Brain and Behavior

The Brain – The Central Core

MedullaControls breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure

PonsMaintains the sleep-wake

cycle

CerebellumCoordinates body’s

movementsBalance

The Brain – The Central Core

ThalamusRelays information from sensory

receptors to the brainExcept smell

Hypothalamus Influences motivated behaviorRegulates hunger, thirst, body temperature, and sexual drive.Directly involved in emotional

behavior4 F’s

The brain and behavior (Con’t)

Right Brain – Left hand touchMusicArtDanceSculpturePerceptionFantasy

The brain and behavior (Con’t)

Left Brain –

Right hand touchMathLanguageScienceWritingLogic

Broca’s Area – “Boca” – Word productionWernicke’s Area – Word comprehension

The brain and behavior (Con’t)

The Limbic System: includes parts of the thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala

regulation of emotion, memory, and motivation

Hippocampus - role in memory processesAmygdala – learning of fear response (parts of

the brain are needed for learning); semantic memories

The Brain – The Limbic System

Ring of structures located between the central core and the cerebral hemispheresImportant to learning and emotional behavior

Hippocampus essential in formation of new memoriesAmygdala, together with the

hippocampus, is important for regulating emotions

The brain and behavior (Con’t)

Cerebral Hemispheres – right and left halves of the cerebrum

Occipital – back of head – visual signals are sent and visual processing begins – Primary Visual Cortex

Parietal – forward of the occipital – registers sense of touch – Primary Somatosensory Cortex.Temporal – below the parietal – auditory processing – Primary Auditory CortexFrontal – continuing forward – principle areas that control the movement of muscles – Primary

Motor Cortex

Corpus Callosum – structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres

The Cerebral Cortex

Occipital lobeReceives and processes visual

information

Temporal lobeComplex visual tasks such as face

recognitionReceives and processed auditory

informationInvolved in balance, some emotions and motivationsSome language processing

The Cerebral CortexParietal lobe

Receives sensory information from body

Involved in spatial abilities

Frontal lobeCoordinated information from

other lobesControls voluntary movement,

attention, setting goals, and expression of appropriate

emotions

Where Are Memories Stored?

Hemispheric SpecializationCorpus Callosum

Fibers that connect the two hemispheres

Allow close communication between left and right

hemishphere

Each hemisphere appears to specialize in certain functions

Neural Plasticity• The brain can be changed, both structurally and chemically, by

experience• Rat studies show that an “enriched” environment leads to

larger neurons with more connections• Has also been shown in humans• Recent research has uncovered evidence of neurogenesis, or

the production of new brain cells, in human brains

Tools for Studying the Nervous System

Microelectrode Techniques• Very small electrodes inserted into individual neurons• Used to study activity of a single neuron

Macroelectrode Techniques• Used to get a picture of overall activity in the brain• An example is an EEG, which uses electrodes placed on a

person’s scalp to measure brain activity

Structural Imaging• Computerized Axial Tomography (CT-scan)• Uses X-rays to create a 3-dimensional image of the brain

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)• Uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce images

Functional Imaging• EEG imaging• electrical activity on the scalp from millions of neurons is used to

produce a continuous picture of activity in the brain• Magentoencephalography (MEG) and Magnetic source

imaging (MSI)• Can localize activity more precisely than EEG

Functional Imaging• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon

Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)• Use radioactive glucose to determine location of greatest brain

activity• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)• Shows function and structure by measuring movement of blood

molecules within the brain

The Endocrine System

Endocrine System

Endocrine System – glands that secrete chemicals into the bloodstream/help control bodily functioning

Hormones Controlled by the nervous system through the

hypothalamusConnection with the Pituitary gland – “Master

Gland”

Hypothalamus > ANS > Pituitary Gland > Adrenal Gland

The Endocrine SystemHelps coordinate and integrate complex psychological reactionsEndocrine glands secrete hormones into the bloodstreamHormones serve to organize the nervous system and bodyHormones also activate behavior, such as sexual behavior

The Endocrine System

Thyroid glandSecretes hormones

(primarily thyroxin) that control metabolism

Parathyroid glandsControl levels of calcium and

phosphate which in turn controls levels of excitability

The Endocrine SystemPineal gland

Secretes melatonin which regulates the sleep-wake

cyclePons

PancreasRegulates blood-sugar levels

Secretes insulin and glucagon

The Endocrine SystemPituitary gland

Referred to as the “master gland” because it regulates

many other glands

GonadsOvaries and testes secrete estrogens and androgens

Adrenal glandsSecretes hormones in

reaction to stress