PSYC121 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Substantia Nigra, Vasomotor Center, Reticular Formation
Document Summary
Lecture 11 - the nervous system and its role in behaviour. Lateralization - the tendency for some neural functions or cognitive processes to be specialised in one hemisphere rather than the other. The midbrain maintains consciousness and regulates activity states. It also controls the vasomotor centre and integrates vestibular and motor signals. Involved with orienting to audio (hearing) and visual (vision) stimuli. It includes the substantia nigra, which deteriorates with. The forebrain controls complex emotional reactions, thought processed and movement patterns. About the size and shape of a walnut. It relays sensory information to higher brain centres. It is essentially a switchboard for sensory information. During sleep the reticular formation inhibits the relay neurons (via gaba) to the thalamus. This causes the thalamus to switch states - from tonic relay to burst firing. It produces endorphins and controls the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. It regulates: eating, sleeping, sexual activity, emotional experience.
