Behavioral Sciences 1 Biology and Behavior

Behavioral Sciences 1: Biology and Behavior Researchers Franz Gall: (1758 – 1828). Phrenology Pierre Flourens: (1794 – 1867). Functions of major sections of the brain. Used extirpation to study parts of brain. William James (1842 – 1910). Functionalism: How mental processes help individuals adapt to their environment. John Dewey: (1859 – 1952). Functionalism Brain Organization * See appendix for full diagram Hindbrain: Cerebellum, medulla oblongata, reticular formation. Midbrain: Inferior and superior colliculi. Forebrain Thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, limbic system, cerebral cortex. Methods Electroencephalography (EEG). Regional cerebral of Study: blood flow. Paul Broca: (1824 – 1880). Studied people with legions in specific regions of brain. Broca’s Area: Speech production. Hermann von (1821 – 1894). Speed of impulse. Made psychology a Helmholtz: science. Sir Charles (1857 – 1952). Synapses Sherrington: Sigmund Freud: (1856 – 1939). Psychoanalytic perspective. Nervous System Organization Neurons: Sensory: Afferent, receptors spinal cord Interneurons: Between other neurons. Mainly CNS. Motor: Efferent, CNS muscles & glands Reflex Arcs:Interneurons in spinal cord relay info to the source of stimuli while simultaneously routing it to the brain. Central Nervous CNS. Brain and spinal cord. System: Peripheral PNS. Nervous tissue and fibers outside CNS Nervous System: Somatic: Voluntary Autonomic: Sympathetic = F/F, parasympathetic = R/D. Forebrain Thalamus: Relay station for sensory information. Hypothalamus: Homeostasis & the 4 F’s. Integrates with endocrine system. Hypothalamus hypophyseal portal ® anterior pituitary Basal Ganglia: Smooths movements and helps postural stability. Limbic System: Septal Nuclei: Pleasure and addiction. Amygdala: Fear and aggression. Hippocampus: Emotion and memory. Cerebral Four lobes Cortex: Frontal: Executive function, impulse control, speech, motor. Parietal: Touch, pressure, temp, pain, spatial processing. Occipital: Visual Temporal: Sound, speech perception, memory, emotion. Cerebral Left is analytic, language, logic, math. Usually dominant Hemispheres: Right is intuition, creativity, spatial processing. Influences of Behavior Neurotransmitters: Released by neurons to carry a signal. Acetylcholine: Used by somatic nervous system to move muscles. Also used by the parasympathetic and CNS. Dopamine: Maintains smooth movements and steady posture. Endorphins & Natural pain killers. Enkephalins: Epinephrine & Maintain wakefulness and mediate F/F responses. Norepinephrine: Epinephrine tends to act as a hormone, norepinephrine a neurotransmitter. g-aminobutyric Inhibitory neurotransmitters. Act as brain Acid (GABA)“stabilizers”. Glycine serves a similar function. Glutamate: Acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter. Serotonin: Modulates mood, sleep, eating, and dreaming. The endocrine system is tied to the nervous system through the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary, and a few other hormones: Cortisol: Stress hormone released by the adrenal cortex. Testosterone & Mediate libido. Testosterone also #aggressive Estrogen: behavior. Both are produced in gonads, released by adrenal cortex. Development The nervous system develops through neurulation, in which the notochord stimulates overlying ectoderm to fold over, creating a neural tube topped with neural crest cells Neural Tube: Becomes the CNS Neural Crest Cells: Spread out throughout the body, differentiating into many different tissues. Primitive Reflexes: Exist in infants and should disappear with age. Rooting Reflex: Turns head toward stimulus. Moro Reflex: Extends arms, response to falling sensation. Babinski Reflex: Big toe is extended and other toes fan out in response to brushing on sole of foot. Grasping Reflex: Grabs anything put into hands. Developmental Milestones • Gross and fine motor abilities progress head to toe and core to periphery • Social skills shift from parent-oriented to other-oriented Epinephrine & Released by adrenal medulla and cause physiological • Language skills become increasingly complex Norepinephrine: changes associated with the sympathetic nervous system.