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NERVOUS SYSTEM (2):Membranes of the Brain, Association Areas, Spinal Cord

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Introduction to Psychology ­PSY101
VU
Lesson 13
NERVOUS SYSTEM (2)
Membranes of the Brain
·
Between the surfaces of the brain and the skull, there are three layers of membrane called the
meanings, which completely cover the brain and spinal cord.
·
These three membranes are:
1.  Dura Matter
2.  Arachnoid
3.  Pia Matter
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
·
The subarachnoid space contains a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a clear,
colorless fluid covering the entire surface of central nervous system.
·
The total volume of CSF is 125-150 ml.
·
Total production of CSF is about 400-500 ml/day (about 0.36ml/min).
Association Areas
·
Areas in the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor and sensory functions; rather
they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking and speaking.
·
Association areas in the Frontal Lobes are concerned with judging and planning;
·
Damage may lead to intact memory but inability to plan out something. Personality
·
may also be affected.
·
Association areas of other lobes are related to other mental functions; i.e. Temporal Lobe enables us to
recognize faces; damage to this area causes inability to identify people (although facial features can be
described), and gender and approximate age too.
·
Association areas in the posterior lobes are involved in perception and memory. Damage leads to
difficulty in perceiving speech.
Spinal Cord
·
Continuation of the Medulla Oblongata.
·
The spinal cord is about 45 cm long in men and 43 cm long in women and weighs about 35-40
grams.
·
The vertebral column (back bone), encapsulating the spinal cord, is about 70 cm long
comprising vertebra in the vertebral column.
·
The spinal cord is much shorter than the vertebral column.
·
Signals arising in the motor areas of the brain travel back down the cord and leave in the motor
neurons.
·
The spinal cord also acts as a minor coordinating center responsible for some simple reflexes
like the withdrawal reflex.
Reflex - rapid (and unconscious) response to changes in the internal or external environment, needed to maintain
homeostasis
Reflex arc: the neural pathway over which impulses travel during a reflex. The components of a reflex arc
include:
1.  Receptor - responds to the stimulus
2.  Afferent pathway -- sensory neuron
3.  Central Nervous System
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Introduction to Psychology ­PSY101
VU
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Muscle
Spinal Cord
Consists of the spinal and cranial
nerves; these connect the CNS to
the rest of the body. PNS connects
the body's sensory receptors to the
CNS, and the CNS to the muscles
and glands.
Parts of Peripheral Nervous System
PNS has two important parts
1. Skeletal/Somatic Nervous System
·  Controls the voluntary movements of our skeletal muscles.
·  It reports the current state of skeletal muscles and carries instructions back.
2. Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
·  Considered as the "self governing or self-regulatory mechanism" because of its involuntary
operation.
·  Controls the glands and muscles of internal organs e.g. heart, stomach, and glandular
activity.
·  A.N.S. has a dual function; i.e. both arousing and calming.
·  Comprises two sub systems; Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
a. Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)
·
This part of ANS arouses us for defensive action.... fight or flight.
·
If something alarms, endangers, excites, or enrages a person, the sympathetic nervous
system accelerates heart beat, slows digestion, raises the sugar level in blood, dilates the
arteries and cools the body through perspiration; makes one alert and ready for action.
b. Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)
When the stressful situation subsides, parasympathetic nervous system begins its activity.
·
It produces an effect opposite to that of sympathetic nervous system.
·
It conserves energy by decreasing heart beat, lowering blood pressure, lowering blood sugar
and so on.
In daily life situations, both sympathetic and parasympathetic systems work together to keep us in steady
internal state maintaining the homeostasis.
Studying the Structure and Function of the Brain
·
Electroencephalogram (EEG): recording of the electrical signals being transmitted within
the brain, through electrodes attached to the skull.
·
Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT): a computer constructs an image of the brain by
combining thousands of separate X-rays taken from slightly different angles.
·
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): the scan produces a powerful magnetic field to
provide a computer generated, detailed image of the structure of the brain.
·
Super Conducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID): a scan sensitive to minute
changes in the magnetic field occurring when neurons are firing.
·
Positron Emission Tomography (PET): a scan showing biochemical activity
within the brain at any given moment.
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Table of Contents:
  1. WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?:Theoretical perspectives of psychology
  2. HISTORICAL ROOTS OF MODERN PSYCHOLOGY:HIPPOCRATES, PLATO
  3. SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT:Biological Approach, Psychodynamic Approach
  4. PERSPECTIVE/MODEL/APPROACH:Narcosis, Chemotherapy
  5. THE PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH/ MODEL:Psychic Determinism, Preconscious
  6. BEHAVIORAL APPROACH:Behaviorist Analysis, Basic Terminology, Basic Terminology
  7. THE HUMANISTIC APPROACH AND THE COGNITIVE APPROACH:Rogers’ Approach
  8. RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY (I):Scientific Nature of Psychology
  9. RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY (II):Experimental Research
  10. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT AND NATURE NURTURE ISSUE:Nature versus Nurture
  11. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT:Socio- Cultural Factor, The Individual and the Group
  12. NERVOUS SYSTEM (1):Biological Bases of Behavior, Terminal Buttons
  13. NERVOUS SYSTEM (2):Membranes of the Brain, Association Areas, Spinal Cord
  14. ENDOCRINE SYSTEM:Pineal Gland, Pituitary Gland, Dwarfism
  15. SENSATION:The Human Eye, Cornea, Sclera, Pupil, Iris, Lens
  16. HEARING (AUDITION) AND BALANCE:The Outer Ear, Auditory Canal
  17. PERCEPTION I:Max Wertheimer, Figure and Ground, Law of Closure
  18. PERCEPTION II:Depth Perception, Relative Height, Linear Perspective
  19. ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS:Electroencephalogram, Hypnosis
  20. LEARNING:Motor Learning, Problem Solving, Basic Terminology, Conditioning
  21. OPERANT CONDITIONING:Negative Rein forcer, Punishment, No reinforcement
  22. COGNITIVE APPROACH:Approach to Learning, Observational Learning
  23. MEMORY I:Functions of Memory, Encoding and Recoding, Retrieval
  24. MEMORY II:Long-Term Memory, Declarative Memory, Procedural Memory
  25. MEMORY III:Memory Disorders/Dysfunctions, Amnesia, Dementia
  26. SECONDARY/ LEARNT/ PSYCHOLOGICAL MOTIVES:Curiosity, Need for affiliation
  27. EMOTIONS I:Defining Emotions, Behavioral component, Cognitive component
  28. EMOTIONS II:Respiratory Changes, Pupillometrics, Glandular Responses
  29. COGNITION AND THINKING:Cognitive Psychology, Mental Images, Concepts
  30. THINKING, REASONING, PROBLEM- SOLVING AND CREATIVITY:Mental shortcuts
  31. PERSONALITY I:Definition of Personality, Theories of Personality
  32. PERSONALITY II:Surface traits, Source Traits, For learning theorists, Albert Bandura
  33. PERSONALITY III:Assessment of Personality, Interview, Behavioral Assessment
  34. INTELLIGENCE:The History of Measurement of Intelligence, Later Revisions
  35. PSYCHOPATHOLOGY:Plato, Aristotle, Asclepiades, In The Middle Ages
  36. ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR I:Medical Perspective, Psychodynamic Perspective
  37. ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR II:Hypochondriasis, Conversion Disorders, Causes include
  38. PSYCHOTHERAPY I:Psychotherapeutic Orientations, Clinical Psychologists
  39. PSYCHOTHERAPY II:Behavior Modification, Shaping, Humanistic Therapies
  40. POPULAR AREAS OF PSYCHOLOGY:ABC MODEL, Factors affecting attitude change
  41. HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY:Understanding Health, Observational Learning
  42. INDUSTRIAL/ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY:‘Hard’ Criteria and ‘Soft’ Criteria
  43. CONSUMER PSYCHOLOGY:Focus of Interest, Consumer Psychologist
  44. SPORT PSYCHOLOGY:Some Research Findings, Arousal level
  45. FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY:Origin and History of Forensic Psychology