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Biological Bases of Behaviors

Part 1: The Brain

Unit 2 Biopsychology Psychology 40S

C. McMurraySource: David Myers Worth

Publishers

Watch the Story of the Brain

• Story of the Brain

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History of Mind

In 1800, Franz Gall suggested that bumps

of the skull represented mental abilities. His theory,

though incorrect, nevertheless proposed that

different mental abilities were

modular.

Phrenology

Bettm

an/ Corbis

Phineas GageIn 1848, Phineas Gage, a railroad worker was packing gunpower into a rock with a tamping iron.

A spark ignited the gunpowder, shooting the rod up through his left cheek and out the top of his skull, leaving his frontal lobes massively damaged.

To everyone’s amazement, Gage was immediately able to sit up and speak. Although his mental abilities and memories were intact, his personality was not. The soft spoken Gage was now irritable, profane and dishonest. Gage was no longer Gage. • Watch story of Phineas Gage

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"You have brains in your head.You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourselfAny direction you choose.”

Watch video:

Human brain built for survival

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/6835-human-body-built-for-survival-video.htm

The Brain

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Brain Activity1. Get a large piece of paper and tape it to a wall. Stand

in front of the paper facing sideways. Find someone to shine a light (your phone works) on your head. Find another person to trace the silhouette of your head onto the paper.

2. Cut your silhouette out. We will be using both sides to place parts of the brain on your silhouette.

3. On one side, outline where your brain would be.

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Brain Parts for your silhouetteSide 11. Brainstem

2. Medulla

3. Pons

4. Reticular formation

5. Thalamus

6. Cerebellum

7. Pituitary gland

8. Amygdala

9. Hypothalamus

10. Hippocampus

11. Cerebral cortex

12. Corpus callosum

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Brain Parts for your silhouette

Side 2

1. Frontal lobe

2. Parietal lobe

3. Occipital lobe

4. Temporal lobe

5. Motor cortex

6. Sensory cortex

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Brain Resource:

• Brain Made Simple Website

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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.

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Brain Stem:Medulla

The medulla is the base of the brainstem that controls heartbeat and breathing.

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Brain Stem:Pons

The pons above the medulla are responsible for sleep.

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Brain Stem:Reticular Formation

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

Reticular Formation

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Thalamus

The Thalamus 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.

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The “little brain” (cerebellum)

attached to the rear of the brainstem. It

helps coordinate voluntary

movements and balance.

Cerebellum

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The Limbic System is a 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 pituitary

gland, amygdala, hypothalamus, and

hippocampus.

The Limbic System

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The Pituitary Gland is often referred to as the

“master gland” as it regulates many

activities of other endocrine glands. It also produces the growth hormone.

Pituitary Gland

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Amygdala

The Amygdala consists of two almond-shaped

neural clusters linked to the emotions of fear and

anger.

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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.

Hippocampus

Hippocampus (Latin for seahorse) is associated primarily with memory.

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Corpus Callosum

The corpus callosum is a thick band of fibers that connects the two hemispheres and passes information back and forth to each hemisphere.

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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.

brain map

Pinky and the Brain

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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).

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Frontal Lobe

Parietal Lobe

Temporal Lobe

Occipital Lobe

Brain Lobes

• The Frontal Lobes are involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments.

• The Parietal Lobes receive sensory input for touch and body position.

• The Occipital Lobes receive visual information from the opposite visual field.

• The Temporal Lobes receive auditory information primarily from the opposite ear.

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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 lobe) receives information from skin

surface and sense organs.

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

Plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to modify itself after some type of injury or

illness.

rubber hand illusionWatch the brain that changes itself

Ellen Degeneres rubber hand episode

The Brain’s Plasticity

Computer Lab: The Brain

Brain Assignment: Visit my website for details on this assignment.

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Face BlindnessWhat is Face Blindness?

watch face blindness

Take the Face Blindness Test

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The Split Brain ExperimentsRoger Sperry, in the 1960s, carried out his most famous experiment, the split brain experiment. It was a cure for people who suffered from a special kind of epilepsy. The corpus callosum was severed which stopped the seizures however some odd behaviours resulted.

Read more...

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Corpus Callosum