Cortex resides. Associated with
cognition (including calculating location & speed of
objects), movement, orientation, recognition & speech
 Occipital Lobe = controls visual sensation and
processing
 Temporal Lobe = involved in auditory (sound)
sensation

Motor Cortex
Broca
Wernicke
 Broca
= speech production; facial and mouth
control; and language Processing (language
output)
 Wernicke = language Comprehension;
semantic Processing; language Recognition;
and language Interpretation (language
structure)
 Motor Cortex = movement of mouth pronounce/hands