1. Brain and Behavior
Chapter 1

2. Interview with Rodney Brooks
Human as machine, machine as human:

4. Organizational Principles
Two hemispheres – left, right
Each with four distinct lobes:
Frontal – thinking, planning, control of movement
Parietal – tactile sensation, body image, space
Occipital – vision
Temporal – hearing, learning and memory, emotion
Each lobe has folds:
Gyri (gyrus) – crests (flat areas)
Sulci (sulcus) – grooves (areas folded in)

6. Organization (Cont.) Contralateral control:
The left hemisphere controls the right side of the body.
The right hemisphere controls the left side of the body.
Sensory information from one side of the body is interpreted by the opposite brain hemisphere.
Some brain functions are localized to a hemisphere.

8. Localization of Language
Aphasia – a difficulty of language caused by brain injury (such as with stroke).
Broca – described patients who can understand language but not speak.
Results from damage to Broca’s area.
Wernicke – described patients who can speak but not understand language.
Results from damage to Wernicke’s area.

9. A Language Circuit
Wernicke’s areas and Broca’s areas are part of a connected circuit for receiving and producing language.
Wernicke predicted conduction aphasia – a disorder produced by breaking the connection between the two regions.
Results in paraphasia – omitting and substituting parts of speech. Also, inability to repeat phrases.

10. Brodmann Areas
Different areas of the brain with different functions have different kinds of neurons.
Brodmann mapped the areas based on the kinds of cells found:
Cytoarchitectonic method
52 functionally distinct areas identified by number.

11. Evolution and Neuroscience
Darwin’s theory of natural selection states that modern species of organisms evolved from a common ancestor.
Animal models can be used because there are important similarities with humans.
Specialization for an environmental niche means there are also important differences.
Today animal welfare is closely monitored.

13. Levels of Analysis
The reductionist approach breaks the brain into smaller pieces for study:
Molecular -- what molecules do
Cellular – how molecules work together in cell
Systems (vision, motor) – circuits that perform a common function
Behavioral – how systems work together to produce integrated behaviors
Cognitive – neural mechanisms of mental activity

14. Understanding Disorders
An important goal of neuroscience is finding treatment, prevention, or cure for serious disorders:
Alzheimer’s disease -- dementia
Parkinson’s disease –voluntary motor movement
Depression – 30,000 suicides per year
Schizophrenia – disrupts cognition, personality
Stroke
Alcohol & drug addiction