Neuroscience and

Consciousness

Chapter 2

Neurons

 Neuron cell – communication is electrical

 Axon

 Dendrites

 Mylin sheath

 Terminal buttons

Synapses

 Firing of neuron is electrical process  All-or-none law  Action potential

 Synapse – communication is chemical -

 Excitatory  Inhibitory  Lock and key concept  Reuptake

Neurotransmitters

 GABA - inhibitory  Dopamine - motor activity, behavior

and cognition, memory  Endorphins – pain reduction

 Serotonin – stress, alcoholism,mood, suicide, aggression, sleep, sexuality

 Acetylcholine – digestion, muscles  Glutamate –memory -excitatory

Cellular Biology – Bruce Lipton, Ph.D.

 Single cells – analyze S from E

 Cellular communities – perceive E and organize = survival advantage

 Cooperation among groups of cells – gene transfer among species

 Genetic engineering - dangers

Cellular Biology – Environment

 Epigenetics – genes are not destiny –E can modify genes without changing their basic blueprint – changes are then passed onto future generations via proteins

 Cells are shaped by E

 E signal > DNA/RNA > protein

 Disease – cause is E, not cell

Cellular Biology – Membrane

 Membrane has 2 parts -  Receptor proteins = tuned to specific E

signals – physical signals; energy fields  Effector proteins = appropriate life

sustaining R – generate motor nerves  Together they create a S-R mechanism

 Membrane –  Is cell’s equivalent of a brain  Functions like a computer chip  Is programmable by E information

Cellular Biology – Nucleus

 Nucleus – a memory disk, hard drive containing DNA programs

 Data – entered into cell/computer via membrane receptors = cell’s ”keyboard”

 Result: we have ability to edit data we enter into our biocomputers – we become masters of our fate, not victims of our genes. Behavior can be controlled by thot.

Nervous System

 Central Nervous System

 Peripheral Nervous System -Somatic division -Autonomic division  Sympathetic system  Parasympathetic

system

Endocrine System  Hormones - chemical

messengers

 Adrenal glands - - Epinephrine - Norepinephrine

 Pituitary gland - Sends messages to other

endocrine glands to release hormones when signaled by

 Hypothalamus – (master gland)

The Brain  Major scanning techniques

 Older brain structures-  Brainstem-medulla, pons  Reticular formation  Thalamus  Cerebellum  Limbic system

 Cerebral cortex - lobes

Regenerative powers

 Neuroplasticity  Experience sculpts brain

 Neuroflexibility  Flexibility of brain

 Neuroscaffolding  Connections strengthened

 Neurogenesis – brain mends

itself by producing new neurons

Lateralization

 Hemisphere functions  Split brain

Film - Split Brain

The Mind - Siegel,M.D.  Mind -

 Develops at interface of neurophysiological processes and interpersonal relationships

 Experience-   Leads to firing of neurons which

turns on genes which produces proteins

 Genes -  Act as templates for information

that is to be passes onto next generation

 Have a transcription function which determines which proteins will be synthesized

Matter and Energy –

Lipton  Matter made up of

energy=spinning atoms  Energetic signaling more

efficient relaying E information than physical signals

 Every material structure radiates a unique energy signal

Matter and Energy –

Lipton

 Universe is one indivisible, dynamic whole – an integration of interdependent energy fields

 Flow of information in a quantum universe is holistic

Matter and Energy –

Lipton

 Redundant signaling pathways  Iatrogenic illness  Use of energy to heal brain  Communication  Thoughts consume energy - negative thinking drains energy

Brain Fingerprinting

 Dr. Farwell’s research –  Subject wired with EEG  Views screen - names,

pictures  Brain R with a murmur  Tested FBI agents

Film – Brain Fingerprinting

Neuroscience and Consciousness: Review

 Names and functions of neurons, brain and nervous system

  Endocrine system = hormones

 Neuroplasticity; neuroscaffolding; neurogenesis   Lateralization – split brain

  Lipton material: cellular microbiology; matter and energy; iatrogenic illness

 Siegel’s material – the mind

  Farwell – brain fingerprinting