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Unit 2: Biology and Behavior - Coggle Diagram
Unit 2: Biology and Behavior
Ways to Study the Brain
function
EEG
electrodes placed on scalp
amplified recording of electric brain activity
MEG
uses head coil
images magnetic fields
PET
using radioactive traceable version of glucose
shows brain's consumption of glucose
structure
CT(CAT)
uses x rays
MRI
lie down in MRI machine
fMRI
comparing successive MRI scans
Parts of the Brain
Older Brain Structures
without conscious effort
brainstem
automatic survival functions
where spinal cord enters skull
oldest and innermost region
medulla
heartbeat, breathing
base of brainstem
pons
coordinates movements, controls sleep
nerve crossover point
links medulla and thalamus
reticular formation
neuron network that filters stimuli and relays information to other areas
helps with multitasking
inside brainstem, between ears
also responsible for arousal
cerebellum "little brain"
extends from rear of brainstem
nonverbal learning
memory
coordinating movement
processing senses
thalamus
brain's sensory control
except smell
routes info to higher brain structures
on top of brainstem, pair of egg shaped structures
Limbic System
between older and newer brain areas
associated with emotions
amygdala
linked to aggression and fear
2 lima bean sized clusters
hypothalamus
neural system that helps governing body maintenance
maintain homeostasis
can secrete hormones that trigger pituitary gland
contains reward centers
lies below thalamus
hippocampus
processes conscious memory
seahorse shaped (debatable)
Cerebral Cortex
layer of connected neural cells that cover the cerebral hemispheres
controls information processing
contains two hemispheres
corpus callosum
band of neural fibers connecting brain hemispheres
Gazzaniga - discovered brain could be divided with no serious side effects
split brain
surgery that cuts corpus callosum
Roger Sperry - discovered hemispheres serve different functions and operate independently
serve different functions
left: processes language, literal interpretations, math
right: non verbal, emotions, inferences
divided into four lobes separated by fissures
frontal lobes
#
speaking
muscle movements
making plans/judgements
lies behind the forehead
Broche's Area
produces speech (mouth movements)
only on
left
side of brain
damage inhibits personality
ex: Phineas Gage
parietal lobes
sensory input from touch and body position
top and rear of cortex
occipital lobes
visual information
back of the head
right side of vision goes to left side
temporal lobes
receives auditory information
above the ears
Wernicke's Area
understanding speech and producing coherent speech
only on the left side
Wernicke's aphasia - not understanding what people are saying to you and not producing understandable spoken or written words
"word salad"
right ear goes to left side
cortexes have specific jobs
motor cortex
controls voluntary movements
rear of frontal lobes
discovered by Fritsch and Hitzig when applying electrical simulation to animals
somatosensory cortex
registers and processes body touch/movement feelings
front of parietal lobes
sensitive areas have more space devoted to them
prefrontal cortex
judgement
planning
processing new memories
forward part of frontal lobes
association areas
areas in cerebral cortex that are involved with higher mental functions
do not produce observable behavior
plasticity
ability to change/reorganize after damage
build new pathways after experience
find new uses for unused parts of the brain
especially during childhood
neurogenesis
formation of neurons
Consciousness
cognitive neuronscience
brain activity and cognition
Exploring and mapping conscious functions of the cortex
consciousness
subjective self-awareness + awareness of environment
dual processing
information is processed consciously and unconsciously simultaneously
conscious "high road"
unconscious "low road"
ex: blindsight - ability to respond to stimuli without consciously seeing them
visual perception track - think about world and plan for future
visual action track - instantaneous movements
brain activity comes before conscious decision
parallel processing - with familiar problems, doing multiple parts at the same time
sequential processing - with new problems, one part at a time
Behavior Genetics
study of influence of genetics/environment on behavior
DNA
made from 46 chromosomes
genes are segments of DNA that provide instructions for making proteins
genome - all genetic material in the chromosomes
humans and chimps are 96% identical genetically
traits are influenced by combinations of genes
twins
identical twins (monozygotic)
genetically identical
come from split fertilized egg
do not always have the same amount of copies of the gene
may have separate placentas
exhibit more similar behaviors (proves genetic component to behavior)
twins separated at birth exhibit many similar behaviors
fraternal twins (dizygotic)
not any more genetically similar than ordinary siblings
develop from separate fertilized eggs
environment does not impact personality
heritability - amount that
variation
within a group can be attributed to genes
personality: 40%
intelligence: 66%
in more similar environments, heritability increases
Statistical measure (proportion)
genes and environment interact to affect people
molecular genetics - study of structure and function of genes
molecular behavior genetics - how structure and function of genes and environment influence behavior
epigenetics - how environment influences gene expression
environment can turn genes on or off
ex: nutrition, trauma
can be heritable
Evolutionary Psychology
study of evolution of behavior/mind with natural selection
focus on things that make people alike
second Darwinian revolution - application of evolution to psychology
take biopsychosocial approach
women are more choosy than men because they have to sacrifice more to have a baby
Nervous + Endocrine Systems
nervous system
central nervous system
brain + spinal cord
makes decisions
interneurons - process information
nerves
neuron - nerve cell
cell body
life support
dendrites
receive information
axon
passes messages
covered in myelin sheath
nodes of ranvier
gap in myelin sheath
speeds up nerve impulse
multiple sclerosis (MS)
body attacks myelin sheath in motor neurons
causes pain and loss of motor control
terminal branches
form junctions
action potential - electrical charge down axon
resting potential (slightly negative charge)
-70mV
stimuli makes Na+ go in
depolarizes axon section (-55mV)
K+ channel opens (K+ rushes out)
1 more item...
all or nothing response
synapse - gap between neurons
neurotransmitters
bring message between neurons
reuptake - neurotransmitters reabsorbed
excitatory neurotransmitter
makes next neuron want to fire more
inhibitory neurotransmitter
makes next neuron less likely to fire
agonist
excites neural firing
increases effects of neurotransmitter
cocaine, morphine
antagonist
inhibit neural firing
bundles of axons that make cables connecting PNS and CNS
glial cells
providing nutrients/myelin to neuron
90% of brain
body's electrochemical communication system
peripheral nervous system
connects messages from CNS to rest of the body
sensory neurons
afferent
sensory receptors
motor neurons
efferent
carry from CNS to muscles