1. Studying The Brain
Lesson 6-2

3. Objectives Identify the structure and functions of the human brain
Discuss the different ways psychologists study the brain

4. Introduction
Early Greeks thought the heart was the source of feelings and thought
Hippocrates observed the effects of head injuries on people’s thoughts.

5. The Three Brains Hindbrain at base of the skull
controls most life processes (eating, sleep, appetite, thirst, mating)
includes cerebellum, medulla and pons
Brain

6. Hindbrain cerebellum- controls posture and balance
medulla- controls breathing
pons- bridges messages between brain and spinal cord
Brain

7. Midbrain
Integrates sensory information and relays it
Brain

8. Forebrain
Includes thalamus- integrates sensory information, except smell
hypothalamus- controls hunger, thirst, body temperature, and sexual behavior
Brain

9. Forebrain Allows for higher level thinking
Outer layer is called cerebral cortex
Inner layer is the cerebrum
Brain

10. Activity
Color the brain according to hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain
Label structure and function:
thalamus - cerebellum
pituitary gland -cerebral cortex
pons -spinal cord
medulla

11. H I N D M I D F O R E

12. Lobes of the Brain Cerebrum is two sides
Corpus Callosum is a band of fibers that connects the two sides
Deep grooves that forms lobes

13. Lobes of the Brain Occipital Lobe- processes visual info
Parietal Lobes- Sensory information
Temporal Lobe- hearing, memory, emotion, speaking
Frontal Lobe- organization, planning, creative thinking, and personality

14. Psychosurgery
A prefrontal lobotomy has been preformed many times to alter psychopathic behavior
are very controversial when preformed on prisoners
informed consent
role of prisons

15. Brain and Criminal Behavior
Recent studies show that men convicted of violent crimes are more likely to have abnormalities of their frontal lobe and their right hemisphere.

16. Activity
Color and label the lobes of the brain

17. Left and Right Hemispheres
Are almost mirror images
Left brain controls the right side of the body
controls speech for most people
controls mathematical ability and logic

18. Left and Right Hemispheres
Right hemisphere controls left side of the body
visual and spatial ability
puzzles
recognizing patterns
music and art
creativity and intuition

19. Split Brain Operations
Corpus Callosum- lets right brain know what left brain is doing
right brain- sees the sunset
left brain- describes the sunset

20. Split-Brain Operations
In Epileptics, split the corpus callosum to decrease number of seizures
seizure is massive uncontrolled electrical activity that begins in either hemisphere and spreads to the other

21. Split-Brain Operations
Roger Sperry did experiments on people with split brain operations
Nobel Peace prize in 1981
Holds ball in right hand can say it is a ball, but put in left hand, can’t say it is a ball.
Showed each half had specialized functions

22. Activity
Right brain or left brain??

23. How Psychologists Study the Brain
Physiological Psychologists or Psychobiologists study the role of the brain in behavior

24. Recording
Electrodes- can be inserted into the brain to record electrical activity
electroencephalograph- EEG records electrical activity from whole areas of the brain
See p. 167

25. Stimulation Electrodes can be used to set off the firing of neurons
Stimulate brains of patients during surgery to find out what function they perform
have been used to relieve pain of terminally ill cancer patients
experimented with use to control violent emotional behavior

26. Lesions Cut or destroy a small portion of an animals brain
They then monitor the animal for changes in behavior
Assume those changes are controlled by that part of the brain
Rhesus monkey study
no longer fearful and aggressive

27. Accidents 1848- Phineas Gage
RR foreman
showed good judgement, restraint, worked well with others
tamping iron enters Gage’s head right below left eye (13 pounds, 3 feet long)
survived, but personality changed greatly

28. Accidents
Dr. Paul Broca discovered the connection between left brain and speech
area now called Broca’s area

29. Images Computer Axial Tomography (CAT)
xrays pass around and through a person’s head
radiation absorbed based on density of brain tissue
transforms into a 3 dimensional picture

30. Images Positron Emission Topography (PET)
captures a picture as different parts are being used
Uses a radioactive solution into the blood and then measures the amount absorbed by blood cells.

31. Images Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
study both structures and activity
pass radio frequencies through the brain
used to identify tumors or brain damage

32. Closure Web activity from prentice hall site
Read articles on brain injury on prentice hall site and report to class. Each student reads a different one.
Web activity- Probe the brain
Research a brain disorder