AP osych Unit 1 & parts of the brain

1. History of Psychology:

   - Key Figures: 

     - Wilhelm Wundt: Founded the first psychology lab.

     - Sigmund Freud: Developed psychoanalysis.

     - John B. Watson: Promoted behaviorism.

     - Abraham Maslow: Key figures in humanistic psychology.

2. Major Perspectives in Psychology:

   - Behaviorism: Focuses on observable behaviors and how they're learned through interaction with the environment.

  - Cognitive Psychology: Studies mental processes like thinking, memory, and problem-solving.

  - Psychoanalysis: Founded by Freud, it emphasizes the influence of the unconscious mind and childhood experiences on behavior.

  - Humanistic Psychology: Focuses on individual potential and stresses the importance of personal growth and self-actualization.

Parts of the brain

1. Cerebrum:

   - Function: Responsible for higher brain functions like thought, action, and emotion.

   - Divisions: 

     - Frontal Lobe: Involved in reasoning, planning, problem-solving, and emotional control.

     - Parietal Lobe: Processes sensory information like touch, temperature, and pain.

     - Temporal Lobe: Important for hearing, language comprehension, and memory.

     - Occipital Lobe: Responsible for visual processing.

• Cerebellum: Coordinates voluntary movements, balance, and posture.

     - Midbrain: Involved in vision, hearing, and motor control.

     - Pons: Connects different parts of the brain and regulates sleep and arousal.

     - Medulla Oblongata: Controls autonomic functions like heartbeat and digestion.

4. Limbic System:

   - Function: Involved in emotions, memory, and motivation.

   - Key Structures:

     - Amygdala: Processes emotions like fear and pleasure.

     - Hippocampus: Essential for memory formation and learning.

     - Hypothalamus: Regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and circadian rhythms.

     - Corpus Callosum: Connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, allowing communication between them.