Dr. Nega's PPT notes for course AP 5001 Foundations of Psychology Science DEREE, The American College of Greece

1. Week 5: Brain Overview
Dr. Chrisanthi Nega, PhD
AP 5001 Fundamentals of Psychology Science
Image sources:
• Image 1: http://brainmind.com/images/brainorg.jpg
• Image2: http://kantianschool.blogspot.ca/2010_08_01_archive.html
• Image 3: http://www.pd4pic.com/images/brain-human-anatomy-organ-medicine.png
• Image 4: http://www.msstrength.com/ms-brain-stem-and-cerebellar-attacks/
• Images 5-8: http://diagrampic.com/diagram-of-the-eye/
• Image 9: http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/healthline-connects/stress-working-memory
1
AP 5001 Fundamentals of Psychology Science
Week 5 : Brain Overview

2. The average brain
• It weighs 3.3 pounds (1.5 kilos).
• It is protected by:
oHair
oSkin
oSkull
oMeninges
oMaters
• It has 100 billion neurons.
• It has 100 trillion synapses.
AP 5001 Fundamentals of Psychology Science Week 5 : Brain
Overview
2

3. The Hemispheres
• There are two Hemispheres (left – right)
• They are connected by Corpus
Callosum.
AP 5001 Fundamentals of Psychology Science
Week 5 : Brain Overview
3
Image 1

4. Corpus Callosum
• It is s massive bundle of nerve fibers
connecting the left and right
hemispheres.
• It is composed of approximately 200
million nerve fibers.
• Majority of connections are between
the cortical association areas.
AP 5001 Fundamentals of Psychology Science
Week 5 : Brain Overview
4
Image 2

5. The Lobes
There are 4 lobes in each hemisphere:
• Frontal
• Parietal
• Temporal
• Occipital
AP 5001 Fundamentals of Psychology Science
Week 5 : Brain Overview
5
Image 3

6. The human brain has three levels
• Brain Stem (oldest)
• Cerebellum (middle)
• Cortex (newest)
AP 5001 Fundamentals of Psychology Science
Week 5 : Brain Overview
6
Image 4

7. Functions of the Brain Stem
• Breathing
• Heart rate
• Swallowing
• Autonomic nervous system
• Alertness
• Sleep
• Sense of balance
• Startle response
AP 5001 Fundamentals of Psychology Science
Week 5 : Brain Overview
7

8. Functions of the Cerebellum
• Balance
• Equilibrium
• Coordination of voluntary movement.
• Memory for reflex motor acts.
AP 5001 Fundamentals of Psychology Science
Week 5 : Brain Overview
8

9. Functions of the Occipital Lobes
• Visual input
• Visual perception
• Recognition of printed words
AP 5001 Fundamentals of Psychology Science
Week 5 : Brain Overview
9
Image 5

10. Functions of Parietal Lobes
• Visual attention.
• Touch perception.
• Goal-oriented voluntary movements.
• Manipulation of objects.
• Integration of different senses that
allows for understanding of a single
concept.
AP 5001 Fundamentals of Psychology Science
Week 5 : Brain Overview
10
Image 6

11. Functions of Temporal Lobes
• Hearing
• Memory acquisition
• Some visual perceptions
• Object categorization
• Emotions
• Language:
oWernicke’s area – receptive
oBroca’s area - expressive
AP 5001 Fundamentals of Psychology Science
Week 5 : Brain Overview
11
Image 7

12. Functions of Frontal Lobes
• Consciousness.
• Goal setting.
• Inhibition.
• Attention.
• Time perception.
• Initiation of response of environment.
• Judgment.
• Control of emotional response.
• Internalization of language.
• Volition.
• Memory for habits & motor activities.
AP 5001 Fundamentals of Psychology Science
Week 5 : Brain Overview
12
Image 8

13. Prefrontal Lobes
• Functions continue developing
and maturing through
adolescence.
• Reach maturity around age 25.
• Almost nothing is done by the
brain without prefrontal lobe
involvement.
• Most vulnerable part of brain in
accidents –due to location and
boney protrusions inside front of
skull.
AP 5001 Fundamentals of Psychology Science
Week 5 : Brain Overview
13
Image 9

14. Prefrontal Lobes – Executive Functions
Child
• Disinhibition Inattention Attention
• No Concept of Time
• No Delaying Gratification
• No Self-Starting
• Poor Judgment
• Live in Moment
Adult
• Inhibition
• Time Perception
• Self Regulation
• Initiation
• Ability to Judge
• Goal-Setting
AP 5001 Fundamentals of Psychology Science
Week 5 : Brain Overview
14