BMS1052 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Macular Degeneration, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor
5 May 2018
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Lecture 1
Unit objectives
1. Describe the organisation, development, function and manipulation of the nervous
system, focusing on the domains of neuronal communication, sensing the internal
and external environments and controlling movement
2. Explain the relationship between the brain, perception and behaviour, and the
societal impact of neuroscience
3. Perform scientific experiments following established protocols, and analyse,
interpret and present the associated experimental data
4. Recognise and characterise the variability in biological systems through hands-on
experimentation
5. Develop organisational, communication and time management skills, and apply
them to working co-operatively in a team environment
6. Recognise the ethical and legal factors affecting the scientific use of animals
Fundamental role of the nervous system – monitor internal environment (our body)
and the external environment, and generate behaviour and movements than
continue our survival. That could be eating, reproducing, staying warm, running
away from predators, studying hard to pass exams.
Consider Parkinsons disease – characterised by tremors, loss of ability to initiate
movements, cognitive decline. We know this is associated with the death of a very specific
type of cell – ut we an’t prevent this death – we can only temporarily replace the
neurotransmitter that they produce.
Depression – SSRI and cognitive behaviour therapy – in a lot of cases, they work and they
work well – but they address the symptoms
Autism, alzheimers, macular degeneration, short-sightedness, migraine headaches –
mechanisms mostly unknown – at least to the level that adequate treatments are available.
There are 100,000,000 neurons in the human brain, and ten times as many other cells.
We consciously perceive all these unique sensations – vision, touch, hearing – but the
signals in the brain are primarily electrical and chemical. i.e. the brain treats all of these
stimuli the same
o 1. Foundations
o Types of cell in the brain
o Electrical and chemical communication between cells
o Organisation of the brain
o 2. Sensory systems
o Vision / audition / touch / taste / smell
o i.e. responding to external stimulation
o 3. Motor systems
o Converting an electrical signal in a nerve into a contraction
o Initiating, planning and refining movements
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Fundamental role of the nervous system monitor internal environment (our body) and the external environment, and generate behaviour and movements than continue our survival. That could be eating, reproducing, staying warm, running away from predators, studying hard to pass exams. Consider parkinsons disease characterised by tremors, loss of ability to initiate movements, cognitive decline. We know this is associated with the death of a very specific type of cell (cid:271)ut we (cid:272)an"t prevent this death we can only temporarily replace the neurotransmitter that they produce. Depression ssri and cognitive behaviour therapy in a lot of cases, they work and they work well but they address the symptoms. Autism, alzheimers, macular degeneration, short-sightedness, migraine headaches mechanisms mostly unknown at least to the level that adequate treatments are available. There are 100,000,000 neurons in the human brain, and ten times as many other cells.
