Psychology 2617 Dr. D Brodbeck

History and Origins of the Study of Neuropsychology o The course is about the relationship between brain and human behaviour o This is a question that has involved many people, philosophers, physicians, psychologists and neuroscientists o The book has 4 major questions to keep in mind and, as this is an historical rant, I think they are pretty good

Questions questions Does our brain constitute a major part of who we are? Does our brain constitute a major part of who we are? Is the brain the source of all behaviour? Is the brain the source of all behaviour? Where do we go when our brain dies? Where do we go when our brain dies? Is there a soul? Is there a soul? You might note those last 2 are not that scientific…. You might note those last 2 are not that scientific…. Vitalism vs materialism Vitalism vs materialism

History is cool History can be gory History can be gory Back in the flintstone days… Back in the flintstone days… Trephination Trephination Probably released pressure on the brain Probably released pressure on the brain (probably thought it was to release evil spirits….) (probably thought it was to release evil spirits….)

Its all Greek to me Pythagoras and his followers did more than look at triangles Pythagoras and his followers did more than look at triangles First to suggest that reasoning was in the brain First to suggest that reasoning was in the brain Hippocrates figured out the left right thing Hippocrates figured out the left right thing Plato said the brain was for reasoning as it was closer to heaven…. Plato said the brain was for reasoning as it was closer to heaven….

Aristotle Believed that the heart was the seat of behaviour Believed that the heart was the seat of behaviour He noted the importance of the brain (but it was for cooling blood he figured) He noted the importance of the brain (but it was for cooling blood he figured)

Walk like an Egyptian Cell doctrine Cell doctrine Importance of ventricles Importance of ventricles Would hold different faculties, both reasoning and spirit Would hold different faculties, both reasoning and spirit DaVinci liked it too DaVinci liked it too Course it is dead wrong Course it is dead wrong

Galen Physician to the gladiators Physician to the gladiators Figured out that brain was key Figured out that brain was key Figured out that different bits did different stuff, looking at head injuries basically Figured out that different bits did different stuff, looking at head injuries basically

Rene Descartes Descartes said that we were machines with a soul Descartes said that we were machines with a soul The notion was that the mind and the body were separate The notion was that the mind and the body were separate Animals have no soul Animals have no soul

Localization and Phrenology Franz Gall Franz Gall Thought mental faculties were localized Thought mental faculties were localized Not really a bad idea, indeed, he was, in VERY general terms correct Not really a bad idea, indeed, he was, in VERY general terms correct

Localization though is not all bad Broca and productive language Broca and productive language Werknicke and receptive language Werknicke and receptive language Freud was critical of them and not just because they were not potty trained properly Freud was critical of them and not just because they were not potty trained properly Not strictly localizaion Not strictly localizaion

Hughlings Jackson Like usually happens when there are two opposing camps, the middle ground is probably right…. Like usually happens when there are two opposing camps, the middle ground is probably right…. Hierarchical and Parallel functioning of the human nervous system Hierarchical and Parallel functioning of the human nervous system Reasoned that there just could not be single areas that controlled individual functions but more like nodes Reasoned that there just could not be single areas that controlled individual functions but more like nodes Luria doing his Russian thing Luria doing his Russian thing

Modern ideas Penfield Penfield Hebb Hebb Milner Milner (All Canadian content there) (All Canadian content there) The idea of putting psychology and neurology together can be credited to Hebb and Milner far as I can tell The idea of putting psychology and neurology together can be credited to Hebb and Milner far as I can tell

Today Everything from test batteries to fMRI Everything from test batteries to fMRI Indeed, much of what neuropsychologists and neurologists do involves non invasive procedures Indeed, much of what neuropsychologists and neurologists do involves non invasive procedures Often leads to scans etc Often leads to scans etc

Predictions Dinosaurs will die Dinosaurs will die More understanding of brain and beahviour relationships More understanding of brain and beahviour relationships Stuff we can’t imagine Stuff we can’t imagine

Questions questions Does our brain constitute a major part of who we are? Does our brain constitute a major part of who we are? Is the brain the source of all behaviour? Is the brain the source of all behaviour? Where do we go when our brain dies? Where do we go when our brain dies? Is there a soul? Is there a soul? So, what do you think of these questions now? So, what do you think of these questions now?