lecture 6 from a college level introduction to psychology course taught Fall 2011 by Brian J. Piper, Ph.D. (psy391@gmail.com) at Willamette University, focus is on split brain studies by Michael Gazzaniga, sulci, gyri, plasticity
lecture 6 from a college level introduction to psychology course taught Fall 2011 by Brian J. Piper, Ph.D. (psy391@gmail.com) at Willamette University, focus is on split brain studies by Michael Gazzaniga, sulci, gyri, plasticity
How our brain functions when we are aged? In the fast changing world, many a times we heard people saying i am 60 years old and i cannot learn new skills. Is there any truth in the statement. Who is the best consultant for 'downsizing' if we do not use our resouces-It is brain by process.
Different animal species have many structures in common, including a cerebellum and cortex.
The cortex is much larger in mammals than in species that evolved earlier, such as fish and amphibians.
The cross section of the human brain shows how the cerebral cortex has developed around and above more primitive brain structures. Localization—notion that different functions are located in different areas of the brainLateralization—notion that different functions are processed primarily on one side of the brain or the other
This presenation is part of four series presentation to help everyone to understand the functioning of brain. Some of the questions is can brain be changed?
We want to re-open the waiting room at Yatton Railway Station as a cafe, which will also providing training opportunities for adults with learning difficulties. This presentation describes the project, and how you can help make it happen.
How our brain functions when we are aged? In the fast changing world, many a times we heard people saying i am 60 years old and i cannot learn new skills. Is there any truth in the statement. Who is the best consultant for 'downsizing' if we do not use our resouces-It is brain by process.
Different animal species have many structures in common, including a cerebellum and cortex.
The cortex is much larger in mammals than in species that evolved earlier, such as fish and amphibians.
The cross section of the human brain shows how the cerebral cortex has developed around and above more primitive brain structures. Localization—notion that different functions are located in different areas of the brainLateralization—notion that different functions are processed primarily on one side of the brain or the other
This presenation is part of four series presentation to help everyone to understand the functioning of brain. Some of the questions is can brain be changed?
We want to re-open the waiting room at Yatton Railway Station as a cafe, which will also providing training opportunities for adults with learning difficulties. This presentation describes the project, and how you can help make it happen.
Introduction to eXo ECM (Enterprise Content Management) Suite.
- store and share content in eXo JCR and access it easily using eXo Portal
- easily create Web sites using eXo WCM (Web Content Management)
Das White Paper von Kirchner + Robrecht stellt die grundlegenden Funktionsweisen moderner Publishingsysteme in einer für Nicht-Techniker verständlichen Weise dar. Darüber hinaus zeigt es den Nutzen dieser Systeme auf und stellt neun unterschiedliche Systeme en détail vor. Neben den funktionalen Details erläutert das Papier in verständlicher Form, wie Unternehmen bei einer Systemeinführung vorgehen sollten und welche Fallstricke es zu umgehen gilt. Das White Paper richtet sich an Unternehmen, die sich im Auswahlprozess eines Publishingsystems befinden, erfahren wollen, ob ihr altes System noch modernen Standards entspricht oder an Unternehmen, die an einer Prozessoprimierung interessiert sind.
The Biological MindChapter 4Biological Psycholog.docxmehek4
The Biological Mind
Chapter 4
Biological PsychologyBiological Psychology: a rich, interdisciplinary field of study that combines the methods and theories of psychology with those of biology, physiology, biochemistry, the neurosciences, and related fieldsStudies the relationship between behavior and bodily processes and systemsNeuroscience: the study of the nervous system, especially the brain
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Lays foundation for the rest of the text… if we do not have a basic understanding of the body, we can never begin to understand behavior and mental processes. Our DNA, disease processes, chemical in our nervous system (neurotransmitters) and in our blood (hormones) can all influence our behavior and mental processes.
Methods that allow scientists to observe the activity of the living brain are beginning to answer questions that were once impossible to study.
The Nervous SystemCentral Nervous System (CNS): the brain and spinal cordPeripheral Nervous System (PNS): the nerves exiting the central nervous system that carry sensory and motor information to and from the rest of the body
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There are two major components of the nervous system:The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cordThe spinal cord and brain are cushioned by cerebrospinal fluid, which is generated by the ventriclesThe peripheral nervous system consists of the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system (discussed in the next section)
The Structures of the BrainstemThe hindbrain is composed of the:Medulla: life-sustaining functionsPons: sleep, arousal, and facial expressionCerebellum: motor coordinationThe midbrain is involved in sensory reflexes, movement, and pain; connects hindbrain to upper brain areas.Together, the hindbrain and midbrain make up the brainstem.Reticular Formation: runs the length of the brainstem’s core; participates in the control of mood, arousal, and sleep
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The hindbrain is composed of the medulla, pons, and cerebellum
The medulla merges with the spinal cordContains large bundles of axons traveling to and from higher levels of the brainManages many essential functions, such as heart rate and blood pressure, and thus, damage to the medulla usually results in quick death
The pons sits above the medullaInvolved with the management of sleep, arousal, and facial expressions Connects the cerebellum to the rest of the brain
The cerebellumEssential for maintaining balance and motor coordination and one of the first brain structures to be affected by alcoholRecent research suggests the cerebellum is involved in a wide range of functions including language, cognition, and perception
The midbrain sits above the ponsContains a number of structures involved in sensory reflexes, movement, and pain
The reticular formationRuns the length of the brainstem’s core from the upper medulla into the midbrain Participates in the control of mood, arousal, and sleep
Learn more about the brainstem and the cerebellum at https://www.youtube.com/watc ...
Hemispheric specialization also known as cerebral lateralization refers to the functional asymmetry between the left and teh right hemispheres of the brain. This phenomenon allows each hemisphere to process certain cognitive functions differently.
1. The structure of the brain and how it affects behaviour
Ψ The brain is a complex structure that controls everything about us, from our reflex
actions and movements to our thoughts and emotions.
Ψ There are more than 80 billion neurons in the brain alone.
Ψ The brain has been split into separate areas for studying. The outer layer is known as the
cortex, a deeply folded surface that covers four ‘lobes’ or sections (frontal, temporal,
parietal, and occipital). See figure 1.
Ψ Psychologists are interested in how the different areas of the brain and their particular
functions might affect our behaviour. Research into the link between the brain and the
body dates right back to the time of Philosopher and Scientist, Rene Descartes
(1596-1650).
Ψ Descartes argued that human beings are made up of 2 parts- the ‘body’ and the ‘mind’. He
assumed that the ‘mind’ could influence the ‘body’ via the pineal gland. Can you give an
example of when your mind has affected your body?
Ψ Later Philosophers and Psychologists went on to suggest that this influence also works
the other way; the body will also affect the mind, and therefore our behaviour.
Ψ Another early example comes from the work of Paul Broca (1824-1880), who showed that
a small area of the brain (now known as Broca’s area) is responsible for the production of
speech. Damaging this area means that the person can understand language, but they
cannot speak it.
Ψ The Hypothalamus is another important area as it links the nervous system to the
hormonal system. It is a regulatory system which controls the four Fs of life… Fighting,
Fleeing, Feeding, and Mating. See figure 2.
Ψ The Hippocampus is located in the temporal lobe and is
involved in long-term memory and learning.
This idea that specific areas of the brain are related to specific functions is known as
localisation. Functions are localised to particular parts of the brain.
What happens when the brain is altered in some way?
2. One way of seeing how behaviour and functions are localised is to look at case studies of
people who have suffered some kind of brain damage.
Example: Phineas Gage (1848)… Outline the case below:
We can use the idea of localisation to explain what had happened…
Draw the path of the rod onto the picture.
It is important to remember that not all of the brain’s functions are localised in this way.
Memory, for example is extremely complex, and research has so far not found a specific
section of the brain where memories may be stored.
Ψ The brain is not only split into four sections, it also has two hemispheres or halves, the
left and the right. The right hemisphere controls the left side of your body and the left
side of the brain controls the right side. The corpus callosum is the bundle of nerves in
the middle, which allows the two halves to communicate.
Left brain activities include:
Right brain activities include:
Task:
How might this assumption (the importance of the brain’s structure) explain memory loss?
What might be happening in the brain? (4)
Extension: Outline this assumption as an explanation of human behaviour. Why are
psychologists interested in looking at the brain? (4)