CP Psychology

CHAPTER 4

The Brain and Behavior

Section 4Q3

Mr. Freccia, NHSGlencoe Publishers

The Brain and Behavior (4Q3)

How Psychologists Study the Brain

Physiological Psychologists study the brain by recording, stimulating or by lesions

Recording• They use an EEG machine (Electroencephalograph) to records and monitor electrical brainwaves

The Brain and Behavior (4Q3)

Electrode implanted in reward (pleasure) center of the Hypothalamus

Rat will accept electrification in order to push a lever that stimulates reward center

Stimulation

• Electrodes and chemicals are used to get neurons to fire in the brain. We can electrically/chemically activate pleasure, punishment, thirst, hunger, pain centers

The Brain and Behavior (4Q3)

Lesion: tissue destruction a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused

destruction of brain tissue (to change behavior)

The Brain and Behavior (4Q3)

• Endocrine System: Sends chemical messages, “hormones” through the bloodstream which affect selected organ (and only that organ) at a particular time

• Pituitary Gland: (in brain) controlled by hypothalamushypothalamus

• Is known as the “master gland” because it controls the entire hormonal system in your body

• Hormones: control cell metabolism in organs including growth/reproduction by regulating and storing nutrients

The Brain and Behavior (4Q3)

• Thyroid gland: produces hormones to control lethargy, laziness and over-activity

• Adrenal glands: releases adrenaline when angry to increase heart rate and breathing

The Brain and Behavior (4Q3)

• Evolution of human behavior stems from Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theory

• Instincts: Species specific behaviors seen more in primitive animals than apes/humans

• Instincts are passed on genetically … not learned

The Brain and Behavior (4Q3)

• Heredity/Environment: (Nature/Nurture) Act together to control behavior• Identical twin psychological studies are often used to test behavioral hypotheses