Transcript 00 Intro - pantherFILE

Introduction to Neuroscience II:
From Brain to Behavior
Spring 2007
Psychology 355
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Required text
Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain,
3nd ed., by Bear, Connor, and
Paradiso; Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins, 2001.
ISBN: 0-7817-3255-7
Psychology 355
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Instructors
Professor Greene
Office: Garland 212
Phone: 3313
Email: [email protected]
Office hours: TR 3:30-4:30
Professor Helmstetter
Office: Garland 207
Phone: 4903
Email: [email protected]
Office hours: T 1:00-2:00PM
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Course policies
•Prerequisites: Bio Sci 152(p) & 315(c) or Psych 254
•Lecture schedule
•Exam dates: 2/15; 3/8; 4/17; 5/16
•Extra credit
•Supplemental material
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Neuroscience
“The task of neural science is to explain behavior
in terms of the activities of the brain. How does
the brain marshal its millions of individual nerve
cells to produce behavior, and how are these cells
influenced by the environment...? The last frontier
of the biological sciences--their ultimate
challenge--is to understand the biological basis of
consciousness and the mental processes by which
we perceive, act, learn, and remember.” — Eric
Kandel, Principles of Neural science, fourth edition
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Neuroscience
Understanding the brain
and behavior at different
“levels of analysis”.
Neuroscientists study the
nervous system in a variety
of ways.
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Fact or Theory
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Fact or Theory
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Theory = understanding
Theory is not hypothetical
Facts must be observable (data)
Theory is broad, fact and hypothesis are
narrow
Theories must be consistent with all
available (relevant) facts
Theory guides the search for fact
The progress of theory is the purpose of
science
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Psychology 355
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Functionalism and
Structuralism
Functionalism:
Emphasizes utility as a causal factor
Evolution
Structuralism:
Emphasizes mechanistic
understanding
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Evolution
Variation
1. Every species has
enormous
diversity
2. Sexual
reproduction
insures diversity
by recombining
genes into new
combinations
3. Variability allows a
species (not an
individual) to
survive
Psychology 355
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Evolution
Selection
1. Selection reproduction of
the fittest
2. Differential
survival
advantage
3. Differential
reproduction
advantage
4. Minimal selection
pressure after the
age of
reproduction
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Tarsier