PSYC 1100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Nucleus Accumbens, Motor Cortex, Lateral Ventricles
Document Summary
Nucleus accumbens: pleasure area, good times, success, cocaine, dopamine. If damaged, could affect short- or long-term memory. Lateral ventricle: fluid filled cavities, cerebral/spinal fluid, cleansing part of brain. Hypothalamus: below thalamus, very small but potent, appetite, temperature, fluid, sexual regulation. Left hemisphere section controls right side of body. Myelin sheaths: electrical impulses travel from one neuron to another across a small junction called synapse. Glutamate: major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved with memory, malfunctions: oversupply can overstimulate brain, producing migraines or seizures (some people avoid msg) Gaba (gamma aminobutyric acrid): a major inhibitory neurotransmitter, undersupply. Agonist facilitate transmission: nicotine increases dopamine release at synapse, cocaine blocks reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, thc enhances release of dopamine in nucleus accumbens. Antagonist inhibit transmission: curare block ach transmission at neuro-muscular junction. Nature: tendency to be governed more by reflexive actions, ex. Fight, flight, impulsive approach: ancient system dominates, hundreds of millions of years old.
