1. Biological and Evolutionary Bases of Behavior
Chapter 3

2. Darwin’s finches

3. How humans came to be
The evolution of bipedalism and encephalization hugely improved fitness
Bipedalism reduced calorie requirements of moving over distance

4. Encephalization increased our abilities to problem-solve and cooperate with conspecifics to exploit our environment for food and resources

5. Evolution of cognition
Complex reasoning, remembering, & planning enabled language
Language enabled transmission of knowledge gained over time
Transmission of knowledge, combined with creativity and more reasoning enabled cultural evolution
Cultural evolution has enabled such activities as eating with forks, using computers, and participating in roles in civilization

6. Peeking into human hardware
Recent development of sophisticated computer methods allow detailed images of human brain without damaging or distressing patient. Methods include
computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT)
positron emission tomography (PET)
electro-encephalography (EEG)
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
functional MRI

7. The Organization of the Brain
Asymmetries in the brain
Language
Understanding about brain mechanisms for language largely derived from studies of patients with brain damage.
Aphasia – language deficit caused by brain damage
Broca’s area – involved in speech production
Wernicke’s area – involved in speech comprehension

8. The Organization of the Brain
Split-brain research
The brain normally acts as integrated whole but for some epilepsy patients, the corpus callosum is surgically severed - these split-brain patients provide important insights into brain function

9. The Organization of the Brain

11. The Organization of the Brain
...Asymmetries in the brain
Hemispheric specialization – split-brain research indicates two hemispheres function differently
Left hemisphere – controls ability to express self through language and skilled in mathematical abilities
Right hemisphere – comprehends only simple language but highly developed in spatial and pattern sense
Specialization does not mean two hemispheres work independently but rather they continually integrate activities

12. Reading assignment
Pg. 50, 71-73, 75