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Biological Bases of Behaviors
Part 1: The Brain
Unit 2 Biopsychology Psychology 40S
C. McMurraySource: David Myers Worth
Publishers
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History of Mind
In 1800, Franz Gall suggested that bumps
of the skull represented mental abilities. His theory,
though incorrect, nevertheless proposed that
different mental abilities were
modular.
Phrenology
Bettm
an/ Corbis
Phineas GageIn 1848, Phineas Gage, a railroad worker was packing gunpower into a rock with a tamping iron.
A spark ignited the gunpowder, shooting the rod up through his left cheek and out the top of his skull, leaving his frontal lobes massively damaged.
To everyone’s amazement, Gage was immediately able to sit up and speak. Although his mental abilities and memories were intact, his personality was not. The soft spoken Gage was now irritable, profane and dishonest. Gage was no longer Gage. • Watch story of Phineas Gage
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"You have brains in your head.You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourselfAny direction you choose.”
Watch video:
Human brain built for survival
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/6835-human-body-built-for-survival-video.htm
Brain Activity1. Get a large piece of paper and tape it to a wall. Stand
in front of the paper facing sideways. Find someone to shine a light (your phone works) on your head. Find another person to trace the silhouette of your head onto the paper.
2. Cut your silhouette out. We will be using both sides to place parts of the brain on your silhouette.
3. On one side, outline where your brain would be.
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Brain Parts for your silhouetteSide 11. Brainstem
2. Medulla
3. Pons
4. Reticular formation
5. Thalamus
6. Cerebellum
7. Pituitary gland
8. Amygdala
9. Hypothalamus
10. Hippocampus
11. Cerebral cortex
12. Corpus callosum
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Brain Parts for your silhouette
Side 2
1. Frontal lobe
2. Parietal lobe
3. Occipital lobe
4. Temporal lobe
5. Motor cortex
6. Sensory cortex
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Older Brain Structures
The Brainstem is the oldest part of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells and enters the skull. It is responsible for automatic survival
functions.
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Brain Stem:Medulla
The medulla is the base of the brainstem that controls heartbeat and breathing.
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Brain Stem:Reticular Formation
Reticular Formation is a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.
Reticular Formation
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Thalamus
The Thalamus is the brain’s sensory
switchboard, located on top of the
brainstem. It directs messages to the
sensory areas in the cortex and transmits
replies to the cerebellum and
medulla.
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The “little brain” (cerebellum)
attached to the rear of the brainstem. It
helps coordinate voluntary
movements and balance.
Cerebellum
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The Limbic System is a system of neural
structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebrum, associated with emotions such as fear, aggression and
drives for food and sex. It includes the pituitary
gland, amygdala, hypothalamus, and
hippocampus.
The Limbic System
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The Pituitary Gland is often referred to as the
“master gland” as it regulates many
activities of other endocrine glands. It also produces the growth hormone.
Pituitary Gland
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Amygdala
The Amygdala consists of two almond-shaped
neural clusters linked to the emotions of fear and
anger.
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Hypothalamus
The Hypothalamus lies below (hypo) the thalamus. It directs several maintenance activities like eating,
drinking, body temperature, and
control of emotions. It helps govern the
endocrine system via the pituitary gland.
Corpus Callosum
The corpus callosum is a thick band of fibers that connects the two hemispheres and passes information back and forth to each hemisphere.
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The Cerebral CortexThe intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells
that covers the cerebral hemispheres. It is the body’s ultimate control and information processing
center.
brain map
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Structure of the Cortex
Each brain hemisphere is
divided into four lobes that are separated by
prominent fissures. These lobes are the
frontal lobe (forehead), parietal
lobe (top to rear head), occipital lobe
(back head) and temporal lobe (side
of head).
Brain Lobes
• The Frontal Lobes are involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments.
• The Parietal Lobes receive sensory input for touch and body position.
• The Occipital Lobes receive visual information from the opposite visual field.
• The Temporal Lobes receive auditory information primarily from the opposite ear.
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Functions of the Cortex
The Motor Cortex is the area at the rear of the frontal lobes that control voluntary
movements. The Sensory Cortex (parietal lobe) receives information from skin
surface and sense organs.
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The brain is sculpted by our genes but also by our experiences.
Plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to modify itself after some type of injury or
illness.
rubber hand illusionWatch the brain that changes itself
Ellen Degeneres rubber hand episode
The Brain’s Plasticity
Face BlindnessWhat is Face Blindness?
watch face blindness
Take the Face Blindness Test
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The Split Brain ExperimentsRoger Sperry, in the 1960s, carried out his most famous experiment, the split brain experiment. It was a cure for people who suffered from a special kind of epilepsy. The corpus callosum was severed which stopped the seizures however some odd behaviours resulted.
Read more...
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Corpus Callosum