PSYC1020 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Parasympathetic Nervous System, Sympathetic Nervous System, Autonomic Nervous System
Document Summary
Central nervous system - brain and spinal cord. Controls heart-rate, respiration, regulation of blood pressure, body temperature. Relays signals from the cerebral cortex to the cerebellum. Some nerves to the face for some facial expressions and eye movements. Severe damage to upper brain (hemispheres and cortex) If brainstem is not damaged, autonomic nervous system functions can remain. Sometimes normal respiration, control of heart rate, some face and eye movements remain. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or motor neuron disease - loss of motor neurons to spinal cord. Intact cerebrum and brainstem, but disconnected from spinal cord. Normal cognitive function, vision and hearing, but patients cannot move. Patients may be fully conscious and aware, but totally unresponsive. Locked-in patients appear the same as those with persistent vegetative state. Sense of balance and coordination of complex movement. Motor learning - fine adjustment of movement based on feedback. Primary motor cortex activity leads to movement (muscle contraction)
