THE BRAIN
The Brain in sum
The Brain in SumPrefrontal Cortex:
Dopamine-sensitive neuronsPlanning complex cognitive behavior, personality expression, decision making and moderating social behavior
Hippocampus:Consolidation of short-term to long-term memory
Hypothalamus:The hypothalamus is responsible for certain metabolic processes and other autonomic nervous system processes Stimulates or inhibits the secretion of pituitary hormones
PSYCHOLOGY
“Old” Psychological Theories
Sigmund Freud founded the discipline of psychoanalysis and helped establish the field of verbal psychotherapy The Freudian theory: The id - motivations and instinctual urges are hidden in the unconscious mind The super-ego (our conscience) - upholds the moral ideals that we assume to be “perfection”The ego (rational/conscious mind) tries to maintain a balance between these two
“Old” Psychological Theories
“Old” Psychological Theories
Present day support for this theory
Unconscious Motivation: Neuronal pathway connecting perceptual information with “fear receptors” but which bypasses hippocampus Repression of Memories in patients Damage to the frontal limbic region causes Korsakoff’s psychosis where cognitive
However…Criticisms of the the Freudian theory:
“Pseudo-science”: Little or no scientific evidence (based on patient observations) We should not be trying to force-fit neurobiological data into outdated psychoanalytical theories The ego-id struggle is unlikely to control brain chemistry Need for more biologically based models of dreams, mental illness and normal conscious experience
Criminal PsychologyProfiling of criminals based on trend and patterns in behaviour of criminals in the past (esp. serial killers) Profile is usually based on:
Victimology Type of crime/location “Trigger” that could have led to the killings
Memory Process by which information is:
Encoded Stored Retrieved
Short-term memory vs. Long-memory (The working memory)
Atkinson-Shiffrin model
Hippocampus
Pre-frontal Cortex
Baddeley and Hitch Model
Torrance Test of Creative Thinking
Right Brain vs. Left Brain
Left brain vs Right brainComplex relationshipsCorpus Callosum
Often cut to cure seizuresProvides left/right informationSpeech in left, identification of visual concepts in rightLeft responsible for explanative power, right for perception of self
Sleep and DreamsMorpheus and Hypnos—Greek Gods of Dreams and SleepSleep: found in almost all organisms, sharks sleepshalf a brain at a timeDreams: Most mammals + some bird/reptile
Sleep
2 main components- Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and non Rapid Eye Movement (NREM)REM longer and more frequent closer to wakingRecovery functionsNREM have diffbrain waves
DreamsNo one knows why! :OFrued-Unconscious desiresProposed cognitive purposes: transfers memory from short term to long term
Also to clear “junk” memory
Testing and selecting schemasEvolutionary RelicsDamages to parietal lobe stops dreams
Interpersonal Relationships
Psychology of friendship:Beginnings: CommonalitiesGrowth: Reciprocal self-disclosure
Intimacy (but not too much)Positive reinforcements
Social-Identity SupportFriendships benefits when the we identify with the friend our primary social role and the friend supports itSelf centered?
Interpersonal Relationships
Psychology of LoveTriangle theory of love-Intimacy, commitment, passion.Opposites attract FALSELove is not just a feeling, it is also a commitment/decision
Interpersonal Relationships
Neurological basis of Love3 Stages of Love corresponds to 3 classes of neurotransmittersLust, Attraction and AttachmentTestosterone/estrogen Dopamine/norepinephrine/serotonin, (happiness and addiction)Oxytocin(bonding)
Evil GenePossibility of a genetic condition that contributes to violence/psychopathy?Callous-Unemotional Children: “lack of affect, remorse or empathy”Unable to feel emotions in others cause of extreme violence
Evil GeneMirror Neurons: Neurons that fire when we perform OR see others perform an action.
Theorized to play a part in empathy
Anterior cingulate cortex hypothesized to be involved in empathyLack of an “empathy molecule”/receptors?
Oxytocin (love and boding), serotonin and dopamine (feel good molecules)?
(Interesting) Mental Illness
Korsakoffs SyndromeInability to form long term memory amongst othersNeuron loss via malnutrition/alcoholism
ProsopagnosiaInability to recognize faces Fusiform Face area
Cotard DelusionPatient believes that he is deadDissociation between recognition and emotion
Mental IllnessSchizophrenia
Disorganised, distracted thinking, disturbed perceptions, inappropriate emotionsDopamine, thalamus, amygdala overactivity and shrinking cerebal tissue Strongly genetic correlation, impairments in fetal brain development (can be detected early)
Antisocial Personality DisorderCharacterized by high intelligence and high apathy even to close ones, heightened aggressionReduced frontal lobes activityReduced Adrenaline secretion