Chapter 15: Chemical Control of the Brain and Behavior

1. Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain, 4e Chapter 15: Chemical Control of the Brain and Behavior

2. Introduction • Synaptic connections • Point to point • Restrict synaptic communication • Brain areas with expanded influence in space and time • Secretory hypothalamus • Autonomic nervous system (ANS) • Diffuse modulatory systems

3. The Secretory Hypothalamus • Function • Differences between hypothalamus and dorsal thalamus • Hypothalamus defects • Often fatal disruption to body functions • Dorsal thalamus defects • Discrete sensory or motor deficit

4. The Secretory Hypothalamus—(cont.) • Homeostasis • Regulatory processes: regulates body temperature and blood composition • Hypothalamus commands in cold weather. • Shiver, goose bumps, turn blue • Hypothalamus commands in hot weather. • Turn red, sweat

5. Functional Zones of the Hypothalamus

6. Two neurohormones Oxytocin Lactation, suppress hypothalamic function. Vasopressin Regulates blood volume and salt concentration The Pituitary

7. Communication between Kidneys and the Brain

8. Hypothalamic Control of the Anterior Pituitary • Controlled by parvocellular neurosecretory cells • Secrete hypophysiotropic hormones • Hypothalamo-pituitary portal circulation • Pituitary cells secrete or stop secreting hormones.

9. Stress Response • Periventricular hypothalamus secretes CRH into portal circulation. • ACTH released into circulation • ACTH stimulates cortisol release from adrenal cortex.

10. Divisions of Autonomic Nervous System • Sympathetic division: “fight or flight” • Increased heart rate and blood pressure • Depressed digestive function • Mobilized glucose reserves • Parasympathetic division • Slower heart rate, fall in blood pressure • Increased digestive functions • Stop sweating

11. ANS Circuits versus Somatic Motor System

12. Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Divisions

13. The Enteric Division • Location: lining of esophagus, stomach, intestines, pancreas, and gallbladder • Two complicated networks: myenteric(Auerbach's) plexus and submucous(Meissner's) plexus • Function: control physiological processes involved in transport, digestion of food • Input indirectly from brain via axons of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions

14. Central Control of the ANS • Connections for autonomic control • Periventricular zone connections to brain stem and spinal cord nuclei • Nucleus of solitary tract • Function of solitary nucleus • Integrates sensory information from internal organs and coordinates output to autonomic brain stem nuclei

15. Neurotransmitters • Neurotransmitters and the pharmacology of autonomic function • ANS better understood than the CNS—e.g., drug mechanisms influencing synaptic transmission • Preganglionic neurotransmitters • ACh binds to nAChR, evokes fast EPSP. • Ganglionic ACh activates mAChR, causes slow EPSPs and IPSPs. • Some preganglionic terminals release NPY, VIP— trigger small EPSPs.

16. Postganglionic Neurotransmitters • Parasympathetic: release Ach • Local effect • Sympathetic: most release NE • Far-reaching effects • Parasympathomimetic: mimic or promote muscarinic actions of ACh or inhibit actions of NE • Sympathomimetic: mimic or promote NE actions or inhibit muscarinic actions of ACh

17. The Diffuse Modulatory Systems of the Brain • Anatomy and functions differ: • Four systems with common principles • Small set of neurons at core • Neurons arise from brain stem. • One neuron influences many others. • Synapses release transmitter molecules into extracellular fluid.

18. The Noradrenergic Locus Coeruleus

19. The Noradrenergic Locus Coeruleus—(cont.) • Path: Axons innervate cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, olfactory bulb, cerebellum, midbrain, and spinal cord. • Function: regulation of attention, arousal, sleep–wake cycles, learning and memory, anxiety and pain, mood, brain metabolism • Activation: new, unexpected, nonpainful sensory stimuli

20. The Serotonergic Raphe Nuclei

21. The Serotonergic Raphe Nuclei • Path: innervate many of the same areas as noradrenergic system • Function: together with noradrenergic system, comprise the ascending reticular activating system • Particularly involved in sleep–wake cycles, mood • Other transmitters involved in coordination • Most active during wakefulness, when aroused and active

22. Dopaminergic Substantia Nigra and Ventral Tegmental Area

23. Dopaminergic Substantia Nigra and Ventral Tegmental Area—(cont.) • Substantia nigra • Axons project to the striatum. • Facilitates the initiation of voluntary movements (degeneration causes Parkinson’s disease) • Ventral tegmental area • Innervates circumscribed region of telencephalon • Mesocorticolimbic dopamine system: dopaminergic projection from midbrain

24. The Cholinergic Diffuse Modulatory Systems

25. Cholinergic Systems • Basal forebrain complex • Core of telencephalon, medial and ventral to basal ganglia • Function: mostly unknown, participates in learning and memory • Pontomesencephalotegmental complex • Utilizes ACh • Function: regulates excitability of thalamic sensory relay nuclei

26. Drugs and the Diffuse Modulatory Systems • Psychoactive drugs act on CNS. • Interfere with chemical synaptic transmission • Many drugs of abuse act on modulatory systems. • LSD, Psilocybe mushrooms, and peyote close to structure of serotonin. • Cocaine and amphetamine affect dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems - sympathomimetic

27. Stimulant Drug Action on Catecholamine Axon Terminal • Stimulants: block catecholamine reuptake • Cocaine targets DA reuptake. • Amphetamine blocks NE and DA reuptake and stimulates DA release.

28. Concluding Remarks • Three components of nervous system with great reach of influences: • Secretory hypothalamus (all over the body) • Autonomic nervous system (all over the body) • Diffuse modulatory systems (all over the brain) • At detailed level • Each system performs different functions. • At general level • All work maintain brain homeostasis.