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The Brain

Module 4

Slides from Myers, Runyan, McCubbin, and Jones

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Techniques to Study the Brain

A brain lesion experimentally

destroys brain tissue to study animal

behaviors after such destruction.

Hubel (1990)

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I’d rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

Link 5:11

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Electroencephalogram (EEG)

An recording of the electrical waves sweeping across the brain’s surface, measured by

electrodes placed on the scalp.

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CT (computed tomography) Scana series of x-ray

photographs taken from different angles

and combined by computer into a

composite representation of a slice through the

body; also called CAT

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Imaging Technologies

…freshman brain.

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PET Scan

PET (positron emission tomography) Scan is a visual display of brain activity that detects a radioactive form of glucose while the brain performs a given task.

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PET Scan

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PET Scan

Link PET scan and language 6:26

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MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to

produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures

within the brain

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MRI Scan

Link 7:25 twins share brain parts

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fMRI - Functional MRI

Compares MRI scans taken less than a second apart

Detects blood moving to active parts of the brain

Shows brain function

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Image shows brain regions when a participants lies.

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The Brain

Brainstem the oldest part and central core of the

brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull

responsible for automatic survival functions

Pinky and the Brainstem 1:23

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Brain Stem

The Medulla is the base of the brainstem that controls heartbeat and breathing.

Reticular Formation plays an important role in controlling arousal & attention.

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Brain Stem

The Thalamus is the brain’s sensory switchboard.

It directs messages to the sensory areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.

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The “little brain” attached to the rear of the brainstem. It helps coordinate voluntary movements and balance.

Cerebellum

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The Limbic System is a system of neural structures associated with emotions such as fear, aggression and drives for food and sex.

It includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus.

The Limbic System

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Amygdala

The Amygdala is linked to the emotions of fear and anger.

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Amygdala and Emotion Identify

emotion from facial expressions

Amygdala damage makes this task difficult

3838Figure 2.19 The amygdalaMyers: Psychology, Eighth EditionCopyright © 2007 by Worth Publishers

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Hypothalamus

The Hypothalamus lies below (hypo) the thalamus. Eating, drinking, body temperature, and control of emotions.

It helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.

"TALE of the hypothalamus":

Temperature

Appetite

Libido

Emotion

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Rats cross an electrified grid for

self-stimulation when electrodes are placed in the

reward (hypothalamus)

center (top picture).

Reward Center

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Mnemonic

Limbo is your reward!

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Hippocampus

Important for memory

Damage may cause anterograde amnesia

Link 9:58

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The Cerebral Cortex

Cerebral Cortex fabric of interconnected neural cells that

covers the cerebral hemispheres ultimate control and information

processing centerGlial Cells

cells in the nervous system that are not neurons but that support, nourish, and protect neurons

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Mnemonic video

http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2008/09/episode-72-video-memorize-the-parts-of-the-brain/

4545Figure 2.24 The cerebral cortexMyers: Psychology, Eighth EditionCopyright © 2007 by Worth Publishers

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Structure of the Cortex

Each brain hemisphere is divided into four lobes that are separated by prominent fissures.

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The Cerebral Cortex

Frontal Lobes involved in speaking and muscle movements

and in making plans and judgmentsParietal Lobes

include the sensory cortexOccipital Lobes

include the visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field

Temporal Lobes include the auditory areas

Link Frontal lobe development at PBS

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The Cerebral Cortex

Motor Cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes

that controls voluntary movementsSensory Cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body sensations

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The Cerebral Cortex

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Visual and Auditory Cortex

Auditorycortex

Visualcortex

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The Visual Cortex

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Visual Function

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Association Areasareas of the

cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions

involved in higher mental functions.

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Metal rod through

your brain and you

survive….WTH?

5757Figure 4.16 Phineas Gage reconsideredMyers: Exploring Psychology, Seventh Edition In ModulesCopyright © 2008 by Worth Publishers

Link Phineas Gage at Learner.org

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Link Phineas Gage at PBS

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Phineas Gage

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The Cerebral CortexAphasia

impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke’s area (impairing understanding)

Broca’s Area Link

an area of the left frontal lobe that directs the muscle movements involved in speech

Wernicke’s Area Link

an area of the left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension Link 7:44

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MnemonicsI don’t understand Wernicke.

"Broca": your speech machinery is Broken.· Broca is wanting to speak, but articulation doesn't

work, and very slow.

"Wer-nick": "were" and "nick" are both words of English language, but together they are nonsensical.

· Wernick is having good articulation, but saying words that don't make sense together.

---Robert O'Connor University College Dublin

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Specialization and Integration

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Specialization & Integration

Brain activity when hearing, seeing, and speaking words

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The brain is sculpted by our genes but also by our experiences.

Plasticity refers to the brain’s

ability to modify itself after some

type of injury or illness.

The Brain’s Plasticity

You tube

Hydrocephaly at Learner.org

Link 44:11

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Split Brain

a condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the corpus Callosum.

Sperry and Gazzaniga are key researchers in this area.

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Split Brain Patients

With the corpus callosum severed, objects (apple) presented in the right

visual field can be named. Objects (pencil) in the left visual field cannot.

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Split Brain

“Look at the dot.” Two words separatedby a dot are momentarily projected.

“What worddid you see?”

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“Point withyour left hand to theword you saw.”

7272Figure 2.38 Try this!Myers: Psychology, Eighth EditionCopyright © 2007 by Worth Publishers

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Split brain links

http://www.learner.org/vod/vod_window.html?pid=1573

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMLzP1VCANo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k09bvGv0roo&feature=related

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Our brains are lateralized.

A number of brain scan studies show normal individuals engage

their right brain when completing a spatial, artistic or musical task and their left brain when carrying out a linguistic or

logical task. The Divided Brain on TED 11:48

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Fun with your Hemispheres

Rotate your dominant hand in one direction while at the same time rotating the opposite foot in the other direction. No problem since controlled by two hemispheres

Now, rotate your dominant hand in one direction while at the same time rotating the foot on the same side in the other direction.

7676Link Gender

Diff at Nat. Geo 4:46

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Are you right or left brained…

Fold your hands together…hold it…Supposedly…. If the left thumb

comes on top, you are right brained and artistic, adventurous and accommodative. If the right thumb is on the top, you are analytical, fluent with words and conservative.

8080Unnumbered 2.1 Which one is happier?Myers: Psychology, Eighth EditionCopyright © 2007 by Worth Publishers

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Brain Organization & Handedness

Is handedness inherited? Yes. Archival and historic studies, as well as modern medical studies, show that the right hand is preferred.

This suggests genes and/or prenatal factors influence handedness.

Why do we care…it appears that while most humans are right handed, apes are equally divided into right and left handers…

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Is it ok to be Left Handed?

The percentage of left-handed individuals decreases sharply in samples of older

people.

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Scientist suffers a stroke

http://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html 18:41

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VS Ramchandran on the connection between brain tissue and the mind

http://www.ted.com/talks/vilayanur_ramachandran_on_your_mind.html

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Plasticity at google talks 1:05.21

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tRdDqXgsJ0&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active