Brain and Behavior Exam 1

Behavioral Neuroscience

Field of psychology that aims to study biological processes that underlie behavior.

Renee Descartes

Scientist that originally looked into how animal and human bodies are controlled. Thought that animals were mechanical and only acted based on external stimuli.

Volta

Scientist that theorized that that bodies were not controlled by electricity (was wrong). Created the Voltic pile (first battery).

Electrophysiology

Branch of physiology that studies the electrical properties of cells and tissues. Intracellular or extracellular.

Johannes Muller

Physiologist that used experimental techniques that tested how certain organs reacted to different stimuli. Learned that nerves work on electrical impulses and are perceived differently depending on where they are coming from.

Marie Jean Pierre Flourens

Physiologist that studied experimental ablation (damaging parts of the body). Found that damaging different parts of the brain impacted certain parts of the body.

Phineas Gage

Railway worker that was injured and had a pole pierce his head. Had personality changes due to the injury. Reintroduced the idea that our traits are caused by our physiology.

Franz Josef Gall

Physiologist that coined the term phrenology (Theory that size of the brain dictated personality).

Phrenology

Pseudo science term that claimed that the size and shape of the brain dictated personality traits.

Paul Broca

Physician that officially discovered that different regions of the brain had different functions. Has an area of the brain named after him.

Fritsch & Hitzig

Independent rich men who discovered contralatteral effects and specificity. Also found hyperspecific spots that controlled muscle groups.

Contralateral Control

How the left and right side of the brain control the opposite side of the body. Left controls right and right controls left.

Neuron

Basic unit of the nervous system

Ontogeny

The process of someone developing over time

Adult Neurogenesis

The creation of new neurons in the brain of an adult.

Social Neuroscience

Field of neuroscience that focuses on the biological basis of social behavior and the effect of social activities on the brain

Evolutionary Psychology

Field of psychology that focuses on how natural selection has impacted behaviors in humans and animals

Epigenetics

The study of factors that effect gene expression without making any changes in the nucleotide sequence of the genes.

Neuroeconomics

The study of the brain mechanisms that work when decision making

Luigi Galvani

Scientist who studied how electrical signals made the muscles of frogs contract. Was intrigued after the discovery of electricity.

Johann Perkinje

Anatomist that figured out how to slice the cerebellum and figured out that the brain has cells and neurons. Has a type of cell named after him.

Camillo Golgi

Biologist who used stained tissue in order to differentiate nerves from the tissue. Coined Reticular Theory.

Reticular Theory

Theory that cells were physically connected and that was how they communicated. Ended up being wrong

Neuron Theory

Theory that cells did not physically touch but rather sent messages between them to communicate. Ended up being correct.

Santiago Ramon y Cajal

Neuroscientist who drew intricate images of brain cells. Coined Neuron Theory.

Charles Sherrington

Neurophysiologist who was the first to prove that neurons were connected by synapses. Came up with the name neuron and synapses.

2 Hearts ,1 Dream Experiment

Experiment using frog hearts that revealed that communication between neurons was chemical. Otto Loewi.

Soups and Sparks Debate

Debate that focused on dictating whether or not communications between cells were chemical or electrical.

Rita Levi-Montalcini

Neurobiologist that studied limb removal/regeneration with chicks. Discovered neurotrophins.

Marian Diamond

Neuroscientist who founded neuroscience. Studied neuroplasticity and how our brain physically changed with experience.

Karl Deisseroth

Neuroscientist who wanted to find a way to control a single type of cell without affecting the others. Founded Optogenetics.

Optogenetics

Method to affect neuron activity using light and implanting genetic information.

Kaful Dzirasa

Psychiatrist interesting in using neuro engineering to identify patterns associated with depression. Creating a “pacemaker” for the brain

Consciousness

The state of being aware of our existence, thoughts, emotions, and experiences.

Nissl Stain

Stained tissue used to visualize many cell bodies.

Golgi Stain

Stained tissue used to visualize a small amount of neurons in high detail.

Guidelines for Human Research

Informed consent, minimize harm, protect confidentiality, voluntary withdrawal, and avoiding deception.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Commitee responsible for reviewing research involving humans

3 R’s of Animal Research

Replacement, reduction, refinement

Central Nervous System

Nervous system containing the spinal cord and the brain.

Peripheral Nervous System

Nervous system that connects the CNS to the rest of the body

Somatic Nervous System

Nervous system that focuses on connecting sense organs to the CNS. Sensory info in and motor info out.

Autonomic Nervous System

Nervous system that controls organs like the heart and intestines. Divided into 2 more nervous systems.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Nervous System that controls our fight or flight response. Effects include dilation of pupils, faster heartbeat, and release of stress hormones.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Nervous system that undoes our fight or flight response. Effects include contraction of pupils and slowing of heartbeat.

Layers of Protection for the Brain

Skull, Meninges,