1. Biological Aspects Kimberley A. Clow kclow2@uwo.ca http://instruct.uwo.ca/psychology/257e-570 Office Hour: Thursdays 2-3pm Office: S302

2. Outline Welcome to the Brain The Nervous Systems –Neural Communication Extraversion –Return to Eysenck’s Arousal Theory –Gray’s Interpretation Sociobiology –Prosocial Behaviour & Learning –Mate Selection

5. The Cortex

6. Hemisphere Lateralization

7. Gender Differences?

8. Messages from Brain Travel by Nervous System The Central Nervous System is the Communications Highway of the body Spinal Cord Brain Nerves

11. Somatic Nervous System Sensory Neurons –input from body to Central Nervous System Motor Neurons –output from Central Nervous System to control muscle movementsInterneurons –sensory-motor relay within Central Nervous System

12. Autonomic Nervous System

13. Neurons are the Messengers Neurons –Information Processing Cells –100 billion neurons in the brain!

15. Neural Communication

17. Types of Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitter Source and Function Acetylcholine (ACH) Controls muscles; attention and memory Alzheimer’s Disease Dopamine Controls muscles; can cause hallucinations Schizophrenia Endorphins Suppresses pain Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) Works against neurotransmitters, especially dopamine Norepinephrine Regulates mood; increases arousal and alertness Mood Disorders, Eating Disorders Serotonin Opposition to norepinephrine, suppresses activity, causes sleep Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, Eating Disorders

18. Brain Still in Control! Altering of neurotransmitters based on messages from brain Absence or overabundance can create whole new set of consequences

19. Biology on Personality How do you show that personality has a biological basis? –Relate behaviours to brain structures –Heritability or genetic contributions Twin Studies –Observations in human & nonhuman animals –Evidence in many different cultures Cultural Universals –Stability over time

20. Remember Eysenck? 3 Factors of Personality –Extraversion –Neuroticism –Psychoticism

21. Eysenck’s Model

22. Extraversion - Introversion

23. Optimal Arousal Levels

24. Gray

25. Model of Responsiveness

26. Dopamine & Extraversion? Encephalitis Lethargica ADHD

27. Sociobiology Born from Darwin’s Theory of Evolution –Survival of the Fittest Too many people; Too few resources –Natural Selection Favours behaviours that maximize survival and reproductive success –The survival of your genes Inclusive Fitness –Your siblings and relations have your genes too!

28. Prosocial Behaviour 80806060 2020 00 4040 % Helping HighMediumLowNone Degree of Relation Nepotism in Action

29. Learning Prepared Learning –Some things are easier to learn than others Language –We learn some associations but not others Animal Specific

30. What’s Love Got to Do With It? Argument that “love” is just an adaptation to insure survival of the species – –It keeps parents together to provide protection of offspring who require a lengthy period of development before they can fend for themselves – –Evident in gender differences Mate selection Sexual Relations Desirable Qualities in Mate Views on Infidelity

33. Human Reproductive Strategies Male Strategy –Inseminate as many females as possible –Promiscuous sexual behaviour –Devote only minimal resources to child care Female Strategy –Choose mate very carefully –Monogamous sexual behaviour –Remain attached to mate for resources

34. When to Have Sex

35. Number of Partners

36. Chastity

37. Success

38. Physical Attractiveness

39. Age

40. Fidelity What would bother you more? –Sexual Infidelity –Emotional Infidelity