Psychology in Everyday Life David Myers Chapter 2: Neuroscience & Consciousness

Psychology in Everyday Life

David MyersChapter 2: Neuroscience &

Consciousness

Why do Psychologists Study Biology?

• Everything psychological (ideas, moods, urges, etc) is also biological.

• Biological Psychologists: a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior.– Look at the relationship between biology and

behavior and behavior and biology

Neural Communication

The body’s information system is built from billions of interconnected cells called neurons.

Neural Communication

Note the similarities in the above brain regions, which are all engaged in information processing.

Neurobiologists and other investigators understand that humans and animals operate

similarly when processing information.

Neuron

A nerve cell, or a neuron, consists of many different parts.

Parts of a Neuron

Cell Body: Life support center of the neuron.

Dendrites: Branching extensions at the cell body. Receive messages from other neurons.

Axon: Long single extension of a neuron, covered with myelin [MY-uh-lin] sheath to insulate and speed up messages through neurons.

Terminal Branches of axon: Branched endings of an axon that transmit messages to other neurons.

• Neurons “fire like a gun”– If signals exceed the threshold the combined signals trigger action potential.

Action potential is a brief electrical charge– Certain drugs or chemicals can affect the speed at which neurons fire.

Synapse

Synapse [SIN-aps] a junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the

dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. This tiny gap is called the synaptic gap or

cleft.

Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters (chemicals) released

from the sending neuron travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on

the receiving neuron, thereby influencing it to generate an action

potential.

How Neurotransmitters Influence Us

Serotonin pathways are involved with mood regulation.

From Mapping the Mind, Rita Carter, © 1989 University of California Press

Dopamine Pathways

Dopamine pathways are involved with

diseases such as schizophrenia and

Parkinson’s disease.

From Mapping the Mind, Rita Carter, © 1989 University of California Press

Neurotransmitters

Lock & Key Mechanism

Neurotransmitters bind to the receptors of the receiving neuron in a key-lock mechanism.

What Happens When We Use Drugs?

• Opiate drugs (heroine and morphine) may cause the body to stop producing its own natural opiates

• Drugs can affect the synapses by exciting or inhibiting the neuron’s firing– Antagonists inhibit the firing (i.e. Botox

paralyzes the underlying facial muscles to smoothen wrinkles)

Nervous System (2 Parts)

CentralNervousSystem(CNS)

PeripheralNervousSystem(PNS)

The Nervous System

Nervous System: Consists of all the nerve cells. It is the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication system.

Central Nervous System (CNS): the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.

Kinds of NeuronsSensory Neurons carry incoming information from

the sense receptors to the CNS. Motor Neurons carry outgoing information from the CNS to muscles and glands. Interneurons connect the two neurons.

Peripheral Nervous System (2 parts)

Somatic Nervous System: The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles.

Autonomic Nervous System: Part of the PNS that controls the glands and other muscles.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Sympathetic Nervous System: Division of the ANS that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.

Parasympathetic Nervous System: Division of the ANS that calms the body, conserving its energy.

The Evolution of the Nervous System

• Over time the end of the spinal cord became more specialized leading to the development of the brain.

The Endocrine System

The Endocrine System is the body’s “slow”

chemical communication

system. Communication is

carried out by hormones

synthesized by a set of glands.

Hormones

Hormones are chemicals synthesized by the endocrine glands that are secreted in the

bloodstream. Hormones affect the brain and many other tissues of the body.

For example, epinephrine (adrenaline) increases heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, and feelings of excitement during

emergency situations.

Pituitary Gland

Is called the “master gland.” The anterior pituitary lobe releases hormones that

regulate other glands. The posterior lobe regulates water and salt balance.

Thyroid & Parathyroid Glands

Regulate metabolic and calcium rate.

Adrenal GlandsAdrenal glands consist of the adrenal medulla and the cortex. The medulla secretes hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) during stressful and

emotional situations, while the adrenal cortex regulates salt and carbohydrate

metabolism.

Gonads

Sex glands are located in different places in men and women. They regulate bodily

development and maintain reproductive organs in adults.

The Brain•Brain structures determine an animal’s capacity.•In primitive backboned animals (shark) the brain simply regulates survival functions (breathing, resting, feeding)•In lower mammals (rodents) the brain enables emotion and memory•In advanced mammals (humans) the brain processes information so that we have foresight

The Brain: Older Brain Structures

The Brainstem is the oldest part of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells and enters the skull. It is responsible for automatic survival

functions.

Brainstem

The Medulla [muh-DUL-uh] is the base

of the brainstem that controls heartbeat

and breathing.

Brainstem

The Thalamus [THAL-uh-muss] is the brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem. It directs

messages to the sensory areas in the cortex and transmits

replies to the cerebellum and

medulla.

Brainstem

Reticular Formation is a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling

arousal.

The “little brain” attached to the rear of the brainstem. It

helps coordinate voluntary movements

and balance.

Cerebellum

The Brain

• In the past, we could not study the brain of a live person, but now we have brain scanning techniques.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)An amplified recording of the electrical waves

sweeping across the brain’s surface, measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

AJ P

hoto/ Photo R

esearchers, Inc.

PET Scan

PET (positron emission tomography)

Scan is a visual display of brain

activity that detects a radioactive form of glucose while the

brain performs a given task.

Courtesy of N

ational Brookhaven N

ational Laboratories

MRI ScanMRI (magnetic

resonance imaging) uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-

generated images that distinguish among

different types of brain tissue. Top images show ventricular enlargement in a

schizophrenic patient. Bottom image shows brain regions when a

participants lies.

Both photos from Daniel Weinberger, M.D., CBDB, NIMH

James Salzano/ Salzano Photo Lucy Reading/ Lucy Illustrations

TMS

• TMS: expose tiny part of brain to magnetic field in order to interrupt the electrical activity momentarily (virtual lesion)

Brain Imaging Techniques & Psychology

• Implications:– Better understanding of Brain– Psychological Disorders (ex. Schizophrenia,

other disorders with hallucinations)

The Brain

• Our brain is constantly changing– Environmental influences, experiences,

biology, etc– Yesterday’s brain is not today’s brain, nor will

it be tomorrow’s

The Limbic System is a doughnut-shaped system of neural

structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebrum, associated with emotions such as fear, aggression and

drives for food and sex. It includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus.

The Limbic System

Amygdala

The Amygdala [ah-MIG-dah-la] consists of two lima bean-sized neural clusters linked to the emotions of fear and

anger.

Hypothalamus

The Hypothalamus lies below (hypo) the thalamus. It directs several maintenance activities like eating,

drinking, body temperature, and

control of emotions. It helps govern the

endocrine system via the pituitary gland.

The Cerebral CortexThe intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells

that covers the cerebral hemispheres. It is the body’s ultimate control and information processing center.

Structure of the Cortex

Each brain hemisphere is divided into four

lobes that are separated by

prominent fissures. These lobes are the

frontal lobe (forehead), parietal lobe (top to rear head), occipital lobe (back head) and temporal lobe (side of

head).

Functions of the Cortex

The Motor Cortex is the area at the rear of the frontal lobes that control voluntary movements. The Sensory Cortex (parietal cortex) receives

information from skin surface and sense organs.

Visual Function

The functional MRI scan shows the visual cortex is active as the subject looks at faces.

Courtesy of V

.P. Clark, K

. Keill, J. M

a. M

aisog, S. Courtney, L

.G.

Ungerleider, and J.V

. Haxby,

National Institute of M

ental Health

Auditory Function

The functional MRI scan shows the

auditory cortex is active in patients who

hallucinate.

More intelligent animals have increased “uncommitted” or association areas of the

cortex.

Association Areas

LanguageAphasia is an impairment of language,

usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area (impaired speaking)

or to Wernicke’s area (impaired understanding).

Specialization & Integration

Brain activity when hearing, seeing, and speaking words

The brain is sculpted by our genes but also by our experiences.

Plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to modify itself after some types of injury or illness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSu9HGnlMV0

The Brain’s Plasticity

Our Divided Brain

Our brain is divided into two hemispheres. The left hemisphere processes reading,

writing, speaking, mathematics, and comprehension skills. In the 1960s, it was

termed as the dominant brain.

Splitting the BrainA procedure in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers

(mainly those of the corpus callosum) between them.

Corpus Callosum

Ma

rtin M

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Courtesy of T

erence William

s, University of Iow

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Split Brain Patients

With the corpus callosum severed, objects (apple) presented in the right visual field can be named.

Objects (pencil) in the left visual field cannot.

Divided Consciousness

Try This!

Try drawing one shape with your left hand and one with your right hand,

simultaneously.B

BC

Right-Left Differences in the Intact Brain

People with intact brains also show left-right hemispheric differences in mental

abilities.

A number of brain scan studies show normal individuals engage their right

brain when completing a perceptual task and their left brain when carrying out a

linguistic task.

Consciousness, modern psychologists believe, is an awareness of ourselves and our environment.

Forms of ConsciousnessB

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Selective Attention

Our conscious awareness processes only a small part of all that we

experience. We intuitively make use of the information we are not consciously

aware of.

Inattentional Blindness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahg6qcgoay4Inattentional blindness refers to the inability to see an object or a person in our midst. Simons & Chabris (1999) showed that half of the observers failed to see the gorilla-suited assistant in a ball passing game.

Sleep & Dreams

Sleep – the irresistible tempter to whom we inevitably succumb.

Mysteries about sleep and dreams have just startedunraveling in sleep laboratories around the world.

Biological Rhythms and SleepCircadian Rhythms occur on a 24-hour cycle and

include sleep and wakefulness. Termed our “biological clock,” it can be altered by artificial light.

Light triggers the suprachiasmatic nucleus to decrease(morning) melatonin from the pineal gland

and increase (evening) it at nightfall.

Measuring sleep: About every 90 minutes, we pass through a cycle of five distinct sleep stages.

Sleep Stages

Hank Morgan/ Rainbow

Awake but Relaxed

When an individual closes his eyes but remains awake, his brain activity slows

down to a large amplitude and slow, regular alpha waves (9-14 cps). A

meditating person exhibits an alpha brain activity.

During early, light sleep (stages 1-2) the brain enters a high-amplitude, slow,

regular wave form called theta waves (5-8 cps). A person who is daydreaming shows

theta activity.

Sleep Stages 1-2

Theta Waves

During deepest sleep (stages 3-4), brain activity slows down. There are large-

amplitude, slow delta waves (1.5-4 cps).

Sleep Stages 3-4

Stage 5: REM Sleep

After reaching the deepest sleep stage (4), the sleep cycle starts moving backward

towards stage 1. Although still asleep, the brain engages in low- amplitude, fast and regular beta waves (15-40 cps) much like

awake-aroused state.

A person during this sleep exhibitsRapid Eye Movements (REM)

and reports vivid dreams.

90-Minute Cycles During Sleep

With each 90-minute cycle, stage 4 sleep decreases and the duration of REM sleep

increases.

Why do we sleep?We spend one-third of

our lives sleeping.

If an individual remains awake for

several days, immune function and concentration

deteriorates and the risk of accidents

increases.

Jose Luis Pelaez, Inc./ C

orbis

Sleep Deprivation

1. Fatigue and subsequent death.

2. Impaired concentration.

3. Emotional irritability.

4. Depressed immune system.

5. Greater vulnerability.

• Have you ever been sleep deprived?

Accidents

Frequency of accidents increase with loss of sleep

Sleep Theories

1. Sleep Protects: Sleeping in the darkness when predators loomed about kept our ancestors out of harm’s way.

2. Sleep Helps us Recover: Sleep helps restore and repair brain tissue.

3. Sleep Helps us Remember: Sleep restores and rebuilds our fading memories.

4. Sleep may play a role in the growth process: During sleep, the pituitary gland releases growth hormone. Older people release less of this hormone and sleep less.

1. Insomnia: A persistent inability to fall asleep.

2. Narcolepsy: Overpowering urge to fall asleep that may occur while talking or standing up.

3. Sleep apnea: Failure to breathe when asleep.

Sleep Disorders

Children are most prone to:

Night terrors: The sudden arousal from sleep with intense fear accompanied by physiological reactions (e.g., rapid heart rate, perspiration) which occur during Stage 4 sleep.

Sleepwalking: A Stage 4 disorder which is usually harmless and unrecalled the next day.

Sleeptalking: A condition that runs in families, like sleepwalking.

Sleep Disorders

Dreams

The link between REM sleep and dreaming

has opened up a new era of dream research.

What We Dream

1. Negative Emotional Content: 8 out of 10 dreams have negative emotional content.

2. Failure Dreams: People commonly dream about failure, being attacked, pursued, rejected, or struck with misfortune.

3. Sexual Dreams: Contrary to our thinking, sexual dreams are sparse. Sexual dreams in men are 1 in 10; and in women 1 in 30.

Manifest Content: A Freudian term meaning the story line of dreams.

Why We Dream

1. Wish Fulfillment: Sigmund Freud suggested that dreams provide a psychic safety valve to discharge unacceptable feelings. The dream’s manifest (apparent) content may also have symbolic meanings (latent content) that signify our unacceptable feelings.

2. Information Processing: Dreams may help sift, sort, and fix a day’s experiences in our memories.

Why We Dream

3. Physiological Function: Dreams provide the sleeping brain with periodic stimulation to develop and preserve neural pathways. Neural networks of newborns are quickly developing; therefore, they need more sleep.

Why We Dream

4. Activation-Synthesis Theory: Suggests that the brain engages in a lot of random neural activity. Dreams make sense of this activity.

5. Cognitive Development: Some researchers argue that we dream as a part of brain maturation and cognitive development.

All dream researchers believe we need REM sleep. Whendeprived of REM sleep and then allowed to sleep,

we show increased REM sleep called REM Rebound.

Dream TheoriesSummary

Homework

• Homework Assignment #2– For the next week try to remember a dream you

had. Write down as much as you can about this dream, as well as what you think it means. If you cannot remember any dream from this week, then write about a previous dream. We will be discussing these in class.

• Homework Assignment #3– Quiz on Chapters 3 and 4. Questions are

posted on website.

Class Activity

• Debate:– Nature vs Nurture– Drugs vs No Drugs