Download File - Mrs. Walston Science

The Nervous System
The nervous system is
a complex collection of
nerves and specialized
cells known as neurons
that transmit signals
between different
parts of the body. It is
essentially the body’s
electrical wiring.
The center of the nervous system is the brain
The Brain
• weighs 1300 - 1400 g
• made up of about 100
billion neurons
• “the most complex living
structure on the
universe” Society for Neuroscience
• makes us who we are
Let’s look at the parts of the brain and
learn what areas are involved in different
tasks
Cerebral cortex
(Cerebrum)
Are you using your left or
right brain?
• humor
• Memory / thought
• learning
• reading and language
• voluntary muscle
movement
• interpreting the senses
MEMORY BANKS – How well do you
remember?
• Momentary memory bank
• Short-term memory bank
• Long-term memory bank
MOMENTARY MEMORY ACTIVITY
• Jot down 20 random single digits (from 0 - 9)
• Find a partner.
• Partner A will tell partner B a single digit at a time.
• Partner B recalls all the numbers, starting from the beginning,
adding the one new digit last.
• Example:
Partner A: “One”
Partner B: “One”
Partner A: “Eight”
Partner B: “One, eight”
• Continue until Partner B messes up.
• Record the number of digits he/she WAS able to remember
without messing up.
• Switch roles.
• Collect class data.
NUMBER OF DIGITS REMEMBERED
Average 
TRANSFERRING INFORMATION FROM
MOMENTARY
TO SHORT-TERM MEMORY
What techniques do you use to help you
remember…….let’s try one more memory
game.
Study the following for one minute:
You have 30 sec. to write down as many
objects you can remember!
What were some of your “tricks”?
All those “tricks” you described
are common methods for
committing information to
memory (learning)
Process Time
the period which elapses between start & finish
- recognition - memory retrieval - output
Let’s try an example…..
Stroop Effect
Corpus callosum
• Connects the right
side of the brain to
the left side of the
brain
• Let’s the two sides
of the brain talk to
each other
Cerebellum
• controls balance
• works with the cerebrum
to produce smooth,
controlled, muscle movements
try to “outsmart” your foot
1. While sitting at your desk, lift your right foot off the
floor and make clockwise circles with it.
2. Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air
with your right hand….. Your foot will change
direction.
You can’t do it. It's pre-programmed in your brain!
Pituitary Gland
• Controls growth and
hormones:
– Puberty
– metabolism
– growth hormone
– Endorphins
– TSH
– Release of sugar
Hypothalamus
•
•
•
•
Recognizes emotions
recognizes hunger
recognizes fatigue
regulates body
temperature
Pineal Gland
• makes and secretes melatonin,
which regulates bodily rhythms,
including:
– biological clock (sleep/wake cycle)
– seasonal changes
Brainstem
• Consists of the
Medulla, Pons, and
Midbrain.
• Connects the brain to
the spinal cord
• Runs all the
involuntary muscles
(the ones you do not
consciously control)
Pons
• maintains consciousness (
being aware of ones
surroundings) and sleep
• controls breathing
Medulla Oblongata
• controls breathing &
heartbeat
• relays messages to spinal cord
• controls reflexes:
– sneezing
– coughing
– swallowing
– sucking (in babies)
– vomiting
Midbrain
• The midbrain controls
many important
functions such as the
visual and auditory
systems as well as eye
movement.
• Also plays an
important role in body
movement.
Spinal Cord
The most important body
structure between the body
and the brain.
The spinal cord functions
primarily in the
transmission of neural
signals between the brain
and the rest of the body
The brain and spinal cord
together make up the
central nervous system, it it
the pathway to the
peripheral nervous system.
What protects the central nervous system?
Cerebrospinal fluid
• Cerebrospinal fluid is
fluid that surrounds the
brain and spinal cord.
• This fluid acts as a
cushion, protecting the
brain and spine from
injury. It is like a shock
absorber for your
central nervous system