Unit 3-B (B): Older Brain Structures A.P. Psychology

Do-Now (Discussion) What type of information can be gained through the following neurological measurement tools? E.E.G. (Electroencephalogram) C.T. (Computed Tomography) Scan P.E.T. (Positron Emission Tomography) Scan M.R.I. (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) f.M.R.I. (Functional M.R.I.)

The Brain Brain-to-Body Weight Ratios of Living Organisms: Dinosaurs: Elephants: 1/600th Mice: 1/40th Marmosets: 1/25th

Other than size, what else determines a species’ intelligence? The Brain Other than size, what else determines a species’ intelligence?

Older Brain Structures: The Brainstem The complexities of brain structures serve as indicators of a species’ intellectual capacities Brainstem: Oldest part and central core of the brain Beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull Function: Automatic survival functions

Older Brain Structures: The Brainstem Medulla: Base of the brainstem Functions: Controls heartbeat Controls breathing Pons: Located above the medulla Function: Coordinates movement Reticular Formation: A nerve network in the brainstem Controlling arousal

Older Brain Structures: The Brainstem What types of automatic survival functions are controlled by the brainstem? How do the medulla and reticular formation interact with the autonomic nervous system? How do the pons interact with the somatic nervous system?

Older Brain Structures: The Brainstem and Thalamus

Older Brain Structures: The Thalamus & Cerebellum Brain’s sensory switchboard Located on top of the brainstem Functions: Directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex Transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla Cerebellum: “Little Brain” Located at rear of brainstem Processing sensory input Coordinating movement output and balance

Older Brain Structures: The Thalamus & Cerebellum With which types of neurons does the thalamus interact? With which types of neurons does the cerebellum interact?

Older Brain Structures: The Cerebellum

Older Brain Structures: The Limbic System Doughnut-shaped neural system Located below the cerebral hemispheres Includes: Hippocampus Amygdala Hypothalamus Functions: Linked to Emotions/Drives

Older Brain Structures: The Limbic System

Older Brain Structures: The Limbic System Hippocampus: Function: Processes Memory Amygdala: Two lima bean-sized neural clusters Linked to Emotion Hypothalamus: Located below the thalamus Functions: Maintenance activities: eating, drinking, body temperature Helps govern endocrine system (via pituitary gland) Linked to emotion and reward

Older Brain Structures: The Limbic System Imagine that you encounter an angry cat. Its back is arched, fur is fluffed, and pupils are dilated. Which division of the autonomic nervous system is activated by this stimulation of its amygdala (neural center of emotion)?

Brain Structures and their Functions

Review Describe the functions of the following parts of the brain: Brainstem Medulla Pons Reticular Formation Thalamus Cerebellum Limbic System: Hippocampus Amygdala Hypothalamus

Unit 3-B (C): The Cerebral Cortex A.P. Psychology

Do-Now (In Journal) Identify the parts of the older brain structures that are responsible for the following functions: Heartbeat: All senses except for smell: Feeling angry: Memories of freshman year: Sexual arousal: Body movement: Balance: Reaching for food (survival): Body temperature:

Structure of the Cerebral Cortex Intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres The body’s ultimate control and information-processing center Glial Cells (Glia): Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

Structure of the Cerebral Cortex Frontal Lobes: Located behind the forehead Functions: Speaking Muscle Movements Judgments Parietal Lobes: Located at the top/rear of the head Sensory Input (Touch/Body position)

Structure of the Cerebral Cortex Occipital Lobes Located at the back of the head Includes Visual Cortex Functions: Receives information from visual fields Temporal Lobes Located roughly above the ears Includes Auditory Cortex Receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

Structure of the Cerebral Cortex

The Visual and Auditory Cortex

The Visual and Auditory Cortex Which lobe is responsible for interpreting visual information? Which lobe is responsible for interpreting auditory information?

f.M.R.I.: Stimulation of Visual Cortex

Functions of the Cerebral Cortex Motor Cortex: Located at rear of frontal lobes Controls voluntary movements (Output) Sensory Cortex: Located at front of parietal lobes Registers and processes body touch and movement sensations (Input) Association Areas: Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved with primary motor/sensory functions Involved in higher mental functions: Learning Remembering Thinking Speaking

Functions of the Motor and Sensory Cortex

Areas of the Cortex in Four Mammals

What can be inferred about organisms with larger association areas?

Review Describe the functions of the following parts of the Cerebral Cortex: Frontal Lobes Parietal Lobes Occipital Lobes Temporal Lobes Motor Cortex Sensory Cortex Association Areas

Unit 3-B (D): The Brain and Language A.P. Psychology

Do-Now (Discussion) Why are psychologists interested in studying language? What enables humans to speak/understand language, while other animals are unable to do so? What cognitive processes must occur in order to speak and understand language?

The Brain and Language Several cognitive processes occur when speaking and understanding language: Reading words Interpreting written words as sounds Interpreting sounds as meanings Speaking words Pronouncing words

The Brain and Language: Expression and Reception Broca’s Area: Controls language expression Directs muscle movements involved in speech Left frontal lobe Wernicke’s Area: Controls language reception/comprehension Left temporal lobe

Brain Areas Involved in Language Processing

Brain Areas Involved in Language Processing By reading the words on this screen, what areas of the brain are you using?

Brain Activity When Hearing/Speaking/Seeing Words

The Brain and Language: Language Impairment Aphasia: Impairment of language Damage to left hemisphere: Broca’s Area (Impairing speaking) Wernicke’s Area (Impairing understanding)

The Brain and Language: Language Impairment How does this psychological cartoon illustrate Aphasia?

Review What functions of language are associated with the following parts of the brain: Broca’s Area Wernicke’s Area What is Aphasia? What are its causes? What are its symptoms?

Unit 3-B (E): Right-Left Differences in the Brain A.P. Psychology

Do-Now (Discussion) What is it mean to be a “right-brain” vs. “left-brain” dominant person? What does this suggest about the workings of the brain?

The Brain’s Plasticity The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience Neurogenesis: The formation of new neurons

The Brain’s Plasticity When is the brain “most plastic?” What are some ways that the brain’s plasticity can benefit people with limited senses (e.g. blind or deaf people)?

The Divided Brain Lateralization: The brain’s left and right hemispheres serve different physiological and cognitive functions Most apparent after brain damage Left hemisphere: dominant/major Right hemisphere: subordinate/minor

Why do you think a higher percentage (90%) of people are right-handed? The Divided Brain Why do you think a higher percentage (90%) of people are right-handed?

The Divided Brain Corpus Callosum: The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

The Divided Brain Split Brain: A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum)

Visual Perception of the Split Brain

Testing the Divided Brain

Testing the Divided Brain

What is Split Brain? The Divided Brain What are the causes of this condition? What are the effects of this condition?

Which One is Happier?

Right-Left Differences in the Intact Brain Left Brain: Logical Sequential Rational Analytical Objective Looks at parts Right portion of body Academic Strengths: Language (Written/Spoken) Science & Math Right Brain: Random Intuitive Holistic Synthesizing Subjective (Emotion) Looks at wholes Left portion of body Academic Strengths: Art & Music Creativity

Right-Left Differences in the Intact Brain Identify the brain hemisphere that is most associated with each of the following abilities, tasks, and characteristics: Problem-solving Artistic Design Imagination Construction Emotion Practicality “Masculinity” “Femininity”

Review What is plasticity of the brain? What is a split brain patient? When is the brain typically “most plastic?” What is a split brain patient? What are the causes of this condition? What are the effects of this condition? Differentiate between the abilities and characteristics of the brain’s left and right hemispheres.