Psychosomatics: Nervous System

Miguel Agustin ST Francisco, RPm,

MPsy Cand
 REVIEW of Basic Neuroanatomy
• Central Nervous System
– Brain & Spinal Cord
• Peripheral Nervous System
– Cranial Nerves & Spinal Nerves
• 12 cranial nerve pairs except for the Optic Nerve
• 31 spinal nerve pairs
– Take Note of the Plexii in the next picture
– Cervical Plexus, Brachial Plexus, Lumbar Plexus, Sacral Plexus
– Comprised of Sensory (Afferent) Neurons & Motor
(Efferent Neurons)
 Functional Division
• Somatic Nervous System
– Voluntary motor and sensory function
• Autonomic Nervous System*
– Parasympathetic Nervous System
– Sympathetic Nervous System
– Enteric Nervous System
• *Take Note of the Preganglionic &
Postganglionic Neurons in the next pictures
Arousal & the ANS
 Brain Neuroanatomy
• Embryological Division
Brainstem
Midbrain
Cerebrum – Lateral View
Cerebrum – Medial View
Cerebrum
Limbic System
Limbic System
Basal Nuclei
Basal Nuclei
REVIEW of Basic Neurophysiology
• Frontal Lobe
– Motor & Higher Executive Function
• Parietal Lobe
– Somatosensation
• Temporal Lobe
– Audition and Language
• Occipital Lobe
– Vision
 CNS Circuit Based Approach
• Major Neurotransmitters
– Glutamate
• Chief Excitatory Neurotransmitter of the CNS
– GABA
• Chief Inhibitory Neurotransmitter of the CNS
– Dopamine
– Serotonin
– Nor/Epinephrine
– Acetylcholine
Dopaminergic Circuits
 Dopaminergic Circuits
• Mesocortical Pathway
– Ventral Tegmental Area  Prefrontal Cortex
• In charge of executive functioning
• Mesolimbic Pathway
– Ventral Tegmental Area  Nucleus Accumbens
• In charge of desire, pleasure, and positive
reinforcement
 Dopaminergic Circuits
• Nigrostriatal Pathway
– Substantia Nigra  Dorsal Striatum (Caudate
Nucleus & Putamen)
• In charge of motor function, reward related cognition,
learning, and inhibitory control
• Tuberoinfundibular Pathway
– Hypothalamus  Pituitary Gland
• Influences prolactin secretion
– Prolactin is associated with sexual satisfaction and loss of
libido
Serotonergic Circuits
Nor/Adrenergic Circuits
Nor/Adrenergic Circuits
Cholinergic Circuits
 Cholinergic Circuits
• The pontomesencephalotegmental complex acts mainly
on receptors in the
– Brainstem
– Deep cerebellar nuclei
– Pontine nuclei
– Locus coeruleus
– Raphe nucleus
– Lateral reticular nucleus
– Inferior olive
• The Basal nucleus of Meynert acts mainly on receptors in
the neocortex.
• Medial septal nucleus acts mainly on receptors in
the hippocampus and parts of the cerebral cortex.
 Note
• Glutamatergic & GABAergic Neurons are
found almost everywhere
– There are too many pathways to mention
• Both are in charge of neuronal firing and
neuroplasticity