Thinking About Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behavior 2e Charles T. Blair-Broeker Randal M. Ernst

Biopsychological Domain

The Biological Bases of Behavior Chapter

The Brain Module 07

definitions Thalamus: sensory switchboard; all sensory info goes here and gets directed to the brain for processing.   Reticular formation: Network that controls wakefulness and arousal.

Medulla: Controls basic life support function (breathing, heartbeat, circulation, swallowing, etc)   Spinal cord: Connects the brain to the rest of your body

Cerebellum: Also called the mini brain. Controls voluntary movement and balance. If you had damage, it is possible that you would decide to move and attempt, but you would probably lose balance. Frontal lobe: controls thinking and judgement; what separates us from animals

Parietal lobe: touch and sensory processing   Occipital lobes: Controls vision(visual processing)

Temporal lobes: Controls hearing (auditory processing)   Central fissure: Boundary or separation between your frontal and parietal lobes

Lateral fissure: Marks area between lower limits of frontal lobes and upper limits of temporal lobes.   Hippocampus: Processes new memories for permanent storage

Amygdala: Controls many emotional responses.   Hypothalamus: Regulates body’s maintenance functions (hunger, thirst, body temperature, stress control); also has to do with emotional pleasure.

Figure 7.3 Phineas Gage Blair-Broeker and Ernst: Thinking About Psychology, Second Edition Copyright © 2008 by Worth Publishers

Phineas Gage Phineas Gage Story Getting to Know your Brain fist method (5 mins) memorize the parts of the brain easily!

Lower-Level Brain Structures: The Brainstem Module 7: The Brain

The brains of most animals and all mammals share certain similarities such as basic functions like digestion and respiration. The more complex the organism, the more complex and highly developed its brain The parts of the brain developed first tend to be in the inside lower regions of the brain.

Brainstem The oldest part and central core of the brain; It begins where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull Is responsible for automatic survival functions

Brainstem

Medulla Located at the base of the brainstem Controls life-supporting functions like heartbeat and breathing Damage to this area can lead to death.

Medulla

Reticular Formation A nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling wakefulness and arousal Extending up and down the spinal cord into the brain Controls an organism’s level of alertness Damage to this area can cause a coma.

Lower-Level Brain Structures: The Thalamus Module 7: The Brain

Thalamus Sits atop the brainstem The brain’s sensory switchboard – Directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex Thalamus is Greek for “inner chamber.”

Thalamus

Lower-Level Brain Structures: The Cerebellum Module 7: The Brain

Cerebellum Latin for the “little brain” Attached to the rear of the brain Helps coordinate voluntary movements and balance If damaged, the person could perform basic movements but would lose fine coordination skills.

Cerebellum

Cerebellum

Lower-Level Brain Structures: The Limbic System Module 7: The Brain

Limbic System A ring of structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral cortex Helps regulate memory, aggression, fear, hunger, and thirst Includes the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala

Hypothalamus A neural structure lying below the thalamus Regulates the body’s maintenance activities such as; eating, drinking, body temperature, and it linked to emotion Plays a role in emotions, pleasure, and sexual function

Hippocampus A neural center located in the limbic system that wraps around the back of the thalamus Helps processing new memories for permanent storage Looks something like a seahorse Hippo is Greek for “horse.”

Amygdala Two almond shaped neural cluster in the limbic system Controls emotional responses such as fear and anger

The Cerebral Cortex Module 7: The Brain

Cerebral Cortex The intricate fabric of interconnected neurons that form the body’s ultimate control and information processing center Covers the brain’s lower level structures Contains an estimated 30 billion nerve cells Divided into four lobes brain song (2 mins)

Corpus Callosum The large band of neural fibers that connects the two brain hemispheres and allows them to communicate with each other Is sometimes cut to prevent seizures

Corpus Callosum

Longitudinal Fissure The long crevice that divides the cerebral cortex into left and right hemispheres This and other fissures in the brain create major divisions in the brain called lobes

Frontal Lobes The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead Is involved in planning and judgments Includes the motor cortex

Parietal Lobes The portion of the cerebral cortex lying on the top of the head and toward the rear Includes the somatosensory cortex and general association areas used in processing information Regions available for general processing, including mathematical reasoning Designated as the association lobes Behind the frontal lobes

Occipital Lobe The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head It includes the primary visual processing areas of the brain

Temporal Lobes Includes the auditory (hearing) areas of the brain Where sound information is processed Located roughly above the ears

Motor Cortex The strip of brain tissue at the rear of the frontal lobes Controls voluntary movement Different parts of the cortex control different parts of the body. The motor cortex in the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body and visa versa.

Somatosensory Cortex The brain are located in the front of the parietal lobes Registers and processes body sensations Soma is Greek for “body.”

Differences Between the Two Hemispheres Left and Right Brain Games Module 7: The Brain

Hemispheric Differences “Left-brained” and “right-brained” debunked Brain is divided into two hemispheres but works as a single entity. Both sides continually communicate via the corpus callosum, except in those with split brains.

Differences Between the Two Hemispheres: Language and Spatial Abilities Module 7: The Brain

The Brain’s Left Hemisphere For most people, language functions are in the left hemisphere. For a small percentage of people, language functions are in the right hemisphere.

Broca’s Area The brain area of the left frontal lobe Directs the muscle movements involve in speech If damaged the person can form the ideas but cannot express them as speech tono tono man

Wernicke’s Area A brain area of the left temporal lobe Involved in language comprehension and expression Our ability to understand what is said to us Usually in the left temporal lobe example (2 mins)

The Brain’s Right Hemisphere Houses the brain’s spatial abilities Our spatial ability allows us to perceive or organize things in a given space, judge distance, etc. Helps in making connections between words

Split Brain Research

Split Brain Research

Split Brain Research

Split Brain Research

Split Brain Research

Split Brain Research

Split Brain Research

split brain behavior

Brain Differences between Men and Women A Tale of Two Brains (13 mins)

Latest Research: The research on the differences of male and female brains is rather inconclusive. But here are some discoveries that do or could exist: When rhesus monkeys are studied, male monkeys preferred “wheeled toys” and female monkeys preferred “plush toys”. But the brains of animals and humans are different.

-different areas in the brain of men and women “light up” during visuospatial navigation tasks (like getting out of a maze) -Some studies suggest that even though men and women’s brains have some physiological differences, we cannot divide them into male and female.

Men’s brains are slightly larger than female brains. Research does show that men and women are susceptible to largely different brain disorders Males: autism, ADHD, conduct disorder, language impairment, Tourette syndrome, dyslexia Females: depression, anxiety disorder and anorexia nervosa

Brain Plasticity The brain’s extraordinary ability to compensate for damage or injury Especially strong in the young The cerebral cortex can actually reprogram itself to compensate The brain adapts to it’s environment the girl with half a brain Jill Bolte Taylor Stroke of Insight

Studying the Brain: Scanning Techniques Module 05: The Brain

Computerized Axial Tomography (CT or CAT) A series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body. Reveals the brain’s structure

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) A technique that sues magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among types of soft tissue; this allows us to see structures within the brain.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface; these waves, measured by electrodes placed on the scalp, are helpful in evaluating brain function.

Positron Emission Tomography Scan (PET scan) A visual display of brain activity. Injection of a radioactive glucose Reveals the brain’s functioning

the neuroanatomical teenage brain Jill Bolte Taylor

The End

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