The Brain – Structure and Function

CNS - The Brain and Spinal Cord

Acts as a coordinating center for the nervous system

The brain is protected by a protective membrane known as the meninges The outer membrane is the dura

mater The middle layer is the arachnoid The inner layer is the pia mater

Cerebrospinal fluid circulates between the inner most layers and middle layers of the meninges and through the central canal of the spinal chord

The cerebrospinal fluid acts as both a shock absorber and a transport medium

The Spinal Cord

Carries sensory nerve messages from the receptors to the brain and back to the motor neurons

The spinal cord emerges through a hole in the skull called the foramen magnum and extends downward through the backbone

Contains both gray matter and white matter

The dorsal nerve tract brings information to the CNS and brain

The ventral nerve tract brings information from the CNS to the motor neurons

Structures of the BrainOlfactory Lobes

Cerebrum

Cerebral Cortex

Corpus Callosum

Cerebellum

Thalamus and Hypothalamus

Pons

Medulla Oblongatahttp://www.nelson.com/ABbio20-30/teacher/protect/otr/Bio2030OTR/attachments/i_AnimationSimulation/sagittal_brain.html

Structures of the Brain

Olfactory LobesCenters that receive information about smell

Cerebrum

Two hemispheres that act as the coordinating center for sensory and motor activity

Speech, reasoning, memory and personality reside in the cerebrum (all mammals have a highly developed cerebrum)

Cerebral Cortex

The surface of the cerebrum

Composed of gray matter

Has many folds (Fissures) to increase surface area

Information differs between the two hemispheres (right brain vs. left brain) Right and Left hemispheres

RIGHT = visual, spatial awareness, intuitive LEFT = language, logical, sequential thought, verbal skills

Can be divided into four lobes

Phineas Gage Story http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc213mMSsjY&feature=related (6

min)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBBdxnXhbz8&feature=PlayList&p=D3475FD9FD746D3B&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=9

Four lobes of the

Cerebral Cortex

Frontal Lobe: Motor control (walking, speech) Conscious thought

Inhibition of behavior Intelligence Memory personality

Temporal Lobe: Associated with vision, hearing and

memory

Parietal Lobe: Touch and temperature awareness Linked to emotions and interpreting

speech Pain interpretation Body position or orientation

Occipital Lobe: Sensory organs associated with

sight

Corpus CallosumAllows communication between the left and

right hemispheres

Joe – Split Brain (5 min)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMLzP1VCANo&feature=PlayList&p=49F78B8CF7107C31&playnext=1&index=2

Occipital Lobe(1 min)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddznuzf1TaM&feature=related

Frontal and Temporal Lobe(6 min)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agPUoKB8eEk&NR=1

Drugs and the Brain (5 min)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzP-4N2Qfs0&NR=1

CerebellumLocated directly below the cerebrum

Largest section of hind brain

Controls limb movements/coordination, balance and muscle toneFine and voluntary motor skills

Thalamus and Hypothalamus

Thalamus interprets and coordinates sensory informationDIRECTS INCOMING INFO TO APPROPRIATE AREAS

OF THE BRAIN

Hypothalamus coordinates activities between the nervous system and the endocrine system

PonsHelps coordinate information passing between

the two regions of the cerebellum and the cerebellum and medulla oblongata

Medulla OblongataThe posterior region, also known as the hind brain

Contains the nerve tract that runs from the higher brain centers to the spinal cord

Helps regulate involuntary muscle actionsPupil dilation

Brain Games

Occipital Lobe - Sight

Pons and Corpus Callosum – two half coordination

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

The Boy with the Incredible Brain ( 1min)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU9pcPDvQWg

Kim Peek – The Real Rain Man (11 min)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2T45r5G3kA&feature=related

The Boy With the Incredible Brain- 2/5 (10 min)Daniel and Danehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfoGsXYLxcs

The Boy With the Incredible Brain (8 min)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vs6R5YZQ3c