(41) MCAT Behavioral Science: Chapter 1 - Biology and Behavior Lecture (1/4)

Neuropsychology

The study of the relationship between brain function and behavior.

Phrenology and who made it?

The doctrine that specific brain areas correspond to specific psychological traits would expand. Franz Gall

Pierre Florence

First person to study the major function of the brain. The brain had specific parts for specific functions and when removed affects the function

William James and what did he created

Father of American psychology and created Functionalism

Functionalism

A psychological approach that focuses on how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environment.

Paul Brocca

Specific functional impairments could be linked with specific brain legions. (Founder of the Broca’s area)

Broca's area

A region in the left side of the brain that is associated with speech production.

Herman Van Helmoltz

First to measure the speed of nerve impulse.

Types of Nerve cells (3)

Sensory neurons

Motor neurons

Interneurons

Sensory Neurons

(afferent neurons) transmits sensory information from receptors to the spinal cord

motor neurons

efferent: transmits information from the brain & spinal cord to muscles and glands

interneurons

found between other neurons are the most numerous

Central Nervous System

brain and spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system

Somatic: consist of sensory or motor neurons distributed through the skin and motor muslces

autonomic ( sympathetic and parasympathetic) manages involuntary muscles associated with internal muscles and glands and helps maintain body temp

Autonomic nervous system

A part of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary functions such as heartbeat and digestion.

Sympathetic nervous system

A branch of the autonomic system that prepares the body for 'fight or flight' responses.

accelerates heart rate and inhibit digestion

Parasympathetic nervous system

A branch of the autonomic system responsible for 'rest and digest' activities.

conserve energy

constricts pupil

decelerates heart rate and increases digestion

Hindbrain

The part of the brain responsible for basic life functions such as breathing and heart rate, and sleeping.

during fetal stage, it is the thombencephalon

contains cerebellum, medulla oblongata, and rencular formation

myelencephalon

medulla oblangata

metencephalon

pons and cerebellum

what happens if your cerebellum is damaged

you loose balance and your speech could be slurred

Midbrain

The part of the brain involved in controlling sensory and motor functions and involuntary reflexes.

in fetal stage it is the mesencephalon

Forebrain

part of the brain associated with complex functions such as emotion, memory, and higher cognitive functions.

Cerebral spinal fluid

A clear fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord.

Meninges

The three protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.

Interneurons

Neurons that connect sensory and motor neurons, primarily found in the brain and spinal cord.

Extirpation

A method that involves surgically removing brain areas to study their function.

Electrodes

Devices used to stimulate or record electrical activity in the brain.

Reflex arc

A neural pathway that controls an immediate response to a sensory stimulus.

Dura mater

The outermost layer of the meninges, providing a tough protective covering for the brain.

Thalamus

A brain structure that acts as a relay station for incoming sensory information.

All senses except for smell

Hypothalamus

A brain region that controls various bodily functions and regulates homeostasis.

also for emotional experiences, aggressive behavior and sexual behavior

Lateral hypothalamus

triggers eating and drinking

What happens if the lateral hypothalamus is destroyed

the person will lack hunger, the lateral hypothalamus helps the person to be hungry

Ventromedial Hypothalamus?

What happens when they are destroyed

what could it lead to

It tells someone when they are full

when they are destroyed it leads to not knowing when you are full

this could lead to obesity

Anterior Hypothalamus

sexual arousal

if damaged they become asexual

Posterior Pituitary

site of release for the hypothalamic hormon antidiuretic hormone ADH and oxytocin

Pineal Gland

what hormones does it release

a key player in several biological rhythms

melatonin

melatonin

hormone that regulates circadian rhythm

Basal ganglia

coordinate muscle movement as they receive information from the cortex. help make our movements smooth and posture steady

Limbic System

1) septal Nuclei; one of the primary pleasure centers of the brain

2) amygdala; role in defensive and aggressive behavior

3) Hipocampus: learning and memory process

What are the two types of amnesia

retrograde amnesia: unable to recall events in the past but they can usully form new memories.

anterograde amnesia: you remember past memories but you cant make any new memories

Frontal Lobe

comprised of two regions

prefrontal lobe

motor cortex

broccas areas: speech production

prefrontal lobe:

executive function supervises other brain region ( perception, emotion, long term planning). if damaged they can become impulsive or depressed

motor cortex

initiates voluntary motor movements by sending neural impulses down the spinal cord towards the muscle

Parietal Lobe

-destination for all incoming sensory information for touch, temperature, pain

-spacial awarnes and manipulation

Occipital Lobe

visual cortex

temporal lobe

auditory cortex - hearing

wrenicks area- language comprehension

contralateral comunication

one side of the brain communicated with the oposite side of the body

ex: the left brain controls the right side of the body

ipsilateral

one side of the brain interacts with the same side of the body

Dominant hemisphere

the left side of the brain

primary analytic

nondominant hemispher

right

associated with intuition and creativity and spatial processing

Neurotransmitters (7) Andino Eats Good Sour Grapes Every Day

Acetylcholine

Epinephrin

Gaba glycine

Serotonin

Glutamate

Endorphines

Dopamine

Acetylcholine

voluntary muscle control, attention, alertness, parasympathetic nervous system,

Epinephrine

Fight or flight response, wakefulness, alertness

Dopamine

smooth movement, postural stability

Serotonin

mood sleep eating and dreaming

Gaba and glycine

brain stablization

Glutamate

brain excitation

endorphins

natural pain killer

Endocrine system

is it faster than the nervous system

uses hormones

no the endocrine system is slower b/c the hormones travel through the blood stream

Pituatary Gland

secretes hormones

anterior

posteriar

adrenal glands

medula (epinephrine)

adrenal cortex ( cortisol, and sex hormones)

Gonads

Sexual Glands

increasing estrogen in females and testosterone in men

innate behavior vs learned behavior

Genetically programmed, it is seen in all individuals regardless of environment or experience.

learned behavior is not based on heredity but instead on experience and environment

Family studies

and whats the flaw with these studies

rely on the assumption that genetically related individuals are going to be more similar than unrelated individuals

the flaw is they cant pinpoint if a behavior is based on the environment or genetics because family tend to live together while having similar genetics

twin studies

studies genetic component on how strong it is on behavior between twins

adoptive studies

helps us to understand environmental influences on behavior, comparing biological relatives to adoptive child or with their adoptive parents