WEEK 1 LECTURE + TUTORIAL

Question 1

Neuroscience Definition

Answer 1

-The scientific study of the nervous system and how it controls behaviour, thoughts and emotions.

Question 2

The Nervous System Components

Answer 2

• Network of neurons in the brain, spinal cord and periphery
  -CNS: Brain and Spinal Cord
  -PNS: Nerves and Ganglia (a mass of nerve cell bodies)

Question 3

Influential People in the Renaissance

Answer 3

1. Leonardo da Vinci: Cognition and memory attributed to the three ventricles
2. Vesalius: Added more detail to the structure of the brain and identified Galen’s errors
3. Descartes: Mind, body dualism

Question 4

Evolution of the Brain

Answer 4

• Increase in brain size
• Proportion of areas have changed
• Folding of the Cerebral Cortex increased

Question 5

Evolution in Hominids

Answer 5

1. Australopithecus robustus
2. Homo habilis
3. Homo erectus
4. Homo sapiens neanderthalensis
5. Homo sapiens sapiens

Question 6

Key ideas/ discoveries in the 18/19th century

Answer 6

1. Nerves are wires
2. Localisation of specific brain functions
3. The neuron
4. Evolution of the brain

Question 7

1. Nerves are wires / Key Individuals

Answer 7

1. Galvani: Stimulation of nerves in frogs caused muscle contractions
2. Hermann von Helmholtz: Human physiology is subject to the laws of nature

Question 8

2. Localisation of specific brain functions

Answer 8

1. Muller: proposed the law of specific nerve energies
2. Flourens: experimental ablations, lower brain = vital bodily functions, cerebellum = coordination and motor skills
   3.Broca: damage to the left pre frontal cortex caused difficulties in language production
3. Fritz and Hitzig: muscle contractions were contralateral to brain hemisphere

Question 9

3. The neuron

Answer 9

1. Golgi: invented staining technique and proposed reticular theory
2. Ramon y cajal: neural circuitry of brain regions and wrote the ‘neuron doctrine’

Question 10

4. Evolution of the brain

Answer 10

1. Darwin: Natural selection and evolution theory, gradual change in structure

Question 11

Key Features of a Vertebrate Brain

Answer 11

1. Forebrain
2. Midbrain
   3.Hindbrain
   + specialised in distinct ways in response to their environment

Question 12

Neocortex development

Answer 12

• Size increased in primates
• Flexible and infinite learning abilities
  -Reflects growing complexity of social lives
  -Growth of certain parts of cerebral cortex

Question 13

Prefrontal cortex development

Answer 13

-Developed greatly in primates
-Other species = voluntary motor control
-Humans = unparallel planning and abstract reasoning abilities

Question 14

Human Brain

Answer 14

• Larger volumes of white matter in PFC
• White matter = connectivity between PFC and the rest of the brain which is vital for WM functioning

Question 15

Why is increased folding of CC beneficial

Answer 15

• Folding = cortical surface area to fit inside the skull
  -Allows for better organisation of complex behaviours
• major factor in brain evolution

Question 16

Triune Brain Theory
Paul Maclean 1960’s

Answer 16

• Three distinct brans emerged through evolution which co-inhabit the human skull
  1. Reptilian Brain
  2. Limbic Brain (paleomammalian)
  3. Neocortex (neo mammalian)

Question 17

The Three Brains

Answer 17

1. Oldest part, 300 million yrs
   -main structures found: brainstem and cerebellum
   - regulating and surviving, vital functions, instinctive and automatic
2. Emerged in the first mammals
   - Limbic system, feeling centre
   -Main structures: hippocampus and amygdala
   -Helps the internal state of the body constant, hunger/ sweating
   -controls emotions
3. Emerged in primates but its most important in humans
   - The thinking brain
   -Moderator, reining instinct and emotional responses
   -Allows for cooperatiom
   -Development of language

Question 18

Cons of the theory

Answer 18

• The brain did not evolve in successive stages
  -These brains do not operate independently
  -Numerous interconnections throughout regions which influence eachother
  -Theory is not widely accepted today

Question 19

Animal studies

Answer 19

• Development of new surgical techniques
  -Development of vaccines
  -Insulin discovery and diabetes research
  -Antibiotic development
  -20 million animal subjects per year

Question 20

Issues with animal research

Answer 20

• unpredictable translation of animal models to humans
• study design and data analysis
  -Heterogeneity of animals and humans
  -Translation of preclinical animal trials to human clinics

Question 21

Pound et al (2006)
key methodological issues with animal research

Answer 21

-Different models for inducing illness or injury with varying similarity to the human condition
-Variations in drug dosing schedules and regimens
-Variability in the way animals are selected for study methods: randomisation
-Small experimental groups with inadequate power
-

Question 22

Key Fact

Answer 22

Less than 60% of studies reported:
- A clear rationale or hypothesis
-A minimum of three animal characteristics
-The number of animals used

Question 23

Russel and Burch (1959)
The Three R’s

Answer 23

Replacement
Reduction
Refinement

Question 24

Replacement

Answer 24

• Encourages using non-animal alternatives whenever possible
  -Examples:
  -In vitro studies instead of live animal testing
• Computer models and stimulations
  -Using human volunteers in microdosing studies

Question 25

Reduction

Answer 25

- Aims to minimise the number of animals used in research while still obtaining reliable results Examples: - Improving experimental design to require fewer animals -Using statistical methods to maximise data from fewer subjects - Sharing data to avoid unnecessary duplication of experiments

Question 26

Refinement

Answer 26

- Focuses on minimising suffering and improving animal welfare during experiments - examples: -Using better pain management and anaesthesia - Using less invasive procedures whenever possible

Question 27

Why are the three R's Useful

Answer 27

- Promote ethical and humane research -improve the quality and reliability of scientific data -Reduce unnecessary animal suffering whilst maintaining scientific progress