This document provides an introduction to the human brain, including objectives, key terms, and examples of research studies. It discusses the principles of localization of function and brain plasticity. Examples are given of different methods neurologists use to study the brain, including post-mortem examination, analysis of brain damage cases, and modern brain imaging technologies like MRI and fMRI. Specific studies summarized include Rosenzweig on brain plasticity in rats, Dimasio on Phineas Gage's frontal lobe damage, and Corkin on patient H.M.'s hippocampal removal.

1. Intro to the
Human Brain

2. Today’s Objectives
Content Objective
 I can explain how
the brain works
and how it is
studied.
 I can display
critical thinking
about research
studies.
Language Objective
 I can define
Localization of
Function and Brain
Plasticity.

3. Today’s Key Terms
 Neurology
 Localization of Function
 Frontal Lobe
 Hippocampus
 Neuron
 Brain Plasticity
 MRI and fMRI

4. Top Myths about our Brains
What ideas or theories have you heard
about our brains?
 Top Myths about Our Brains Video
Which of the ideas that we listed can we
take off?

5. Neurology
 The study of the brain and its functioning.

6. Localization of Function
 The principle that certain areas in the
brain are responsible for certain
behaviors.

7. Localization of Function:
The Frontal Lobe
 The Frontal Lobe is responsible for self-control,
planning, social judgment, and
other higher-order thinking tasks.
 Sociopaths (Far Right) have been shown to
have less activity in their Frontal Lobe.

8. Localization of Function:
Hippocampus
 The Hippocampus is an area deep in the
brain responsible for the storage of new
memories.
 Damaged Hippocampus = No New
Memories.

9. Neurons
 Neurons are cells that make up the
nervous system (including the brain) that
specialize in communication of
information throughout the body
 Brains consist of billions of Neurons and
Trillions of Neural connections.

10. Brain Plasticity
 The Principle that the brain changes over
time and depending on our environment.
 Our brains are always changing.
 Use it or Loose It!
 How Our Learning Occurs in the Brain

11. How do Neurologists study the
Brain?
 Throughout history Neurologists have used
a variety of tools to study the brain.
 Post-Mortem Examination
 Brain Damage Case Studies
 Modern Technology (MRI, fMRI, PET)
 Key Question: Why might each of these
methods have been used? What are the
strengths and limitations of each?

12. Post Mortem Studies
 After individuals (or animals) die, their
brains are dissected and compared to
normally functioning brains.
 Example: Rosenweig (1972)

13. Rosenzweig (1972)
 Aim: To determine how the environment can impact the
neurological development of rats.
 Method: Randomly assigned lab rats to one of three conditions.
 Control: Typical Laboratory Cage (other rats, adequate room and
food/water.)
 Impoverished: Small cage, isolated, adequate food/water.
 Enriched: Large space, Multiple Toys, Companions, adequate
food/water.
After living 4-10 weeks, they were killed and autopsies were performed
on their brains (randomly assigned numbers to eliminate researcher
bias).

14. Rosenzweig (1972) Cont.
 Findings: The enriched rats had…
1.Thicker and heavier cerebral cortexes
2. Larger Neurons
 Conclusion: An enriched environment
produced more developed and bigger
brains.
 Critical Thinking:
 Artificial environment limited Ecological Validity.
 Ethical?
 Applications?

15. Brain Damage Cases
 The close examination of individuals with
traumatic brain damage.
 By studying how their behavior has
changed, we can understand what that
part of the brain is responsible for.
 Example: Dimasio et al (1994) – The case
of Phineas Gage
 Gage Video

16. Dimasio et al (1994)
 Aim: To determine what areas of Phineas
Gage’s brain was damaged in the
accident.
 Method: Used MRI technology to create a
model of the accident and determine
what areas were damaged.

17. Dimasio et al (1994) cont.
 Finding: The frontal lobe, and only the
frontal lobe were damaged in the
accident.
 Conclusion: The frontal lobe is responsible
for self-control and social processing.
 Critical Thinking:
 Reliable?

18. Brain Imaging Technology
 In recent decades, scientists can use non-invasive
technology to take images of the
brain of functioning brains.
 MRI- Creates an Image of the structure of
the brain
 fMRI- Shows activity in the brain.
 Example: Corkin et al. (1997): HM

19. Corkin et al (1997)
 Aim: To determine the extent of damage
done to HM’s brain.
 Method: Performed an MRI on HM.
 Finding: All of HM’s Hippocampus and
Amygdala were removed.
 Conclusions: The hippocampus is responsible
for the storage of new memories.
 Critical Thinking:
 Ethical?
 Reliable?

20. Homework for Tonight
1. Select One of the Articles Online and
read it in full.
2. Complete a 3-2-1 note guide for the
Article.
3: New/Important ideas that were not
discussed in class.
2: Pieces of Critical Thinking/Methodological
Limitations
1. Question you still have about the Study.

21. Wrap-Up: Pepper
 Be Prepared to answer a question based
on the vocabulary and ideas which we
have discussed today.