The brain through the ages Flashcards
week 1
what is neuroscience?
- Looks at the neurones and what links them all together (brain, CNS/PNS)
- The scientific study of the nervous system
- Interdisciplinary:
- biology,
- physiology
- psychology,
- computer science,
- mathematics,
- physics,
- philosophy,
- medicine
- The study of how our nervous system controls behaviour, thoughts and emotions.
- BPS fundamental
what is the nervous system?
- Network of neurones in the brain, spinal cord and periphery
- Central Nervous System (CNS)
- Brain and Spinal Cord
- Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
- Nerves (Cranial and Spinal)
- Ganglia (a mass of nerve cell bodies)
what are neurones?
building blocks of the nervous system
what are the functions of dendrites in a neurone?
to pick up information from pre-synaptic neurones or the environment to send it along the axon.
what is the function of the nucleus of a neurone?
supports the dendrite cells by generating an impulse throughout the axon.
what is the function of the cell body of a neurone?
supports the system of the cell as it contains genetic information, maintains the neuron’s structure, and provides energy to drive activities.
what is the function of the myelin sheath of a neurone?
helps with the conductivity along the axon by allowing electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells.
What is the function of the Schwann cells in a neurone?
two types: myelinated and non-myelinated that both play a pivotal role in the maintenance and regeneration of axons of the neurones in the PNS.
what is the function of the node of Ranvier in a neurone?
transfers electrical impulses along the myelin sheath as they cannot travel across it otherwise (generation ion fast electrical impulses)
what is the function of the axon terminals in a neurone?
allows the neuron to conduct electrical impulse down to another neuron or another type of cell by the release of signals into the synapse.
why is neuroscience an essential part of modern psychology?
- Behaviour is initiated by the nervous system
- Neuroscience can therefore be used to help understand behaviour
- Want to see more or less of certain behaviours
- What are the adaptive/maladaptive behaviours of well being?
- Psychologists who study biological bases of behaviour…
- Behavioural neuroscientists
- (AKA: Biological Psychologists, Biopscychologists)
- Use physical measurements of brain function
what are the origins of neuroscience?
human prehistory (500BCE)
ancient Egypt (4000-30BCE)
Ancient Greece (450-300BCE)
Roman Empire (30BCE- 500CE)
What occurred during the human prehistory period of neuroscience?
- Stone Age/ Bronze Age/ Iron Age.
- neolithic period
- Blunt force cranial trauma
- Cranial trepanation
- “5-10% of all skulls found from the Neolithic period were trepanned with single or multiple skull openings of various sizes”
- Release of evil sprits for diseases such as epilepsy (trephining and trepanning).
- Drilled holes in left side of head when issues with right side of body (cross-lateralisation of the brain).
what occurred during the Ancient Egyptian times of neuroscience?
- First recorded/written language that we can relate to.
- Earliest written reference to the brain (17th Century BCE)
○ the Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus (hieroglyphics from doctors at the time that informed the procedure of the operation) - Body and most organs were preserved (mummified) after death… but not the brain
- Brain not considered to be the centre of human functioning.
- Heart was central to human functioning.
- Earliest written reference to the brain (17th Century BCE)
during the Ancient Greek times, what did Hippocrates suggest?
○ Father of modern medicine
○ the theory of the four humours (black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, blood)
§ If out of balance we would have illness
§ First to suggest that the soul and mind were controlled by the brain.
○ “… the source of our pleasure, merriment, laughter and amusement, as of our grief, pain, anxiety, and tears is none other than the brain”
during the ancient greek times, what did Aristotle suggest?
○ “… the brain is not responsible for any of the sensations at all, the correct view is that the sear and source of sensation is the region of the heart”
§ Agreed with ancient Egyptians
§ Hook out brain and preserve other organs except the heart which would be mummified with the body.
□ Our behaviours and emotions were controlled by the heart where the brain was for the blood to “cool off”.
○ Socrates tutored Plato who tutored Aristotle
§ Socrates and Plato did not write their ideas down but Aristotle did- why he is most known for the ideas.
what did Galen suggest? (Roman Empire)
- Furthered Hippocrates work.
○ Used the idea of the 4 humours.- Leading physician of the Roman Empire
○ Lots of his work occurred on the battle field - Saw the brain as the ruling organ of the body
- Common sense, cognition and memory were all functions of the brain
- Discovery of ventricles fitted with Hippocrates’ theory of humourism
- Talked about the ventricles- idea that they were in the brain.
○ Idea that they were the source of behaviour - Used apes, pigs etc
- Leading physician of the Roman Empire
when were the dark ages and what happened during them?
~ 500-1000 AD
* Not much occurred here
* Beginning of Christianity in the western world.
