Transcript Neuroscience and Behavior

Neuroscience and Behavior
AP Psychology
The Brain



Made up of neurons
and glial cells.
Glial cells support
neural cells.
Some scientists
divide the brain up
into three parts.



Hindbrain
Midbrain
Forebrain
Techniques for Studying the
Brain

Lesion



tissue destruction
a brain lesion can be caused naturally
or experimentally
Brain tumors also lesion brain tissue
Techniques for Studying the
Brain: Less Invasive Ways

Electroencephalo
gram (EEG)


an amplified
recording of the
waves of
electrical activity
that sweep
across the
brain’s surface
these waves are
measured by
electrodes
placed on the
scalp
Less Invasive Ways to Study
the Brain

CT (computed tomography) Scan


PET (positron emission tomography) Scan


a series of x-ray photographs taken from
different angles and combined by computer into a
composite representation of a slice through the
body; also called CAT scan
a visual display of brain activity that detects
where a radioactive form of glucose goes while
the brain performs a given task
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio
waves to produce computer-generated images
that distinguish among different types of soft
tissue; allows us to see structures within the
brain
CT scanbrain tumor
Images
Pet Scan of Brain
MRI of brain (midsagittal)
Brain Structures

Brainstem



the oldest part and
central core of the
brain, beginning where
the spinal cord swells as
it enters the skull
responsible for
automatic survival
functions
Medulla [muh-DULuh]


base of the brainstem
controls heartbeat and
breathing
The Brainstem


Reticular Formation
 a nerve network in the
brainstem that plays an
important role in
controlling arousal and
the ability to focus
attention
Thalamus
 the brain’s sensory
switchboard, located on
top of the brainstem
 Receives sensory
information in the cortex
and transmits replies to
the cerebellum and
medulla
Parts of the Brain

Cerebellum


the “little brain”
attached to the rear
of the brainstem
it helps coordinate
voluntary
movement and
balance

Limbic System




a doughnut-shaped
system of neural
structures at the border
of the brainstem and
cerebral hemispheres
associated with emotions
such as fear and
aggression and drives
such as those for food
and sex
includes the
hippocampus, amygdala,
and hypothalamus.
Amygdala



two almond-shaped
neural clusters that are
components of the limbic
system
Emotional control center
Memory
•Hippocampus-involved in
memory processing
Brain Structures

Hypothalamus

neural structure lying below (hypo) the
thalamus; directs several maintenance
activities

Hunger (eating)
Thirst (drinking)
body temperature

Sexual arousal (libido)




helps govern the endocrine system via
the pituitary gland
is linked to emotion
Hypothalamus
Pituitary
gland
Brain Structures: The Cerebral Cortex




Top layer of our brain.
Contains wrinkles called fissures.
The fissures increase surface area of our
brain.
the body’s ultimate control and
information processing center
The Cerebral Cortex


Divided into eight
lobes, four in each
hemisphere (frontal,
parietal, occipital and
temporal).
Any area not dealing
with our senses or
muscle movements
are called
association areas.
The Cerebral Cortex

Frontal Lobes



include the sensory cortex
Occipital Lobes



Contains Broca’s area (speech production)
Parietal Lobes


involved in speaking and muscle movements
and in making plans and judgments
include the visual areas, which receive visual
information from the opposite visual field
Right half of each retina goes to left occipital lobe and
vice versa
Temporal Lobes


include the auditory areas (process sound)
Contains Wernicke’s area (comprehension of
speech/language development)
The Cerebral Cortex
The Cerebral Cortex

Motor Cortex


Sensory Cortex


area at the rear of the frontal lobes that
controls voluntary movements
area at the front of the parietal lobes that
registers and processes body sensations
Aphasia (Disorders)

impairment of language, usually caused by left
hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area
(impairing speaking) or to Wernicke’s area
(impairing understanding)
The Cerebral Cortex
Association Areas

More intelligent animals have
increased “uncommitted” or
association areas of the cortex
Specialization and Integration
Brain Plasticity


The ability for our brains to form new connections
after the neurons are damaged.
 the brain’s capacity for modification, as evident
in brain reorganization following damage
The younger you are, the more plastic your brain
is.
Announcement!

Your test will be Friday & Monday




Multiple Choice –Friday
Essay-Monday
I will check reading notes Thursday
Brain Models/Mobiles will be due
Thursday!
Our Divided Brain
Corpus callosum

Corpus
Callosum



large band of
neural fibers
connects the
two brain
hemispheres
carries
messages
between the
hemispheres
Our Divided Brain




Images from the left
visual field go to the
brain’s right hemisphere
Images from the right
visual field go to the
brain’s left hemisphere.
Left hemisphere controls
the right hand & vice
versa
The left hemisphere is
dominant for language

Broca’s, Wernicke’s,
angular gyrus
Our Divided Brain

Left Hemisphere







Controls speech muscles
Comprehension/
understanding of speech
& writing
Regulation of positive
emotions
Memory of words and
numbers
Spontaneous speaking
and writing
Logic & analytic thought
Science and math






Right Hemisphere
Regulation of negative
emotions
Responses to simple
commands
Memory for shapes and
music & creativity
Interpreting spatial
relationships & visual
images
Recognition of faces
Split Brain

a condition in which the two
hemispheres of the brain
are isolated by cutting the
connecting fibers (mainly
those of the corpus
callosum) between them

Procedure done to treat severe
epileptic seizures
So what happens to a “split brain”?


When a split brain patient is
asked what he sees, the left
hemisphere sees the ring on
the right side of the screen
and can verbally say “ring”.
The right hemisphere sees
the left side of the screen,
but cannot verbalize (say)
what is seen (key).
However, the patient can
pick up the correct object
using the left hand.
Genetics

Every human cell contains 46 chromosomes (23 pairs).


Made up of deoxyribonucleic acid- DNA.



Ex. Brown eyes- Bb or BB; blue eyes-bb
Your phenotype is your observable characteristics


Made up of nucleotides.
Your DNA (chromosomes) is found in the nucleus of
every cell in your body.
Your genotype is the genetic pattern that makes you
different from anyone else


Made up of genes.
Ex. You have brown eyes, blue eyes, tall, short
Sex chromosomes (23rd pair) XX-female; XY male

Father determines sex of child because he can donate an X
or Y.
Twins

Monozygotic twins- identical twins


Results from one zygote (fertilized egg)
dividing into two
 Each new zygote has the same chromosomes
& same genes on each chromosome
Dizygotic twins- fraternal twins

Results from two separately fertilized eggs
developing at the same time in utero
 Resulting twins are no more similar genetically
than any other pair of siblings
Twins and Psychology




Best way to really study
genetics because they come
from the same zygote.
Bouchard Study
.69 Correlational coefficient for
IQ tests of identical twins
raised apart.
.88 raised together.