🧠 PSYP610 Complete Flowchart Guide

Neurological Bases of Behavior β€’ Chapters 19-45 β€’ Interactive Visual Learning

🧬

Neural Development (Chapters 19-23)

🌱 Complete Neural Development Pathway
Stage 1 πŸ₯š
Fertilization
Egg + Sperm β†’ Zygote
⬇️
πŸ“‹
Ectoderm
β†’ Nervous System, Skin
🧬
Mesoderm
β†’ Muscles, Bones
πŸ«€
Endoderm
β†’ Internal Organs
⬇️
Day 17 ⚑
Notochord Formation
Mesoderm attaches to Ectoderm
⬇️
Day 17-18 πŸ“‹
Neural Plate
Bulb-like head end forms β†’ Forebrain & Eye cups
⬇️
Day 18 🌊
Neural Groove
Sides rise, center deepens
⬇️
Day 21 πŸŒ€
Neural Tube
Primary Neurulation β†’ Brain & Spinal Cord
⬇️
🧠
Forebrain
Telencephalon + Diencephalon
⚑
Midbrain
Mesencephalon
🦴
Hindbrain
Metencephalon + Myelencephalon

🚢 Cell Migration: Inside-Out Process

🏠 Ventricular Zone (Inside)
  • Cells actively dividing
  • Source of all neurons
  • 20,000 neurons/minute!
🧠 Middle Layer
  • Cell bodies form grey matter
  • Cells stop dividing here
  • Same cells as adult brain
πŸ•³οΈ Cell-Free Zone (Outside)
  • Contains fiber processes
  • Dendrites & axons grow here
  • Synapses form

πŸ”‘ Critical Developmental Processes

Cell Proliferation πŸ“ˆ β†’ Cell Migration 🚢 β†’ Maturation 🌱 β†’ Interconnection πŸ”— β†’ Cell Death πŸ’€ (only fittest survive!)

βš”οΈ Cell Competition & Survival

Cells compete for limited resources. Those who fail to form connections DIE! Initial cell number is 40Γ— more than adult brain. Cell death ensures only efficient neurons survive.

⏰ Critical/Sensitive Periods

πŸ“… 10-18 Weeks Gestation

Maximum brain cell formation. Sensitive to radiation ☒️, chromosomal anomalies, viral infections 🦠

πŸ“… 30 Weeks - 2 Years Post-Partum

Sensitivity to malnutrition effects. Irreversible damage to cell size, connections, myelination

πŸ“… Environmental Influences

Oxygen levels, motor stimulation, drugs, nutrition all affect development during critical periods

🧠

Brain Neuroanatomy (Chapters 24-29)

πŸ›οΈ Complete Brain Structure Hierarchy
πŸ”Œ
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Brain + Spinal Cord | 10-12 billion neurons
⬇️
πŸ”
FOREBRAIN
Newest, Higher Functions
πŸ”„
MIDBRAIN
Relay Station
πŸ”™
HINDBRAIN
Primitive, Survival
πŸ”¬

Cell Types & Cortical Layers

🧫 Types of Cells in the Nervous System

🧠
Neurons
Signal transmission, 10-12 billion in brain
⭐
Astrocytes
Blood-brain barrier, nutrient supply
🧬
Oligodendrocytes
Myelin sheath formation (CNS)
πŸ”¬
Microglia
Clean debris, immune function
πŸ‘Ύ
Phagocytes
Eat dead cells (Pac-man!)

πŸ”€ Types of Neurons

β‘  Unipolar
  • One process from cell body
  • Extends to both ends
  • Quick communication
β‘‘ Bipolar
  • Two poles: axon + dendrite
  • Horizontal communication
  • Found in eye πŸ‘οΈ, ear πŸ‘‚
β‘’ Multipolar (Most Common)
  • One axon + multiple dendrites
  • Pyramidal cells
  • Interneurons

πŸ“š Six Layers of Cerebral Cortex (Neocortex)

Layer Name Cell Types Function Migration
I 🌐 Molecular Layer Few interneurons, glial Fiber network Oldest
II πŸ”΅ External Granular Small/medium pyramidal Dense packing 5th wave
III πŸ”Ί External Pyramidal Pyramidal cells (increasing size) Cortical connections 4th wave
IV πŸ”Ά Internal Granular Stellate, granular Thalamocortical input 3rd wave
V πŸ”» Internal Pyramidal Large pyramidal, Betz cells Output to subcortical 2nd wave
VI 🌈 Multiform Varying shapes/sizes Corticothalamic 1st wave

πŸ“‹ Key Cell Types in Cortex

Pyramidal Cells πŸ”Ί - Long axons, send signals to distant areas | Granule Cells πŸ”΅ - Short axons, local processing | Stellate Cells ⭐ - Star-shaped interneurons

πŸ›‘οΈ Brain Protection Layers

πŸ’€
Skull (Cranium)
Outer bony protection
⬇️
πŸ’ͺ
Dura Mater
"Tough Mother" - outer meninx
⬇️
πŸ•ΈοΈ
Arachnoid Membrane
Web-like, contains CSF
⬇️
🌸
Pia Mater
"Soft Mother" - innermost, covers every groove
⬇️
🧠
Brain Tissue
Grey + White Matter
πŸ§ͺ

Basic Neurochemistry (Chapters 30-36)

⚑ Complete Synaptic Transmission Process
Step 1 🏭
Synthesis
NT made from precursors
⬇️
Step 2 πŸŽ’
Storage
Packed in vesicles
⬇️
Step 3 πŸ“€
Release
Exocytosis (Ca²⁺ triggered)
⬇️
Step 4 πŸ”—
Binding
NT binds to receptors
⬇️
Step 5 ⚑
Action
EPSP βœ… or IPSP 🚫
⬇️
Step 6 🧹
Inactivation
Reuptake ♻️ or Degradation βš—οΈ

πŸ”‹ Resting & Action Potential

😴 Resting Potential
  • Membrane at -70 mV
  • Inside negative, outside positive
  • K⁺ inside, Na⁺ outside
  • Anions (A⁻) trapped inside
⚑ Action Potential
  • Threshold reached β†’ +50 mV
  • Na⁺ rushes in (depolarization)
  • All-or-none phenomenon
  • Lasts ~1/1000th second
βš™οΈ Na⁺/K⁺ Pump
  • Pumps 3 Na⁺ out, 2 K⁺ in
  • Uses 40% cell energy!
  • Restores resting potential
  • Active transport

πŸ“Š Ion Concentrations

IonInsideOutsideMovement
Na⁺ (large)50460Impermeable at rest
K⁺ (small)40010Moves in/out
Cl⁻ (small)40560Moves in/out
A⁻ (large)3450Trapped inside
πŸ’Š

Neurotransmitters & Their Functions

πŸ“Š Neurotransmitter Classification
πŸ§ͺ
MONOAMINES
Single amine group
⬇️
πŸ’Ž
Catecholamines
DA, NE, Epinephrine
πŸ’œ
Indolamine
Serotonin (5-HT)

πŸ§ͺ Major Neurotransmitters

😊 Dopamine (DA)
  • Pathways: Nigrostriatal, Mesolimbic, Tuberoinfundibular
  • Functions: Motor control, reward, motivation
  • Receptors: D1 (excitatory), D2 (inhibitory)
  • ⬇️ Low: Parkinson's disease
  • ⬆️ High: Schizophrenia symptoms
πŸ’œ Serotonin (5-HT)
  • Origin: Raphe nuclei
  • Functions: Mood, sleep, temperature
  • ⬇️ Low: Depression, insomnia
  • LSD: Acts on 5-HT system
  • PCPA: Depletes serotonin
🎯 Acetylcholine (ACh)
  • First NT discovered (1920s)
  • Receptors: Nicotinic, Muscarinic
  • Functions: Memory, muscle control
  • ⬇️ Low: Alzheimer's disease
  • Curare: Blocks at NMJ
⚑ Norepinephrine (NE)
  • Origin: Locus coeruleus
  • Functions: Arousal, alertness, stress
  • Fight-or-flight response
  • ⬇️ Low: Depression
⚑ Glutamate
  • Main excitatory NT
  • Found throughout brain
  • Receptors: NMDA, AMPA, Kainate
  • Important for learning
πŸ›‘ GABA
  • Main inhibitory NT
  • 10-15Γ— more than DA, NE, 5-HT
  • Benzodiazepines: Enhance GABA
  • ⬇️ Low: Epilepsy, Huntington's

πŸ’Š Drug Interactions at Synapse

Agonists βœ…: Mimic or enhance NT action (Amphetamine, Cocaine, L-Dopa)

Antagonists 🚫: Block NT action (Curare, Atropine, Haloperidol)

Reuptake Blockers: Keep NT in synapse longer (Tricyclics, SSRIs)

βš–οΈ

Homeostasis & Motivated Behaviors (Chapters 37-42)

βš–οΈ What is Homeostasis?

Balance and optimal functioning systems maintained for organism survival. Feed-forward and feedback systems constantly monitor and adjust internal environment.

⚠️

Related Disorders & Conditions

🀲 Parkinson's Disease
  • Cause: DA degeneration in Substantia Nigra
  • Symptoms: Tremor, rigidity, slow movement
  • NT: Dopamine ⬇️
  • Treatment: L-Dopa πŸ’Š
🧠 Alzheimer's Disease
  • Cause: ACh neuron degeneration
  • Symptoms: Memory loss, cognitive decline
  • NT: Acetylcholine ⬇️
  • Treatment: Cholinesterase inhibitors
πŸ’ƒ Huntington's Chorea
  • Cause: Basal ganglia degeneration
  • Symptoms: Jerky movements, tics, grimaces
  • NT: GABA ⬇️
  • Genetic: Hereditary condition
🧠πŸ’₯ Schizophrenia
  • Theory: Dopamine hypothesis
  • Symptoms: Hallucinations, delusions
  • NT: Dopamine ⬆️ (mesolimbic)
  • Treatment: Antipsychotics (D2 blockers)
😒 Depression
  • Theory: Monoamine hypothesis
  • NT: Serotonin ⬇️, NE ⬇️
  • Treatment: SSRIs, MAOIs, Tricyclics
  • Evidence: Low 5-HIAA in suicide victims
πŸ” Obesity
  • Factors: Genetic, metabolic, behavioral
  • Brain: VMH dysfunction
  • Metabolism: Basal rate differences
  • Treatment: Diet, exercise, surgery
🚫🍽️ Anorexia Nervosa
  • Characteristics: Self-starvation
  • Affected: Mostly young females
  • Brain: Enlarged sulci, DA/NE changes
  • Treatment: Fenfluramine
🚢❌ Cerebellar Ataxia
  • Cause: Cerebellum damage
  • Symptoms: Unsteady gait, poor coordination
  • Signs: Nystagmus, overshooting
  • Affects: Standing, walking, movement

☠️ Teratogenic Effects (Developmental Damage)

Substances: Thalidomide, alcohol 🍷, nicotine 🚬, cocaine, morphine

Results: Birth defects, mental retardation, organ malformations

Critical Period: First trimester most vulnerable

🎯

Higher Brain Functions (Chapters 43-45)

πŸ§ β†”οΈπŸ§  Cerebral Hemispheric Specialization

πŸ§ β¬…οΈ Left Hemisphere
  • Language: Speech, reading, writing
  • Broca's Area: Speech production
  • Wernicke's Area: Comprehension
  • Analytical: Logic, math
  • Controls: Right side of body
🧠➑️ Right Hemisphere
  • Spatial: Visual-spatial processing
  • Holistic: Gestalt, patterns
  • Emotional: Facial recognition
  • Musical: Melody, rhythm
  • Controls: Left side of body

βœ‚οΈ Split-Brain Studies (Commissurotomy)

Researchers: Sperry, Gazzaniga, Milner

Procedure: Corpus callosum severed - hemispheres can't communicate

HEART Test: "HE" shown to left hemisphere (verbal report) | "ART" shown to right (picked by hand)

πŸ’Ύ Memory Systems

πŸ’Ύ
MEMORY
⬇️
⚑
Short-Term
Working memory, seconds-minutes
πŸ“š
Long-Term
Permanent storage
⬇️
πŸ“–
Declarative
Facts, events (explicit)
🚴
Procedural
Skills, habits (implicit)

🌊 Hippocampus: Memory Consolidation

Essential for forming new long-term memories. Bilateral damage β†’ Severe amnesia (both recent and long-term affected)

πŸ”„ Brain Plasticity & Neurogenesis

🌱 Adult Neurogenesis
  • New neurons CAN grow in adults!
  • Hippocampus: 2000 cells/hour during learning
  • Birds: Song areas grow before mating
  • Stem cells: Hope for brain repair
🎻 Experience-Dependent Changes
  • Violin players: Larger finger areas
  • Enriched environments: More dendrites
  • Cortical reorganization with experience
  • Use it or lose it principle
πŸ“‹

Quick Reference Summary

🧠 Key Brain Areas & Functions

Brain Area Location Main Functions Related Disorders
Cerebral Cortex Outer brain Higher functions, thinking Stroke, TBI
Hippocampus Temporal lobe Memory formation Amnesia, Alzheimer's
Amygdala Temporal lobe Fear, emotions Kluver-Bucy syndrome
Hypothalamus Diencephalon Homeostasis, survival Eating disorders
Thalamus Diencephalon Sensory relay Sensory deficits
Basal Ganglia Forebrain Motor control Parkinson's, Huntington's
Cerebellum Hindbrain Coordination, balance Ataxia
Brain Stem Hindbrain Vital functions Coma, death

πŸ§ͺ Neurotransmitter Quick Guide

NT Type Key Functions Too Low Too High
Dopamine Catecholamine Motor, reward, mood Parkinson's Schizophrenia
Serotonin Indolamine Mood, sleep, appetite Depression Serotonin syndrome
ACh Cholinergic Memory, muscles Alzheimer's Muscle spasms
NE Catecholamine Arousal, alertness Depression Anxiety
Glutamate Amino acid Excitation, learning Cognitive issues Excitotoxicity
GABA Amino acid Inhibition, calm Epilepsy, anxiety Sedation
⬆️