The Origins of Neuroscience Prehistoric ancestors Brain vital to life Skull surgeries Evidence: Trepanation Skulls show signs of healing Views of ancient Egypt Heart: Seat of soul and memory (not the head)

The Origins of Neuroscience Views of the Brain: Ancient Greece Correlation between structure and function Hippocrates Brain: Involved in sensation; seat of intelligence Aristotle: Clung to the heart was the centwe of the intellect. Brain was a radiator that cooled the blood Tempered the seething heart

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/heart

The Origins of Neuroscience Views of the Brain: The Roman Empire Views of Greek physician Galen Cerebrum Cerebellum Ventricles

The Origins of Neuroscience Views of the Brain: The Renaissance The brain as a machine

The Origins of Neuroscience Views of the Brain: The Renaissance Fluid-mechanical theory of brain function Philosophical mind-brain problem

The Origins of Neuroscience Views of the Brain: The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries Gray matter and white matter

The Origins of Neuroscience Views of the Brain: Renaissance to the Nineteenth Century Gyri, sulci, and fissures

The Origins of Neuroscience Views of the Brain: The Nineteenth Century Central subdivision: brain and spinal cord Peripheral division: network of nerves coursing through the body

The Origins of Neuroscience Views of the Brain: The Nineteenth Century Nerve as wires, understanding of electrical phenomena, nervous system can generate electricity Bell and Magendie: Dorsal and ventral roots carry information in opposite directions

The Origins of Neuroscience Localization of Function in the Brain Charles Bell Cerebellum: Origin of the motor fibers Cerebrum: Destination of sensory fibers Marie-Jean-Pierre Flourens Experimental ablation method

The Origins of Neuroscience Localization of Function in the Brain Franz Joseph Gall Phrenology: Bumps on the surface of skull reflect brain surface and related personality traits

The Origins of Neuroscience Localization of Function in the Brain (Cont’d) Paul Broca Discrete region of the human cerebrum for speech

The Origins of Neuroscience Localization of Function in the Brain (Cont’d) Regional specialization in different species

The Origins of Neuroscience Evolution of the Nervous System Natural selection Nervous systems of different species may share common mechanisms Rationale for “animal models”

The Origins of Neuroscience The Neuron: The Basic Functional Unit of the Brain Cell theory Cells Nerve cells

Neuroscience Today Reductionist approach Levels of analysis Molecular Cellular Systems Behavioral Cognitive

Neuroscience Today The Neuroscientist -Education, Training, Research experience -Clinical vs. Experimental research

Neuroscience Today Scientific Process Observation Replication Interpretation Verification

Neuroscience Today The Use of Animals in Neuroscience Research Animals: Renewable natural resources The more basic the process under investigation, the more distant the evolutionary relationship with humans Examples (from simple to more complex) - nematodes, insects, snails, squid, rodents, monkeys, etc.

Neuroscience Today The Use of Animals in Neuroscience Research (Cont’d) Role of animal welfare societies Neuroscientists accept certain moral responsibilities Ensure that experiments are worthwhile and well planned Eliminate or minimize pain and distress to the animal All possible alternatives must be considered first

Neuroscience Today The Use of Animals in Neuroscience Research (Cont’d) Animal rights Philosophy Abolition of animal use Animal rights activists

Neuroscience Today The Cost of Ignorance: Nervous System Disorders

Concluding Remarks Goal of neuroscience:To learn how the nervous system functions Brain’s activity reflected in behavior Computer-assisted imaging techniques New treatments for nervous system disorders Non-invasive methods Experiments in live tissue