Brain Structures and Function (Abnormal Psychology)

involved in implicit learning, reflex conditioning, timing, balancing, and coordinating movements

has role in controlling cardiac, respiratory, and blood pressure functions

relays sensory input for reflexes (orienting movements of the head)
includes the superior (visual) and inferior (auditory) colliculi
includes the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the substantia nigra, both nuclei produce dopamine

relays motor and sensory information b/w hemispheres and b/w cortex and brain stem, divided into many nuclei, each playing special roles (visual, auditory, motor)

supports basic functions such as temperature regulations and the four Fs, controls the pituitary gland, regulating hormone release associated with behaviors and emotions

motor nuclei that include the Caudate, Putamen, and Globus Pallidus; allows for the initiation and termination of movements and their force

circuitry involved in memory and emotion, formation of memories and their association with emotion

motor

touch and body position

memory, language, auditory

visual processing

learning and memory
low: Alzheimer’s
drugs: Cognex (agonist, inhibits breakdown)

regulation of mood and eating
low: depression
drugs: Prozac (reuptake inhibitor)

alertness and wakefulness
low: depression
drugs: Elavil (reuptake inhibitor)

motor control in basal ganglia
low: Parkinson’s
drugs: L-DOPA (promotes synthesis, agonist)

reasoning and perception in limbic system
high: schizophrenia
drugs: Haldol (antagonist, blocks post-synaptic receptors