1. Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
Prepared by Michael J. Renner, Ph.D.
These slides ©2001 Prentice Hall Psychology Publishing
CHAPTER 2: Behavioral Neuroscience
©2001 Prentice Hall

2. Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
The Body’s Communication Networks
The Neuron
The Brain
Prospects for the Future
Chapter outline
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

3. The Body’s Communication Networks The Nervous System
Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
The Body’s Communication Networks The Nervous System
Central Nervous System(CNS)
The network of nerves contained within the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System(PNS)
The PNS comprises the somatic and autonomic nervous systems
Figure 2.3 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

4. The Body’s Communication Networks Divisions of the Nervous System
Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
The Body’s Communication Networks Divisions of the Nervous System
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

5. The Body’s Communication Networks The Endocrine System
Behavioral Neuroscience
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The Body’s Communication Networks The Endocrine System
Endocrine system: Ductless glands that regulate growth, reproduction, metabolism, mood, and some behavior.
Hormones: Chemical messengers secreted into the bloodstream.
Figure 2.4 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

6. Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The Neuron
Neurons
Nerve cells that serve as the building blocks of the nervous system
Sensory Neurons
Neurons that send signals from the senses, skin, muscles, and internal organs to the CNS
Motor Neurons
Neurons that transmit commands from the CNS to the muscles, glands, and organs
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall

7. The Neuron The Withdrawal Reflex
Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
The Neuron The Withdrawal Reflex
Figure 2.5B from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

8. The Neuron The Structure of a Neuron
Behavioral Neuroscience
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The Neuron The Structure of a Neuron
Figure 2.6 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

9. The Neuron The Neuron in Action
Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
The Neuron The Neuron in Action
Action Potential
An electrical impulse that surges along an axon, caused by an influx of positive ions in the neuron
Threshold
The level of stimulation needed to trigger an action potential
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that transmit information by crossing the synapse from one neuron to another
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

10. The Neuron How Neurons Communicate
Behavioral Neuroscience
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The Neuron How Neurons Communicate
Impulse releases neurotransmitter from axon terminals.
Neurotransmitter enters synaptic gap.
Neurotransmitter binds to receptors on the receiving neuron.
Figure 2.7 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

11. The Neuron Neurotransmitters
Behavioral Neuroscience
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The Neuron Neurotransmitters
Acetylcholine (ACh)
Dopamine
Endorphins
Norepinephrine
Serotonin
Gamma amino butyric acid (GABA)
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

12. The Brain Tools of Behavioral Neuroscience
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The Brain Tools of Behavioral Neuroscience
Clinical Case Studies
Experimental Interventions
Electrical Recordings
Brain-Imaging Techniques
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

13. The Brain Tools of Behavioral Neuroscience Electroencephalogram (EEG)
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The Brain Tools of Behavioral Neuroscience Electroencephalogram (EEG)
An instrument used to measure electrical activity in the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp
Figure 2.8 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

14. Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
The Brain Tools of Behavioral Neuroscience Positron Emission Tomography
A visual display of brain activity, as measured by the amount of glucose being used
Radioactive isotopes (small amounts) are placed in the blood.
Sensors detect radioactivity.
Different tasks show distinct activity patterns.
Figure 2.09 from:
Kassin, S. (1998). Psychology, second edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

15. The Brain Tools of Behavioral Neuroscience Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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The Brain Tools of Behavioral Neuroscience Magnetic Resonance Imaging
A brain-imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce, clear three-dimensional images
Figure 2.10 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

16. Behavioral Neuroscience
The Brain
Regions of the Brain
Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
Figure 2.12 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

17. The Brain Regions of the Brain The Brainstem
Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
The Brain Regions of the Brain The Brainstem
Medulla
Vital involuntary functions
Pons
Sleep and arousal
Reticular formation
Sleep, arousal, attention
Cerebellum
Motor coordination
Figure 2.13 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

18. The Brain Regions of the Brain The Limbic System
Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
The Brain Regions of the Brain The Limbic System
Thalamus
Sensory relay station
Amygdala
Fear, anger, and aggression
Hippocampus
Memory formation
Hypothalamus
Regulates glands, autonomic NS
Figure 2.14 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

19. The Brain Regions of the Brain The Cerebral Cortex in Animals
Behavioral Neuroscience
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The Brain Regions of the Brain The Cerebral Cortex in Animals
The outermost
covering of
the brain, largely
responsible
for higher-order
mental processes
Figure 2.15 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:
Hubel, D. (1979). The Brain. New York: Scientific American Books
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

20. The Brain Regions of the Brain The Four Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex
Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
The Brain Regions of the Brain The Four Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex
Figure 2.16 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

21. The Brain Regions of the Brain
Within the Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex Are:
The Somatosensory Cortex
Receives sensory information
The Motor Cortex
Sends impulses to voluntary muscles
The Association Cortex
Houses the brain’s higher mental processes
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall

22. Behavioral Neuroscience
The Somatosensory and Motor Areas
4/23/2017
Figure 2.17 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

23. The Brain Regions of the Brain Language Processing
Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
The Brain Regions of the Brain Language Processing
Broca’s Area
Located in the left hemisphere, directs the muscle movements in speech production
Wernicke’s Area
Located in the left hemisphere, involved in the comprehension of language
Figure 2.18 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:
The brain operates as
an integrated system.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

24. The Brain The Split Brain The Corpus Callosum
Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
The Brain The Split Brain The Corpus Callosum
A bundle of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres
If surgically severed for treatment of epilepsy, hemispheres cannot communicate directly.
Figure 2.20 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

25. The Brain The Split Brain Visual Processing
Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
The Brain The Split Brain Visual Processing
Both eyes send information to both hemispheres.
Images in the right half of the visual field go to the left hemisphere.
Images in the left half of the visual field go to the right hemisphere.
Figure 2.21 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

26. The Brain The Split Brain Sperry’s Split-Brain Experiment
Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
The Brain The Split Brain Sperry’s Split-Brain Experiment
Split-brain subjects could not name objects shown only to the right hemisphere.
If asked to select these objects with their left hand, they succeeded.
The left hemisphere controls speech, the right does not.
Figure 2.22 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:
Sperry, R. W. (1968). Hemisphere deconnection and unity in conscious awareness. American Psychologist, 23,
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

27. The Brain The Split Brain The Talking Left Hemisphere
Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
The Brain The Split Brain The Talking Left Hemisphere
Brighter areas indicate higher activity levels.
When hearing words, for example, auditory cortex and Wernicke’s area are the most active.
Figure 2.24 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

28. The Brain The Split Brain Neglect Syndrome
Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
The Brain The Split Brain Neglect Syndrome
A patient with a stroke in the right hemisphere was asked to copy the drawings.
Typical of neglect syndromes, the left side of the model is almost completely ignored.
Figure 2.25 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
©2001 Prentice Hall

29. Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
Prospects for the Future The Brain’s Capacity for Growth & Reorganization
Plasticity
A capacity to change as a result of experience
Richer environments lead to heavier, thicker brains, more synapses, and better learning.
The cost of plasticity is the case of the phantom limb.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall

30. Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
Prospects for the Future The Brain’s Capacity for Growth & Reorganization
Neurogenesis
The production of new brain cells
Neural Graft
Technique of transplanting healthy tissue from the nervous system of one animal into that of another
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall

31. Behavioral Neuroscience
4/23/2017
©2001 Prentice Hall