Show Notes
We cover the neuroanatomy, and a little neuroscience, of how pain is perceived by the brain and how analgesics and the brain itself can modify this.
More from Swansea University Medical School: Neuroscience
Reflex arcs, lower motor neurones, upper motor neurones, the cerebellum, basal ganglia, the frontal cortex and even decussations get a mention.
Phil and Sam talk about the anatomy of the autonomic nervous system, the neurotransmitters involved and pharmacological targets.
Phil tries to teach Sam about neurotransmitters and how they work. We work through a list of the main neurotransmitters and give an overview of their functions.
Phil tells Sam why his weight is fairly stable, what happens in his brain when he gets hungry and what changes when he has eaten. We talk about the adipostat, leptin, ghrelin and obesity, why we choose particular foods and how dopamine, opioids and (probably) serotonin are involved.