Chapter 1: Intro to Behavior and Neuroscience

Neuroscience

Interdisciplinary field

study of the nervous system

multiple levels of analysis: molecular, cellular synaptic network computational

Behavioral Neuroscience

uses all levels of analysis

how does nervous system function relate to behavior?

ex: not function in isolation, how the function produces behavior

Trepanation

drilling holes into skull

evidence of healing post operation

speculated treatment for headaches and mental disorders

Hippocrates

linked to epilepsy to the brain

Galen

linked ventricles to sending messages

found the ventricles which contained fluid

assumed fluid was a humor

Humor

one of the four vital fluids that governed bodily function; prevailing mechanical theory

Fluid-Mechanical Theory

nerves are tubes for fluids

fluids pumped through nerves to the muscles

invention of hydraulically controlled devices

Descartes

chief advocate of fluid-mechanical theory

separate, spiritual mind was responsible for unique human mental capacity

pineal gland as where the mind interacted with the brain

Mind-Body Dualism

non-physical entity (like the soul)

separate from the brain

Monism

everything results from brain activity

the “mind” is brain activity

modern perspective

ex: brain damage = lost parts of the brain/mind

Luigi Galvani & Emil du Bois-Reymond

electricity changed the mode of thought

muscles twitch when nerves are electrically stimulated

1839 Cell Theory

all tissues are composed of microscopic units called cells

“nerve cells” had previously been seen but…

debate about individual cells versus fused tubes

Nerve Net Theory

neurons were continuous fibers

not made of distinct cells like rest of the body

backed by Camillo Golgi

Neuron Doctrine

each neuron is a separate independent cell

Santiago Ramon y Cajal

took Gogli’s system to develop brains = showed neurons separate and then come together

Both had to share Nobel Prize because Cajal used Golgi’s method to prove him wrong

Localization of Function

specific functions are controlled by certain areas of the brain

different parts of brain carry out different jobs

studies show specific damage result in specific loss of function

ex: turning up the radio in a car does not make car go faster

Phineas Gage

frontal lobe damage & personality change

Paul Broca

left frontal damage & loss of speech

the scientist that found (not the person who had damage)

stroke = loss of speech

Fritsch & Hitzig

specific electrical stimulation controlled contralateral (opposite) muscles

lesioning same areas caused paralysis in same muscles

Phrenology

assumed brain shape was reflected in skull shape

thought skull reflected brain function

skull shape mapped onto individual personality traits & abilities

ex: if person had a lump somewhere = personality trait and/or abilities