How Do We Study the Brain and What’s There to Study?

EEG (Electroencephalograph)Non-evasiveStraps electrodes to

detect impulses (action potential)

Used often in sleep studies

Results look like polygraph lines

CAT Scan (CT scan)Uses 2 dimensional

x-rays to get cross sectional pictures

People go into a doughnut shaped machine that takes many pictures at once

Can detect brain damage

PET ScanUsed to observe blood

flow or metabolismPerson gets injected

with radioactive sugar molecules to highlight blood flow

Results are color coded brain map

Pets like sugar, Pehle’s stupid mnemonic device

MRIUses magnetic field

by sending radio pulses while person is sent through a tube on a bed

Person is infected with contrast material

Best tool to get a detailed map of the brain

Brain EvolutionBrain stem (all

animals have it): spine, medulla, and pons

Cerebellum (second brain)

Limbic System (higher functioning animals have this): amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus

Brain StemMedulla (lowest

brain part; develops from spine; automatic functioning): heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory

Pons (swelling up from the medulla): sensory relay system that alerts higher parts of the brain

CerebellumLatin for “little

brain”

Responsible for balance, equilibrium, and motor control

Most animals have a cerebellum

Limbic SystemNetwork of structures

that work togetherSlightly higher

functioningHypothalamus:

motivation, hunger, body temp.

Amygdala: emotional understanding/controlEmo Amy

Thalamus: sensory switchboardAll senses, but smell

Hippocampus: formation of new memoriesHippos are like

elephants, and elephants never forget

Pinky and the Brainhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=gpRoBuS0kI0