Neurobiology Content Outline
Nervous System
Physical divisions of brain, brain stem, spinal cord and nerves
Orientation: conventions of direction and planes
Brain imaging
Anatomy and Function
Protective case of Skull, Meninges, Ventricles, and Vascular system
Somatic and autonomic nervous systems
Nerve cells: physiology and function
Structure of cells: factory, walls, nucleus
Signals: conduction and transmission
Electrical signals: ions, resting potential, graded potentials and action potentials
Nerve impulse, conduction and myelin insulation
Neurotransmitters: chemical connections, local and remote
Varieties of synapses
Classes of neurotransmitters
Excitation and inhibition
Growth and development
Sensory Processing: Touch, Pain, Hearing, Vestibular perception, Taste, Smell, Vision
Conciousness, knowledge
Object recognition, spatial cognition, attention, planning, imitation, understanding
Processing information: thinking, memory, intelligence, creativity
Brain plasticity, synaptic changes and structural reconfiguration
Outputs: motor and control of actions
Regulatory and non regulatory behavior
Motor system: motor cortex, corticospinal tracts, motor neurons, control of muscles
Initiation of movement
Skilled movements and coordination
Basal ganglia
Reproductive and sexual behavior
Drives and behavior
Homeostasis: regulation of internal status
Breathing
Temperature
Fluid regulation
Eating, food and energy regulation
Rhythms, wakefulness, sleep and dreaming
Biological circadian rhythms, clocks
Emotions, aggression and stress
Neuroanatomy of motivated behavior
Hypothalamic, limbic, and executive functions from frontal lobes
Amygdala, prefrontal and emotional behavior
Biological basis of behavior and disorders
