Mechanism of the Mind

Presenter: Karen Grant-White MScN, CCRN, RN

Neurons
The Basic Unit of the Nervous System Estimated 10-12 billion or higher! One Neuron can connect to as many as 75 more neurons.

Parts of the Neuron

Dendrites- All of the fibrous extensions of the cell body except the axon.

Cell Body- The part of the neuron containing the nucleus

Axon- Conducts information and transport chemical substances from the neuron cell body to the synaptic terminals to trigger synaptic transmission. Myelin- A fatty sheath of insulation that covers larger axons. Not all neurons have myelin. Synapse- Points of functional contact between axon terminals and other cells.

The Neuron

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/synapse.html

Nerve Conduction
Within the Neuron
Depolarization - An electrical process

Between Neurons

A chemical process When depolarization reaches the terminal When the neuron is buttons, neurotransmitters resting, not conducting are released into the nerve impulses, it is synapse. polarized. Either excite or inhibit the following neuron! The cell is invaded by Na Sending neuron is the preions and the expulsion of synaptic neuron K ions. The electric Receiving neuron is the charge is gone. post-synaptic neuron. Depolarization occurs!

Nerve Conduction - Synapse

Types of Messengers:
1. Neurotransmitters: released by terminal buttons of neurons and detected by receptors in the membrane of another cell a short distance away. Neuromodulators: released in large amounts from the terminal buttons, but diffused throughout part of the brain, affecting many neurons. Hormones: produced by endocrine glands, released into extracellular fluid - stimulate cell receptors on membrane surface or deep within nuclei of cells, including neurons.

2.

3.

How Neurotransmitters Influence Us

Serotonin pathways are involved with mood regulation.

From Mapping the Mind, Rita Carter, 1989 University of California Press

Dopamine Pathways

Dopamine pathways are involved with diseases such as schizophrenia and Parkinsons disease.
From Mapping the Mind, Rita Carter, 1989 University of California Press

Parts of the Brain: Frontal Lobe (Forebrain)

Frontal Lobe
Location- In the anterior most part of the brain (under the forehead)

Function:
Determines our consciousness of our environment. Determines how we initiate and respond to our environment. Daily decisions in our daily lives. Controls emotional responses and expressive language. Assigns meanings to the words we use. Involves word association. Controls memory for habits and motor activities. Emotional control center.

Links:
http://www.waiting.com/brainfunction.html http://www.radiology.wisc.edu/Med_Students/neuroradiology/fmri/sld0 12.htm

Parietal Lobe
Location- Near the back and top of the head (Near the back and top of the head) Functions:
Contains the location for visual attention. Contains the location for touch perception. Controls goal directed voluntary movements. Controls the manipulation of objects. Integrates different senses to allow for understanding a single concept. If not functioning correctly epileptic behavior can occur. Links: http://www.bcm.tmc.edu/neurol/challeng/pat31/summary.h tml http://www.eqi.org.au/newsletter/glossary.html

Illustration of the Occipital Lobe

Link: Traumatic Brain Injury Research http://www.neuroskills.com/index.html?main=tbi/boccipit.shtml

Occipital Lobe
Location- Located in the most posterior (Back of the head).

Functions: Center of the visual perception center.

Numerous visual functions.

Links:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/3937/sight.htm http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~lngbrain/cglidden/occipital.html http://www.headinjuryrehab.org/occipital_lobe.htm

Temporal Lobe
Location- at the side of the head and above the ears

Functions: Auditory sensation and perception Organization and categorization of verbal material Long term memory Personality and sexual behavior Organization of sensory input The brain has two temporal lobes, one on each side of the brain The two are interchangeable, so if one is damaged, the other is usually able to takeover the other's duties
Link: http://www.Geocities.Com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/3937/temporal. Htm

Basic Structures of the Brain

www.psychol.uni-giessen.De/abteil/differen/ 02abiol_skript_version.ppt

The Brain Stem

(Medulla oblongata, the Midbrain, and the Pons.)
Medulla Oblongata Location: Last part of the brain before reaching the spinal cord. Continuation of the spinal cord Function: Centers for cough, gag, swallow, and vomit. Cardiac Center. Respiratory Center.
Links:

http://www.waiting.com/brainfuncthree.html
http://www.neuroskills.com/index.html?main=tbi/bbstem.shtml http://kidshealth.org/kid/body/brain_noSW_p4.html

Illustration of the Medulla Oblongata

http://www.brainexplorer.org/brain_atlas/Brainatlas_Midbrain.shtml

Midbrain
Location: The Midbrain is located at the top of the brainstem Functions: The top portion contains important nuclei for visual and auditory systems It is here that these pathways cross so that each half of the brain controls the opposite side of the body Helps in controlling eye movement
Links: http://home.epix.net/~tcannon1/physio.html http://www.med.harvard.edu/AANLIB/home.html

Pons
Location: The Pons (meaning "bridge") lies above the medulla Functions: Arousal Assists in Controlling Autonomic Functions Sleep Damage to any of the structures would result in impaired coordination of movement and/or posture
Links: http://psych.athabascau.ca/html/Psych402/Biotutorials/pons www.bigchalk.com

Cerebellum
Location:

Two peach-size mounds of folded tissue at the base of

the brain Overlies the pons Functions: Coordinates movement of muscles and joints by synthesizing data from the brain stem, the spinal cord, and another brain areas such as cerebral cortex The cerebellum fine tunes our motor activity or movement
Links: http://web.sfn.org/content/Publications/BrainBackgrounders/cere bellum.htm http://thalamus.wustl.edu/course/cerebell.html

Thalamus
Location: The Thalamus is shaped like two footballs; each is located deep in the hemispheres of the forebrain Functions: It relays to the cerebral cortex information received from diverse brain regions. Information from all sensory receptors except smell is processed in the thalamus before being sent to the cerebral cortex
Links: http://psych.athabascau.ca/html/Psych402/Biotutorials/20/thalam us.shtml http://www.pubs.royalsoc.ac.uk/phil_bio/news/thalamus.html

Hypothalamus
Location: The hypothalamus is a midline, structure, shaped like a funnel below the thalamus It connects to the pituitary gland Functions: The autonomic nervous system, emotions and behavior, body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep-waking cycles. Controls the release of hormones under its control: growth, prolactin, thyroid. Regulation of sex hormones, blood pressure, body temperature, water balance, respiration, and food intake, while it also plays a role in regulating complex moods, such as anger, placidity, and fatigue. Links: http://k-2.stanford.edu/InfoPackets/EndoSys.3.0.html
http://www.isat.jmu.edu/users/klevicca/neuroconn/The_Brain/Brain _Function/Limbic_System/hypothalamus.html

Conclusion
The study of physiology has made possible for better understanding of human behavior and function, as well as, the function and behavior of other species we share our world with.