Brain and Behaviour

Prepared By: Sharad Agarwal

The Neuraxis
Dorsal Anterior
Ventral

Posterior

The Neuraxis
Dorsal Anterior

Ventral

Dorsal

Posterior

A few definitions
Dorsal (back) refers to the top of the head and the back The ventral (front) surface faces the ground These directions are somewhat more complicated in humans because our neuraxis bends, so that the top of the head is now perpendicular to the back

A few definitions
Slices of the brain Transversely, like a loaf of bread - also called frontal or cross sections Parallel to the ground, giving us horizontal sections Perpendicular to the ground and parallel to the neuraxis - sagittal section - midsagittal plane divides the brain in half along the longitudinal fissure Because of our upright posture, cross sections of our spinal cord are actually parallel to the ground

Transverse/ Cross section

Horizontal section Sagittal section

Brain anatomy

The Brainstem
Consists of all structures from the thalamus to the spinal cord Regulatory functions: Eating, drinking, body temperature, sleep and waking, basic movement and learning Generally speaking, these structures rule functions that are hard-wired, automatic, and not very plastic

The Brainstem

The Brainstem
Thalamus: A relay centre for sensory information (touch, vision, hearing); located near the middle of the cerebral hemispheres.
Fibres project to primary sensory areas in neocortex There are separate nuclei for vision, touch, hearing Not a passive structure because the majority (80%) of its connections are not from sensory neurons, but from the neocortex (including motor areas).

The Limbic Cortex

Developmental origin is earlier
Primarily known for its role in emotion, (emotional) learning and memory Also plays a role in spatial learning and olfaction (memories of odour)

The Limbic Cortex

The Chemical Synapse

A (chemical/electrical) device that connects
axon of neuron A to dendrites of neuron B

Dendrites of neuron B

Axon of neuron A
(note varicosities)

A chemical synapse
formed between axons and dendrites

Synapse (with gap)

Axonal terminal (pre-synaptic) Dendritic spine (post-synaptic)

Typical morphology of a neuron

axon dendrites nodes of Ranvier soma Inter-node myelin Axon terminals (pre-synaptic site)

axon initial segment (AIS) HOT region generating spikes

no myelin

Poliak & Peles Nature Reviews Neuroscience 4, 968-980 (December 2003)

Neurons communicate with each other primarily through synapses

The chemical synapse

SPIKE at axon (digital - all or none)

Spiny dendrite
Axon cell A (small vesicles)

axon

Spine: cell B

excitatory synapse

Excitatory synaptic potential (analog/graded)

The Chemical Synapse

Axon of Cell A Cell A Dendrite of Cell B

When two cells fire together the synapse between them strengthens
Vesicles containing neurotransmitter molecules Receptors binding neurotransmitter

Intracellular injection of Lucifer Yellow in fixed cortical tissue Human pyramidal neuron from the neocortex

1 mspines m
Layer II

20 mm

Spines

Courtesy of Javier DeFelipe, University Madrid

Layer V

The Chemical Synapse

A (chemical/electrical) device that connects
axon of neuron A to dendrites of neuron B

Dendrites of neuron B

Axon of neuron A
(note varicosities)

A chemical synapse
formed between axons and dendrites

Synapse (with gap)

Axonal terminal (pre-synaptic) Dendritic spine (post-synaptic)

The chemical synapse

SPIKE at axon (digital - all or none)

Spiny dendrite
Axon cell A (small vesicles)

axon

Spine: cell B

excitatory synapse

Excitatory synaptic potential (analog/graded)

The Chemical Synapse

Axon of Cell A Cell A Dendrite of Cell B

When two cells fire together the synapse between them strengthens
Vesicles containing neurotransmitter molecules Receptors binding neurotransmitter

Motor function