Physiological Model Overview
From the abstract
:
pleasure centers in the brain agonistically motivate behavior,
i.e. physiological substrate of positive reinforcers in the behavioral model
pain centers in the brain antagonistically motivate behavior, i.e.
physiological substrate of negative reinforcers in the behavioral model
Basic Nervous System Organization
The nervous system consists of central and peripheral components. The central
nervous system - CNS includes the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral
nervous system - PNS includes all the other nerves found in the body.
Functions of the CNS
The CNS in its unconscious areas of the medulla and cerebellum in control of
many reflex actions and involuntary functions of the body including heartbeat,
blood pressure, breathing, and the endocrine system.
In the conscious areas, i.e. the cerebrum, the CNS is where thought and
reasoning occur, as well the perception of sensory input and the actions
needed to control the voluntary muscles.
Pleasure and Pain Centers of the Brain
It has been known for decades that there are areas of the brain which appear to
cause pleasure, and other areas which appear to cause pain.
This has been studied during surgery where the patient was awake as there are
no pain receptors within the brain, and also in experiments on animals where
stimulation to certain areas was found to be desirable and stimulation to
other areas was found to be undesirable.
Functions of the PNS
The PNS connects to the muscles and organs in the body, driving their actions
by stimulating them either to do - an agonistic stimulus, or not do - an
antagonistic stimulus.
Somatic and Autonomic Branches of the PNS
The somatic nervous system innervates the skeletal muscles as well as the
sense organs including the skin. The skeletal muscles are also called voluntary
muscles.
The autonomic nervous system - ANS innervates the organs of the body, including
the heart. Autonomic means "working on its own" and another term for the
muscles innervated by autonomic nerves are involuntary muscles.
Related Links
An Introduction to the Physiology of Ordinary Consciousness
Neurophysiology of the States of Sleep
Hypnosis as a State of Selective Attention and Disattention
Society for Neuroscience
Dissections of the Real Brain
Bush, P. (1996). How the brain works.
Centre For Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuropsychology
Neural Processes in Cognition
Internet Neuroscience Resources
Neuropsychology Central
Theoretical Neurobiology
Tutorial in Sensation and Perception
USC Brain Project
The Human Brain Project
John Hopkins' Medical Imaging Lab
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