The Brain and Nervous System
By Rachel Inskip
November 2017
Terms of Reference
A report submitted for Unit 10 regarding the functioning if the brain and nervous system in relation to psychology. The purpose of this report is to cover the major structures and functions of the brain and how we study the brain. There will be a dissuasion regarding the differences between the central and peripheral nervous system, the different neurotransmitters and the differences between Glial cells and Neurones.
Contents
Discussion
There are various ways to study the brain and they have become more advanced in the recent years and with no need for invasive surgery we are able to fully map the brain and gain an understanding of how and which parts of the brain
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These X-rays show the structures of the brain and are very useful for showing abnormalities in the structures such as swelling and enlargement of certain parts. But it does not provide information about brain activity.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) produces a strong magnetic field and then the person's head is positioned in the field. The radio waves that are then directed at the brain cause the hydrogen atoms to emit signals, which are interpreted by a computer. The details you can get from a MRI are better than a CAT scan, because it can distinguish between closely related brain structures.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) shows the biochemical activity within the brain. A PET scan begins with an ingestion of a radioactive isotope which attaches to one of the body’s natural compounds such as glucose, which makes its way to the brain. The computer then measures the location of radiation within the brain and determines which are the more active regions. The technique is good to provide a picture of brain's
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Nodes are placed around the head and the responding electrical charges are recorded. The EEG can detect minute electrical activities of the brain cells during sleep, arousal and activity. The brain parts having greatest electrical activity can be linked with behaviours and sensations of the body. The EEG is widely used in sleep research.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging, (fMRI) works by detecting the changes in blood oxygenation and flow that occur in response to neural activity and is a combination of PET and MRI. fMRI gives the best possible picture of the brain and can be used to produce activation maps showing which parts of the brain are involved in a mental process.
All of these brain imaging techniques are an excellent way to gain insight into the way our brains and nervous systems govern our behaviour and emotions. They also give great images of the structures of the brain. Two of the major structures are the cerebral cortex and the limbic system.
The limbic system is a complex set of structures that lies on both sides of the thalamus, just under the cerebrum. It includes the hippocampus, the amygdala, the Mamillary Body and several other nearby areas. It appears to be primarily responsible for our emotional life, and has a lot to do with the formation of