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Chapter 7: Introduction to Brain and Behavior

Overview of Brain Study

• Discusses methods to study the brain's structure and functions.

  • Measuring and Manipulating Behavior: Understanding the relationship between brain activities and behaviors.

  • Techniques Used:

    • Measuring electrical activity in the brain.

    • Anatomical imaging techniques like CT and MRI.

    • Functional imaging to assess brain activity.

    • Chemical and genetic assessments of brain behavior through research.

    • Ethical considerations when using animals in research.

Measuring Brain Function

• Neuropsychology:

  • The relationship between brain functions and human behavior.

  • Originated from Paul Broca's findings on language and brain damage.

• Measurement Techniques:

  • Advancements in non-invasive imaging techniques.

  • Use of detailed neuroanatomical measurements and behavioral analyses.

Techniques in Behavioral Neuroscience

• Neuroanatomy Techniques:

  • Histological Techniques:

    • Involves sectioning brains postmortem and staining.

    • Identify molecular, neurochemical, and structural differences.

• Behavioral Neuroscience:

  • Focus on biological bases of behavior in humans and animals.

  • Ethology: The study of animal behavior under natural conditions.

Neuropsychological Testing

• Critical for assessing cognitive functions like memory in individuals with brain damage.

• Memory is diverse, requiring separate evaluations for different types (e.g., events, names, places).

Behavioral Analysis with Rodents

• Morris Swimming Task:

  • Assess spatial learning through platform location.

  • Variants involve distinct cues for learning locations.

Skilled Reaching Task

• Evaluation of motor skills through trained reaching for food, analyzing movement segmentation affected by neurological conditions.

Manipulating Brain-Behavior Interactions

• Brain modification explores how alterations impact behavior.

  • Used to hypothesize relationships between brain structures and behavior.

  • Develops models for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Brain Lesions Techniques

• Ablation Methods:

  • Historical use by figures like Karl Lashley to locate memory centers.

  • Lesions facilitated understanding of disorders like amnesia.

Brain Stimulation Techniques

• Electrical Stimulation:

  • First used by Wilder Penfield for human cortical stimulation.

  • Rat experiments show stimulation influencing eating behavior.

• Deep-brain Stimulation:

  • Implanted electrodes stimulate targeted areas for therapeutic purposes (e.g., Parkinson's, depression).

Drug Manipulations

• Exploration of drug effects on brain activity and behaviors through administration techniques.

Genetic Manipulations

• Optogenetics:

  • Combines genetic engineering with light to control neurons in living tissue.

• Chemogenetics:

  • Genetic modification to create receptors that respond exclusively to designer drugs.

Chemical and Genetic Measures of Brain and Behavior

• Neurons and genes' roles in synthesizing important proteins that regulate behavior.

• Techniques like Microdialysis and Cerebral voltammetry to analyze brain chemistry and neurotransmitter levels.

Epigenetics

• Environmental factors affecting gene expression and persistence across generations.

Neuroscience Research Methods Comparison

• Different methodologies applied based on the focus of research (morphology and electrical activity).

• Considerations include temporal and spatial resolution, as well as the invasiveness of methods.

Animal Models in Research

• Ethical considerations regarding the use of animals in neurological studies.

• Animal models specific for disorders like ADHD demonstrate behavioral correlations and treatments.

Guidelines for Animal Care in Research

• Regulatory frameworks ensure humane treatment and ethical use of animals in scientific research variances in methodologies.

• The Animal Welfare Act establishes standards for the care and use of laboratory animals, ensuring humane practices.