Lecture 3: Brain and Behaviour
Einstein’s Brain
not Einstein’s brain
Assumes: everything is controlled by the cells/chemicals/structures of the brain
To study human behaviour, need to study the brain
Information Transmission: endocrine system (hormones…) nervous system *
Functions 1) 2) 3)
Nervous System Parts (CNS and PNS) –
subdivisions of each – Parts in constant communication
PNS-CNS-PNS….
Text: Page 91
Central Nervous System
“Brain” + Spinal Cord
Responsible for high level, integrative functions
Our focus - Brain: how it works from macro – e.g. to micro – e.g.
Einstein’s Brain – Canadian connection Thomas Harvey – Parts – Sylvian fissure – usually runs from from to
back dividing “inferior parietal region” (math, spatial, visual)
Early Studies: Localization of Function 1) Page 107 2) Franz Gall – Phrenology 3) Language disorders and the brain
-associate deficits and damage Broca – left frontal lobe
Wernicke – temporal lobe (over ear)
Localization:
Video – the brain – language - 7 min Contemporary work
Brain Structure and Localization of function A) B) C)
Layers -as go “up” the layers higher cognitive processes
a) Hindbrain -lowest part, begins at top of spinal cord/brainstem - cerebellum – - medulla –
- b) Midbrain - - - -
C) forebrain – more sophisticated
Cerebral Cortex -highest level processing -within cortex –
-convolutions/lobes -bilateral symmetry
Issues of specialization – lobes and left/right brain
Lobes – see diagram
Lobe Functions
Penfield sensory motor
association
-left brain/right brain wired to opposite side
Sensory and motor “projection” areas e.g., touch – vision – Hearing –
Motor – Top – Bottom –
Association: complex functions Prefrontal lobe –
Other Notable Structures Hippocampus – Amygdala –)
Left Brain/Right Brain
major research issue specialization – see diagram (keep in mind all brain is
involved, here, major localization implied) LEFT – RIGHT –
Evidence –
See illustration (note: remember cross-wiring, left hemi information from right visual field and right hemi infor from left visual field)
Method:
Present spoon to: right visual field left hemisphere
“”
left visual field right hemisphere “”
(see diagram)
Doreen Kimura: Brain/body connection
(remember, men/spatial/right women/verbal/left) -Kimura – favored body side indicator of brain??
(video: Split Brain Patient/ Scientific American – 7 min)
Neurons building blocks information transmission
intraneuronal Interneuronal
Parts: dendrites – soma – axon –
synapse –
Types: 3 classes of neurons
Neuronal activity
At rest: “resting potential” (negative charge)
Energy – result of balance between “charged” ions inside and outside inside – outside –
Action
Interneuronal Information Transmission: Each Neuron may communicate with thousands of other neurons using something called a Synapse (gap)
gap bridged by neurotransmitters Effects
Different neurotransmitters – different roles E.g., Psychopathology
Alzheimer’s –
Our experiment Testing the brain in class? With a paper and pencil task? Are you mad?
Our Experiment
A) Kinsbourne (1972)
From Physiological research - -
(THUS<
Research Results - inconsistent
B) Wholistic approach
C) Hisock & Bergstrom (1981). Predict –
Logic: from previous physiological research -
Our Study
Indep: Dep: a) b)
RESULTS a)
b)
WHY?
Current/Provocative issues
Where is the “I” in the brain Paralyzed body but active brain Depression and the brain Nutrients and the brain Born with “no brain” Brain transplants Neuromarketing
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