PSYC-1105EL Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Positron Emission Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Central Nervous System
12 Jun 2018
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Psychology Notes
1. The nervous system
Divisions of the Nervous System
● Peripheral Nervous System (spirals and cranial nerves)
● Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord)
● Somatic System (connects central nervous system to voluntary muscles)
● Autonomic system (connects central nervous system to involuntary muscles, glans
● Sympathetic system (readies body for activity, use of energy)
● Parasympathetic system (readies body for restoration of energy)
Studying the nervous system
Electroencephalography (EEG): a technique for measuring the electrical activity of the brain via
electrodes placed at specific locations on the skull
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): a method for studying the intact brain in which images are obtained
by exposure of the brain to a strong magnetic field
Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID): an imaging device that captures images of the
brain through its ability to detect tiny changes in magnetic fields of the brain
Positron emission tomography (PET): an imaging technique that detects the activity of the brain by
measuring glucose utilization or blood flow
1. Neurons
● Cell specialized for communicating information and the basic building blocks of the nervous
system
● The human brain contains approximately 30-40 billion neurons
Basic structure
Three basic parts
● Cell body
● Axon: the part of the neuron that conducts the action potential away from the cell body
● Dendrite: the part of the neuron that conducts action potentials towards the cell body
Myelin sheath: fatty material, interrupted by small gaps know as nodes of Ranvier that often covers
axons; its deterioration results in multiple sclerosis
Glial cells: cells in the nervous system that surround, support and protect neurons
Blood-brain barrier: a structure that prevents unnatural substances from reaching the brain
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Document Summary
Peripheral nervous system (spirals and cranial nerves) Central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) Somatic system (connects central nervous system to voluntary muscles) Autonomic system (connects central nervous system to involuntary muscles, glans. Sympathetic system (readies body for activity, use of energy) Parasympathetic system (readies body for restoration of energy) Electroencephalography (eeg): a technique for measuring the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes placed at specific locations on the skull. Magnetic resonance imaging (mri): a method for studying the intact brain in which images are obtained by exposure of the brain to a strong magnetic field. Superconducting quantum interference device (squid): an imaging device that captures images of the brain through its ability to detect tiny changes in magnetic fields of the brain. Positron emission tomography (pet): an imaging technique that detects the activity of the brain by measuring glucose utilization or blood flow: neurons. Cell specialized for communicating information and the basic building blocks of the nervous system.
