Chapter 8
The Brain in Control of It All
Evolution of the Brain
The Primitive Brain Still Resides in the Human Brain
The Brain
• Controls all functions of the body
• The purpose is to protect the brain’s environment
• The brain selects its own environment from the general water environment of the body, the blood
• The brain collects information and adjusts the body
Transmitting A Signal
Neurotransmitters
• Many different neurotransmitters
• Some depolarize, make the inside/outside less different (facilitate passing on signals)
• Some hyperpolarize, make the inside/outside more different (inhibit passing on signals)
• Some go both ways (depending on the receiving cell)
In general each nerve cell both receives signals from many other nerve cells and sends signals to many other nerve cells
Excitation and Inhibition Work Together
Autonomic Nervous system
Parasympathetic
Parasympathetic
Sympathetic
CALM Excited/danger
MedullaAutonomic nervous system, breathing etc
Hypothalmus and pituitary gland
Balance: Negative Feedback
Reticular Activating System
The basic core of the brain
Cerebellum: motor guidance
Cerebellum
Localized Functions
Drugs
• Information or disinformation
• Alter balance
• Tolerance
• Dependence