lecture 4 from a college level introduction to psychology course taught Fall 2011 by Brian J. Piper, Ph.D. (psy391@gmail.com) at Willamette University, includes about 15 major brain areas, anatomical terminology, brain imaging procedures (CT, MRI, EEG, PET)

1. Neuroanatomy
Brian J. Piper, Ph.D.

2. Goals
• Major Brain Areas
• Neuroimaging

3. Spinal Cord
• Divided into regions:
– Cervical
– Lumbar
• Function
– Motor
– Sensation

4. Brainstem
The Medulla [muh-
DUL-uh] is the base of
the brainstem that
controls heartbeat and
breathing.
Example: SIDS

7. ______ lobe

8. Match Color

9. Sensory Areas

10. 2.2
Description of 3-Dimensional Space
• Coronal:
– section from ear to ear, like a loaf of bread
– most commonly used for animal research
• Sagital:
– section from front to back
– mid-sagital shows brain with left and right
cortex separated
• Axial:
– section that parallels horizon
– Common for showing humans

11. Different Planes

12. Anatomical Terminology

13. Functions of Different Cortical Areas
• Frontal: cognition, executive function
• Temporal: hearing
• Occipital: vision
• Parietal: integration of sensory information
Dorsal
Posterior Anterior
Ventral

14. Corpus Callosum
• Fibers that connect left and right cortex

15. Cerebellum
(a mid-saggital)
• Located below the
CC
occipital cortex
• Important for motor
function
BS
• Site of action of alcohol

16. Cerebellum
• Located below the
occipital cortex
CC • Important for motor
function
BS • Site of action of alcohol

17. Thalamus
• Located in the center of
the brain
• Major relay center,
information from spinal
cord goes to thalamus,
thalamus has many
connections to the
cortex

18. 1.9
Hippocampus
• Bilateral structure
• Hippocampus is greek
for seahorse
• Essential for
memory, especially
spatial memory
• Effected by long term
alcohol exposure
http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Synaptic/info/pathway/hippocampal.htm

19. 1.2 Hippocampus: Coronal
cc
Box a contains hippocampus:
CA = cornu ammonis
DG = dentate gyrus
CC = corupus collosum

20. Amygdala
The Amygdala [ah-MIG-
dah-la] consists of two lima
bean-sized neural clusters
linked to the emotions of
fear and anger.

21. Brain Areas Important for
Hormone Control
Rene Descartes
• Pineal Gland
– Very small subcortical structure
– Releases the hormone melatonin
• Hypothalmus
– Hypo = “below” therefore located
under thalamus
– Regulates activity of Pituitary
– Pituitary communicates with
other endocrine glands (e.g.
testes)
– Important for steroids

22. Ventricles: Contain CSF
Abnormal Ventricles

23. http://www.omsi.edu/visit/life/aging/brainText.cfm

24. Neuroanatomy Video (1.5 min)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li5nMsXg
1Lk

25. Animal
Research
=
?
Very helpful, but ….

26. Hippocampus Comparison

27. More brains
rat & dog

28. (Thalamus

29. C
A
B
D
E
L
K H F
G
J I

30. and sheep brain

31. Brain Imaging
• Can provide information about anatomy (structure) or
physiology (function)
• Imaging procedures differ in their:
– Spatial resolution: the ability to differentiate nearby brain
regions
– Temporal resolution: the ability to differentiate brain
activity at different times
For more about brain imaging and drug abuse goto:
http://www.nida.nih.gov/NIDA_Notes/NNVol11N5/Basics.html

32. 2.5
Electroencephalography (EEG)
1873-1941
• Developed by Hans
Berger in 1929
• Electrodes are placed
on the surface of the
skull
• Electrical activity from
the cortex is recorded
<- Click here for more info on this traacing.
Time

33. 1.7
Computed Tomagraphy (EMI scan, axial)
Gr: tomos (slice) & graphein (to write).
• Developed in the 1970’s
• X-ray beams are passed
through the head
• A 2 or even 3-
dimensional structural
map is created
For more information about CT, goto:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computed_axial_tomography

34. Positron Emission Tomography
(PET, another axial)
• Radioactive material is
1.7
injected into the blood
• Scanner records the
radioactivity (positron) in
different parts of the brain
• Provides information about
function
• Very useful for research
For more detailed information about PET, goto:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positron_emission_tomography

35. Functional Magnetic Resonance
2.2
Imaging (fMRI)
• A cylindrical magnet
creates a magnetic field
• A sensor records blood
flow and brain
activation

36. Comparison of Imaging Techniques
4.7
Measures
Procedure Brain:
Advantage Disadvantage
Function Excellent temporal Measures only from brain
EEG resolution (msec) surface
CT Structure Found in many Some radiation exposure
hospitals
Function Wide variety of Poor temporal resolution (min),
PET Poor spatial resolution (cm)
uses
Radiation
fMRI Function Good temporal Patient cannot have
resolution (sec), metal implants
Good spatial
resolution (0.5cm)

37. The Brain
Techniques to Study the Brain
A brain lesion
experimentally
destroys brain tissue to
study animal behaviors
after such destruction.
Hubel (1990)
2 Min Funny Neuroanatomy Overview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAurv6mAWKM

38. What plane?
Sarah Tappon, 8/5/2009

39. Sarah Tappon, 8/5/2009

40. What is the impact of …?