BIOL 1080 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Positron Emission Tomography, Methylphenidate
Document Summary
Evidence: differe(cid:374)t areas of the (cid:271)rai(cid:374) are (cid:858)(cid:374)etworked(cid:859) to (cid:272)reate our perso(cid:374)ality. Phineas p. gage: tamping rod blew through orbital bone, under his eye, and he lived. Recovery: he was physically fine, no health issues. Became obnoxious, grossly profane, no longer like himself (used to be model citizen) Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fmri): tracks blood flow. Even though the brain has been segregated, it has been found to have lots of function overlap between sections. Hypothalamus, locus coeruleus, cerebellum, and thalamus are all involved in neurotransmitter driven networks. Antidepressants: increase serotonin levels; depression and migraines are associated with low serotonin. Motor control is controlled by dopamine (why parkinsons patients lose motor control) Treatment includes cholinesterase inhibitors (this enzyme breaks down acetylcholine, inhibiting it would increase acetylcholine levels) Dopamine is increased by addictive drugs (cocaine), natural endorphins, food. Prefrontal cortex = area where dopamine signal is processed as pleasure. Gaba: inhibitory neuron (inhibits dopamine); impinges the neuron after the synapse.
